NHS to roll out new life-extending cervical cancer treatment

An immunotherapy drug for cervical cancer will soon be made available to NHS patients – making it the first new addition to NHS treatment for incurable cervical cancer for 14 years.

Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) will be made available through the Cancer Drugs Fund after NICE recommended its use in final draft guidance published today (29 March).

The treatment will be offered to certain patients with cervical cancer whose disease has not responded to other treatments, with around 400 people expected to benefit over the next three years.

Pembrolizumab is one of more than 100 drugs to be fast-tracked to patients thanks to the Cancer Drugs Fund, which allows patients to have earlier access to treatments while further clinical evidence is generated.

How does pembrolizumab work and how effective is it?

Pembrolizumab works by stimulating the body’s immune system to fight the cancer cells, targeting and blocking PD-L1 (a protein that acts as a “brake” to keep the body’s immune responses under control) on the surface of certain immune cells, which then seek out and destroy the cancerous cells.

While clinical trials are still ongoing, early evidence suggests that that patients taking pembrolizumab may live longer overall (by up to 8 months), and can live for longer without their disease getting worse.

NICE says further clinical trials will now be undertaken to fully analyse its clinical and cost effectiveness before it can be considered for routine NHS use.

A longer and better quality of life for cervical cancer patients

Helen Knight, director of medicines evaluation at NICE, said: “We have recommended 53 cancer treatments for use in the CDF since 2016, benefitting around 55,000 people. Most treatments funded by the CDF are subsequently recommended by NICE for routine NHS use.

“People with advanced cervical cancer have limited treatment options beyond standard care and an effective treatment would be welcomed.”

NHS England have also welcomed the new treatment, saying it will allow hundreds of women with advanced cervical cancer to enjoy a longer and better quality of life.

NHS England’s Director of Specialised Commissioning and interim Commercial Medicines Director, John Stewart, said: “After nearly 15 years without a new treatment for this type of advanced cervical cancer, this first immunotherapy marks a significant step forward that will provide hundreds of people with precious time with their loved ones.

“This is the 243rd treatment offered through the Cancer Drugs Fund that enables the NHS to provide faster access to cutting-edge cancer treatments for patients, while further data about its long-term clinical benefit can be collected”