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Keytruda Immunotherapy: Which Cancers Is It Used For?
By Raveena M Prakash
Cancer treatment has changed drastically over the past decade, and one of the biggest innovations that has happened in cancer care is immunotherapy. Among the most well-known immunotherapy drugs is Keytruda (pembrolizumab). This cancer drug has become one of the major cornerstones of many cancers by helping the body’s immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.
In this article, we’ll discover more about what Keytruda immunotherapy is and its benefits, challenges and considerations and more!
What is Keytruda?
Keytruda is an effective cancer drug used for the treatment of immunotherapy, also known as checkpoint inhibitors. Specifically, these target a protein called PD-1 (programmed death-1) on immune cells.
Normally, the PD-1 pathway helps to prevent the immune system from attacking healthy cancer cells. Some cancer cells take advantage of this pathway to hide from the immune system. Keytruda immunotherapy helps to block the PD-1, allowing immune cells (T cells) to better recognize and destroy cancer cells.
Keytruda is often used alone or in combination with chemotherapy, before or after the surgical procedure for advanced or metastatic cancers or diseases.
Types of cancers are treated with Keytruda
Keytruda immunotherapy has been approved for a wide range of cancers, and its use continues to expand as research grows.
Below are some of the major types of cancer it's used for:
Melanoma (skin cancer)
Keytruda immunotherapy was first approved for advanced melanoma and is now often used in unresectable or metastatic melanoma. Additionally, high-risk melanoma after surgical removal reduces the cancer recurrence.
Lung cancer
These immunotherapy drugs are mostly used in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). As a first line cancer treatment in advanced cancer cases, as these are used alone or combined with chemotherapy treatments. These are especially effective in tumors expressing PD-L1.
Head and neck cancer
These are used for cancers like head and neck cancers, squamous cell carcinoma, additionally these are also used in recurrent and metastatic cancers. These are given as first line cancer treatments in certain cancer patients.
Hodgkin lymphoma
Keytruda immunotherapy is often approved for cancer types such as classical Hodgkin lymphoma that have returned or not responded to prior cancer treatments.
Urothelial (Bladder) cancer
This immunotherapy has been used to treat advanced and metastatic bladder cancer. Cancer patients who cannot receive certain chemotherapy drugs. These are given to patients who can’t receive chemotherapy treatments.
Kidney cancer
These are used alone or in combination with other targeted therapies for advanced or metastatic renal cell carcinoma patients.
Triple- Negative breast cancer
Keytruda is approved for certain types of patients with triple negative breast cancer, often in combination with chemotherapy, also tumors that express PD-L1 as well.
Gastrointestinal cancers
These immunotherapies have been used in several gastrointestinal cancers, including esophageal, gastric (stomach), colorectal cancer with MSI-H or dMMR biomarkers, and biliary tract cancer in combination with chemotherapy.
Gynecologic cancers
These immunotherapies have been used in cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, especially with specific genetic features (MSI-H or dMMR)
Skin and rare types of cancers
These types of immunotherapies are also used in the treatment of Merkel cell carcinoma, cutaneous carcinoma, and certain rare lymphomas.
Biomarker based approval
One of the unique factors of Keytruda immunotherapy is that it can be prescribed based on the tumor markers present on the cancer patients, rather than the cancer location.
For example:
- Tumors that are MSI-H (microsatellite instability-high)
- Tumors with dMMR (deficient mismatch repair)
This often means that cancer patients with different types of cancer cases, but the same genetic features, might benefit from Keytruda immunotherapy.
Benefits of Keytruda Immunotherapy
Keytruda (pembrolizumab) benefits cancer patients by empowering the immune system to find and attack cancer cells, resulting in significant tumor shrinkage, prolonged cancer survival, and potentially long-term remission from various cancers like lung, melanoma, and kidney cancer.
The key benefits of using this drug:
- Improved survival rates: Keytruda significantly improved the overall survival of many cancer types, including melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer and kidney cancer.
- Tumor reduction: These drugs help shrink tumors resulting in complete or partial remission of the cancer signs and symptoms.
- Long- term efficacy: These immunotherapy drugs can produce memory in T cells, meaning the immune system, that may continue to destroy cancer cells even after the treatment completion. This often leads to long term remission and sustained responses.
- Systemic treatment: As a systemic treatment, the drug reaches all parts of the body through the bloodstream, enabling it to fight cancer cells that have metastasized or spread from the original tumor.
- Broad application: Keytruda is approved for the treatment of numerous cancers, including melanoma, NSCLC, head and neck cancer, classical Hodgkin lymphoma, bladder cancer, stomach cancer, cervical cancer, renal cell carcinoma, triple-negative breast cancer, and MSI-H or dMMR cancers, and is used in various treatment settings.
Challenges of using this Keytruda immunotherapy in patients
The primary challenge of Keytruda immunotherapy and other immune checkpoint inhibitors is managing the immune-related adverse events (irAEs). This often stems from the immune system mistakenly attacking the healthy tissues.
- Unpredictable Onset and duration
- Difficulty in identifying symptoms
- Chance of developing severe reactions
- Impact on other medical conditions (autoimmune diseases)
- Combination of cancer therapy risks
- Long-term/ permanent damage
Consult Today
Keytruda has transformed the landscape of cancer treatments and is now used to treat many types of cancer cases, starting from melanoma to lung cancer to bladder, breast, and colorectal cancers. By stimulating the immune system, it offers hope to cancer patients who previously had limited cancer treatment options.
As cancer research continues, the list of cancers often treated with Keytruda is likely to grow even further. Always consult with your oncologist to understand whether keytruda is appropriate for your specific needs.
At Oncare, we offer premium-quality cancer treatments, including advanced cancer surgeries, at an affordable price range with an experienced cancer specialist consultation.
If you or any loved ones of yours are diagnosed with cancer, then visit Oncare Cancer Center and book an appointment with an experienced cancer specialist today. Get an estimated cost of your cancer treatment today!
Frequently Asked Questions
The cancers are treated with skin, lung, head & neck, blood, gastrointestinal, urinary/ reproductive, breast cancers.
These drugs are often delivered through Intravenous (IV) infusion or subcutaneous injection (Keytruda Qlex).
Keytruda immunotherapy’s key factors involve blocking the PD-1 pathway to unleash T-cells against cancer, relying on tumor biomarkers like PD-L1 expression or microsatellite instability (MSI-H) for patient selection, and potential severe immune-mediated side effects impacting the various vital organs.
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