Immunotherapy Sustains Responses in Radiated Endometrial/Cervical Cancer

Fact checked by" Russ Conroy
News
Article
Conference|Society of Gynecologic Oncology Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer (SGO)

Patients who had recurrence in the radiation field experienced similar responses vs those with recurrence outside the radiation field.

Patients who had recurrence in the radiation field experienced similar responses vs those with recurrence outside the radiation field.

Patients who had recurrence in the radiation field experienced similar responses vs those with recurrence outside the radiation field.

Immunotherapy (IO) elicited similar efficacy between patients with endometrial or cervical cancers who recurred within the radiated field vs those who recurred outside of the radiated field, according to findings from a poster presented at the 2025 Society of Gynecologic Oncology Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer (SGO).

Results from the trial revealed that patients with endometrial or cervical cancers and recurrence in the radiation field experienced similar IO responses, progression-free survival (PFS; endometrial cancer, P = .17; cervical cancer; P = .36), and overall survival (OS) vs those with recurrence outside the radiation field.

Among patients with endometrial cancer characterized as either having recurred in the radiated field (n = 9), having recurred inside and outside of the radiated field (n = 42), or having recurred outside the radiated field (n = 24), complete responses (CRs) occurred in 4 (44.4%), 5 (20.8%), and 10 (25.6%) patients, respectively (P = .58). Additionally, in the respective groups, a partial response (PR) was the best response in 2 (22.2%), 6 (25.0%), and 10 (25.6%) patients, and stable disease was the best response in 0, 7 (29.2%), and 6 (15.4%) patients, respectively. Progressive disease or unknown outcomes occurred in 3 (33%), 6 (25.0%), and 13 (33.3%) patients, respectively.

Additionally, among patients with cervical cancer characterized as either having recurred in the radiated field (n = 12), having recurred inside and outside of the radiated field (n = 21), or having recurred outside the radiated field (n = 26), CRs occurred in 2 (16.7%), 6 (24.0%), and 2 (10.0%) patients, respectively (P = .31). A PR was the best response in 3 (25.0%), 5 (20.0%), and 3 (15.0%) patients, and stable disease was the best response in 5 (41.7%), 3 (12.0%), and 6 (30.0%) patients, respectively. Two (16.7%), 11 (44.0%), and 9 (45.0%) patients in each respective group experienced disease progression or did not have data available for analysis.

“Unlike chemotherapy, which has lower efficacy in a previously [radiated field], IO has shown to remain effective in our radiated [endometrial cancer] and [cervical cancer] cohort,” Julia Chalif, MD, resident of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical School, concluded in the presentation with study coinvestigators.1 “There were no significant differences in IO response, PFS, and OS in patients with [endometrial cancer] and [cervical cancer] who [experienced recurrence] in a radiated field compared to outside of the radiated field.”

The study aimed to evaluate the oncologic responses and survival outcomes of patients with endometrial or cervical cancers treated with IO following recurrence in the radiated field in response to limited data regarding IO response within the radiated field of gynecologic cancers. Historical studies demonstrated poor chemotherapy response in patients with previously radiated gynecologic cancers.

Investigators in the independent review board (IRB)–approved, retrospective, single-institution cohort study enrolled patients with endometrial cancer and cervical cancer treated with IO between January 1, 2017, and January 1, 2023. Patients were subsequently allocated into cohorts based on site of recurrence: solely within the radiated field, both in and out of the radiation field, and solely outside of the radiation field.

PFS was defined as the time between first IO dose and disease progression. OS was defined as the time between time of diagnosis and death. Investigators used Kaplan Meier methods to evaluate these survival outcomes.

Reference

Chalif J, Morton M, Gonzalez A, et al. Evaluation of immunotherapy response in the radiated field in patients with recurrent endometrial and cervical cancer. Presented at the 2025 Society of Gynecologic Oncology Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer (SGO); Seattle, WA, March 14-17, 2025.

Recent Videos
A third of patients had a response [to lifileucel], and of the patients who have a response, half of them were alive at the 4-year follow-up.
We are seeing that, in those patients who have relapsed/refractory melanoma with survival measured as a few weeks and no effective treatments, about a third of these patients will have a response.
We have the current CAR [T-cell therapies], which target CD19; however, we need others.
“Every patient [with multiple myeloma] should be offered CAR T before they’re offered a bispecific, with some rare exceptions,” said Barry Paul, MD.
Barry Paul, MD, listed cilta-cel, anito-cel, and arlo-cel as 3 of the CAR T-cell therapies with the most promising efficacy in patients with multiple myeloma.
Jose Sandoval Sus, MD, discussed standard CAR T-cell therapies in patients across multiple high-risk lymphoma indications.
Elucidating nonresponses to bispecific T-cell engagers may be an important research consideration in the multiple myeloma field.
Barriers to access and financial toxicities are challenges that must be addressed for CAR T-cell therapies in LBCL, according to Jose Sandoval Sus, MD.
Fixed treatment durations with bispecific antibodies followed by observation may help in mitigating infection-related AEs, according to Shebli Atrash, MD.
Shebli Atrash, MD, stated that MRD should be considered carefully as an end point, given potential recurrence despite MRD negativity.
Related Content
Shebli Atrash, MD, believes the future for treatment in multiple myeloma, as well as solid tumors and beyond, includes immune therapies.

Defining the Role of Immune Therapy in Multiple Myeloma

Roman Fabbricatore
August 9th 2025
Article

Shebli Atrash, MD, believes the future for treatment in multiple myeloma, as well as in solid tumors and beyond, includes immune therapies.

A panel of clinical pharmacists discussed strategies for mitigating toxicities across different multiple myeloma, lymphoma, and leukemia populations.

Navigating AE Management for Cellular Therapy Across Hematologic Cancers

Tiba Al Sagheer, PharmD, BCOP, BCACP;Rebecca Gonzalez, PharmD, BCOP, FASTCT;Syeda Saba Kareem PharmD, BCOP
August 11th 2025
Podcast

A panel of clinical pharmacists discussed strategies for mitigating toxicities across different multiple myeloma, lymphoma, and leukemia populations.

More work is needed to expand access to novel CAR T-cell therapies and bispecific agents among community oncologists, according to Al-Ola A. Abdallah, MD.

Developing a Bridge to Optimize Cellular Therapy Use in Multiple Myeloma

Russ Conroy
August 4th 2025
Article

More work is needed to expand access to novel CAR T-cell therapies and bispecific agents among community oncologists, according to Al-Ola A. Abdallah, MD.

Experts share their perspectives on updated clinical trial results, personalized cancer vaccine research, and other notable developments in kidney cancer.

Key Advances Across Kidney Cancer Research and Management at KCRS 2025

Thomas Powles, MBBS, MCRP, MD;David Braun, MD, PhD;Wenxin (Vincent) Xu, MD;Eric Jonasch, MD
July 28th 2025
Podcast

Experts share their perspectives on updated clinical trial results, personalized cancer vaccine research, and other notable developments in kidney cancer.

Barry Paul, MD, believes cilta-cel, anito-cel, and arlo-cel are some of the most promising CAR T-cell therapies in the multiple myeloma space.

CAR T-Cell Therapies Show Superior Efficacy, Safety in Multiple Myeloma

Tim Cortese
August 1st 2025
Article

Barry Paul, MD, believes cilta-cel, anito-cel, and arlo-cel are some of the most promising CAR T-cell therapies in the multiple myeloma space.

The field is just beginning to open the door for cellular therapy in lung cancer and other solid tumors, according to Daniel R. Carrizosa, MD, MS, FACP.

Tarlatamab and DLL3 May Open New Opportunities in SCLC Management

Russ Conroy
August 1st 2025
Article

The field is just beginning to open the door for cellular therapy in lung cancer and other solid tumors, according to Daniel R. Carrizosa, MD, MS, FACP.