Merck's PD-1 single-anti-KEYTRUDA combination chemotherapy significantly improved the total survival and non-progressant survival of patients with advanced esophageal cancer.

Merck announced that its key Phase 3 KEYNOTE-590 trial for the first-line treatment of patients with localized advanced or metastatic esophageal cancer with anti-PD-1 monoantigen KEYTRUDA chemotherapy (shunplatin plus 5-fluorouracil) reached the primary endpoint of significant improvement in total survival (OS) and progressive lifetime (PFS).
the study also reached a secondary endpoint of improved objective mitigation rate (ORR).
the safety of KEYTRUDA in this trial is consistent with previously reported studies.
results have been presented to the European Society of Medical Oncology (ESMO) Online Conference 2020.
Roy Baynes, global clinical development director at
Merck, said: "Esophageal cancer is a devastating malignancy with a high mortality rate and few first-line treatment options other than chemotherapy.
in this critical study, KEYTRUDA combined chemotherapy had a higher total survival rate than current standards of care in all assessed patients.
" Photo Source: KEYTRUDA becomes the first combination of chemotherapy to treat esophageal cancer, demonstrating excellent survival benefits in anti-PD-1 therapy.
KEYTRUDA has been approved in the United States and China as a second-line treatment for patients with relapsed localized advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who express PD-L1.
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