Aims: In KEYNOTE-826 (NCT03635567), pembrolizumab+chemotherapy±bevacizumab provided statistically significant, clinically meaningful PFS and OS improvements in persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer. We present outcomes in key subgroups.
Methods: Eligible adults had persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer not previously treated with chemotherapy nor amenable to curative treatment; measurable disease (RECIST v1.1); ECOG PS 0–1; and a tumor sample for PD-L1 assessment. Patients were randomized 1:1 to pembrolizumab 200 mg Q3W or placebo (up to 35 cycles)+chemotherapy (paclitaxel 175 mg/m2+cisplatin 50 mg/m2 or carboplatin AUC 5)±bevacizumab 15 mg/kg. Dual primary endpoints were PFS by investigator (RECIST v1.1) and OS in patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥1, all comers, and CPS ≥10. Results were examined in subgroups defined by bevacizumab use, histology, platinum use, and prior chemoradiation therapy (CRT).
Results: 617 patients were randomized (pembrolizumab+chemotherapy±bevacizumab, n=308; placebo+chemotherapy±bevacizumab, n=309). At data cutoff (May 3, 2021), median follow-up was 22 months. In all comers, pembrolizumab+chemotherapy±bevacizumab prolonged PFS and OS vs placebo+chemotherapy±bevacizumab in all subgroups. In bevacizumab-treated patients, PFS HR (95% CI) was 0.61 (0.47–0.79) and OS HR was 0.63 (0.47–0.87); without bevacizumab, 0.74 (0.54–1.01) and 0.74 (0.53–1.04). For squamous histology, PFS HR was 0.63 (0.50–0.80) and OS HR was 0.61 (0.47–0.80); for nonsquamous, 0.66 (0.43–1.00) and 0.76 (0.47–1.23). For carboplatin-treated patients, PFS HR was 0.69 (0.55–0.86) and OS HR was 0.69 (0.54–0.89); with cisplatin, 0.47 (0.28–0.77) and 0.59 (0.32–1.09). For patients with prior CRT, PFS HR was 0.62 (0.45–0.86) and OS HR was 0.64 (0.45–0.91). Similar benefits of pembrolizumab+chemotherapy±bevacizumab were seen in the CPS ≥1 and CPS ≥10 populations.
Conclusions: Pembrolizumab+chemotherapy±bevacizumab prolonged PFS and OS vs placebo+chemotherapy±bevacizumab in key subgroups and provided clinically meaningful benefits similar to the broader population with persistent, recurrent, or metastatic cervical cancer.