Cervical Cancer: A Preventable Global Health Crisis for Women
In an interview with Targeted OncologyTM, Linda Duska, MD, FASCO, MPH, University of Virginia Health, discusses the unmet needs in the cervical cancer space, as well as the rational that prompted the KEYNOTE-A18 study (NCT04221945) of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in addition to chemoradiation for the treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer.
Cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. What makes this particularly tragic, according to Duska, is its preventability through HPV vaccination and screening. Globally, the unmet need lies in reaching areas where these preventive measures are not readily available, leading to widespread suffering from this disease.
In the United States, significant racial inequities exist regarding cervical cancer incidence and survivorship. Furthermore, social determinants of health play a crucial role, as cervical cancer disproportionately affects low-income women, those without health insurance, and rural women. For example, regions like Appalachia exhibit high rates of cervical cancer due to these socioeconomic factors. Addressing this global cancer and women's access to care problem requires robust public health interventions.
Specifically regarding locally advanced cervical cancer, despite advancements in chemoradiotherapy, "we still can't cure every woman with locally advanced cervical cancer," Duska says. Unfortunately, not every woman in the United States even receives optimal radiation therapy.
The KEYNOTE-A18 study aimed to improve treatment for these patients by investigating whether adding immunotherapy to modern chemoradiation could enhance progression-free and overall survival. Essentially, the study explored if the best possible chemoradiation could be made even better with the addition of immunotherapy.
