Giuseppe Caruso, Gynecologic Oncologist Consultant at IEO European Institute of Oncology IRCCS (Milan, Italy), shared a post on LinkedIn:
“A very timely and exciting update from AIFA Agenzia Italiana del farmaco regarding the reimbursement of pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) HCP – Keytruda) in the 1L treatment of advanced, metastatic, or recurrent PD-L1+ cervical cancer (in combination with chemotherapy ± bevacizumab, as per KEYNOTE-826).
AIFA now permits prior use of pembrolizumab in the locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) setting (together with chemoradiotherapy), in line with KEYNOTE-A18 criteria.
This is a highly relevant change, as it broadens treatment possibilities: patients previously treated with immunotherapy in the LACC setting may still receive pembrolizumab in 1L for recurrent disease, provided there has been no progression or unacceptable toxicity during prior immunotherapy.
Overall, this marks a meaningful step toward increased therapeutic flexibility and improved continuity of care in cervical cancer.
I strongly believe that immunotherapy rechallenge may have a role in carefully selected patients, and I am very pleased to see this evolution in clinical practice.”
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