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Keytruda is an immunotherapy drug that contains pembrolizumab. Currently, it’s among most promising methods to fight malignant neoplasms. American Association of Clinical Oncologists state that Keytruda has reached the highest survival rates of patients in the history of cancer treatment. The Food and Drug Administration in the USA is actively testing the drug. In 2020 the organization approved Keytruda for the treatment of 4 more cancers. Find out from our article about cancers treatable by Keytruda and at which clinics it is available.


 

 

 

WHAT NEW CANCER METHODS HAVE GREEN LIGHT FOR KEYTRUDA TREATMENT?

keytruda for colon cancer solid tumors melanoma bladder cancer

The year 2020 brought good news for cancer patients – the FDA recognized Keytruda as safe and effective for therapy of:

    иконка галочкиbladder cancer;  

    иконка галочкиmetastatic solid tumours in children and adults; 

    иконка галочкиmetastatic and relapsing flat cell skin cancer; 

    иконка галочки colorectal stage 3-4 cancer with metastases.  

In the summer of 2020, the FDA also approved the testing necessary for Keytruda prescription. It is provided by the USA-based company FoundationOneCD. The lab analysis can reliably predict the health risks for patients with solid tumours.

FOUNDATIONONE CDX GENETIC TEST TO DETERMINE INDICATIONS FOR KEYTRUDA

Mutations in certain genes are considered the main cause of cancer. Genetic tests for cancer markers are the most accurate way to learn about the development of oncology even at 0 or 1 stage. Multigenic mutation analysis in “hot spots” checks the areas of genes where the most frequent changes that lead to cancer development.

 


The FoundationOne CDX method helps to determine the presence of a solid tumour and indications for Keytruda immune drug. The FDA has named F1CDx the most comprehensive and detailed method for diagnosing solid tumours. It analyzes the smallest changes in 324 genes. The accuracy of the test is 94,6%.


 

F1CDx is suitable for the diagnosis of all solid tumours regardless of stage or organ. For oncologists to perform this test, the patient must undergo a biopsy. During the procedure, the doctor takes a sample of the tumour tissue. The results of the biopsy are sent to an American laboratory for analysis. The patient receives the doctor’s opinion two weeks after taking the tissue sample.


Based on the results of the test, oncologists determine the stage of the oncological process and select treatment methods. With this test, doctors can decide on the prescription of pembrolizumab.


Conducting a genetic test before prescribing Keytruda is important, as the drug is not suitable for everyone. For it to be effective and safe in humans, PD-1 protein must be active. Otherwise, the drug may cause serious side effects. Before F1CDx approval, the indication for immunotherapy was a genetic test for the activity of protein PD-1.

FOUNDATIONONE CDX GENETIC TEST TO DETERMINE INDICATIONS FOR KEYTRUDA

METASTATIC COLORECTAL CANCER TREATMENT WITH KEYTRUDA

METASTATIC COLORECTAL CANCER TREATMENT WITH KEYTRUDA

Stage 4 colorectal cancer was considered an incurable disease. According to the American Cancer Society, 71 patients out of 100 may live 5 years if metastases have spread to lymph nodes and the nearest organs. If metastases are found in remote parts of the body, the survival rate drops to 14%. These results were achieved with chemotherapy.

 

During clinical trials, Keytruda showed the best efficiency. The survival rate of patients in the last stage of colorectal cancer who received pembrolizumab has doubled. Therapy with this drug is less toxic to the body. Side effects of taking Keytruda in the treatment of colorectal cancer included fatigue, reduced appetite, diarrhoea, cough, shortness of breath, in rare cases – inflammation of the organs.

 

Richard Pazdur, director of the FDA Cancer Center of Excellence the FDA Cancer Center of Excellence noted the importance of endorsing Keytruda to cancer patients: “The choice of non-chemotherapy for individual patients with metastatic colorectal cancer is a remarkable paradigm shift in oncology”.

  

    KEYTRUDA TREATMENT OF SKIN CANCER

    Patients with melanoma are given the most favourable prognosis by doctors. More than 98% live 5 years if the cancer is diagnosed in stages 1, 2 or 3. Skin cancer begins to metastasize 6 weeks after the cancer process begins. According to the American Cancer Society, at stage 4, 20% of patients surpass the five-year survival threshold.

     

    Melanoma at stage 4 is usually treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. Both treatments may cause unpleasant side effects or be ineffective in the presence of metastases in distant organs.

     

    Keytruda combines two advantages: it helps cure skin cancer, which could not be treated by other methods, and is less toxic to the body. On average, after pembrolizumab therapy, 34% of patients have a complete recovery. This is a significant breakthrough compared to the results of conservative treatment.

    KEYTRUDA THERAPY FOR BLADDER CANCER

    Pembrolizumab can now be prescribed to treat non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. This type of cancer is found in 75% of patients with a malignant bladder tumour.

     

    This pathology was previously treated with chemotherapy and cystectomy. However, in 50% of the patients, cancer came back again. Also, some patients are immune to chemotherapy or who are contraindicated in bladder removal. In that case, Keytruda could help them.

     

    After therapy with Keytruda, in 41% of patients, the bladder tumour has completely disappeared. A reduction in neoplasm was observed in 46% of patients. Patients were monitored for 16 months and no relapse occurred during this time.

KEYTRUDA TREATMENT FOR SOLID TUMORS

KEYTRUDA TREATMENT FOR SOLID TUMORS

Since June 2020, solid tumours can be treated with Keytruda. The main indications for the drug are:

 

    иконка галочкиa significant gene-specific mutation;  

    иконка галочкиdeterioration of the condition after treatment; 

    иконка галочкиimpossibility of treatment by other methods. 

 

The drug was effective for 29% of patients with stage 3 and 4 cancer. At the same time, 4% of oncological patients managed to achieve full recovery. In 50% of patients, the treatment result was preserved for more than 2 years without relapses.

 

The most frequent adverse reactions after Keytruda included fatigue, rashes, itching, coughing, stomach pain. A small proportion of patients had endocrinopathy and colitis. The drug does not have the same toxic effect on the body like chemotherapy.

WHAT TYPES OF CANCER CAN BE TREATED WITH KEYTRUDA?

Previously, the Food and Drug Administration and the European Commission (EC) authorized the prescription of Keytruda for treatment of:

 

    иконка галочкиmetastasizing stomach tumours;  

    иконка галочкиHodgkin lymphomas in children and adults; 

    иконка галочкиinoperable or relapsing cervical cancer; 

    иконка галочкиmultiple B-cell lymphomas;  

    иконка галочкиflat cell lung cancer; 

    иконка галочкиhepatocellular carcinoma (liver cancer); 

    иконка галочкиMerkel carcinomas (rare skin tumour);  

    иконка галочкиrenal adenocarcinomas; 

    иконка галочкиflat cell cancer of the neck and head. 

IN WHICH CLINICS IS KEYTRUDA TREATMENT AVAILABLE

Keytruda is available at foreign clinics. Treatment with this drug in JCI and ISO certified hospitals ensures that you will receive a safe and original drug from the manufacturer Merck & Co. At the moment, the FDA has approved the drug only from this company. Benefits of immunotherapy treatment for cancer abroad:

 

    иконка галочкиthe ability to perform a reliable genetic test to determine indications for the drug;  

    иконка галочкиaccess to original tests and drugs – insurance against counterfeiting

    иконка галочкиthe treatment program is designed by a consilium of doctors of different specializations, taking into account individual health characteristics; 

    иконка галочкиcontinuous monitoring by professionals and prompt assistance with side effects. 

 

Clinics with a good reputation and high survival rates of cancer patients:

 

 

    Resume

    иконка галочки Keytruda is an immunotherapy drug that contains pembrolizumab. Currently, it’s among most promising methods to fight malignant neoplasms. 

    иконка галочки In the summer of 2020, the FDA also approved the testing necessary for Keytruda prescription. It is provided by the USA-based company FoundationOneCD. The lab analysis can reliably predict the health risks for patients with solid tumours. The test analyzes mutations in 324 genes. Its accuracy is 94.6%.
     

    иконка галочки It can now be used to treat flat cell skin cancer, metastatic solid tumors, bladder cancer and stage 4 colorectal cancer.
     

    иконка галочки It is possible to undergo treatment with Keytruda at foreign clinics. MediGlobus recommends to pay attention to Koç Clinic in Turkey, Sourasky Medical Centre in Israel, Quironsalud Hospitals Group in Spain and Samsung Medical Centre in South Korea.
     

Stay with MediGlobus and keep up to date with the latest news on the latest developments in foreign medicine. If you need help from a neurologist abroad – leave an appointment. Our coordinators will help you find a clinic that offers a treatment program that will help you.

FDA approved 4 more cancers for Keytruda treatment

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Sources:

 

  1. 1. Keytruda’s effectiveness in lung cancer
  2. 2. Statement by the Association of Clinical Oncologists
  3. 3. Keytruda Website
  4. 4. FDA approval for treatment of colorectal cancer with metastases
  5. 5.FDA approval for the treatment of recurrent or metastatic skin cancer
  6. 6. FDA approval for metastatic solid tumor treatment in adults and children
  7. 7. FDA approval for bladder cancer treatment
  8. 8. Colorectal cancer statistics
  9. 9. Methods of treating bladder cancer and their effectiveness
  10. 10. What is the FoundationOne CDx test
  11. 11. How the FoundationOne CDx understands the indications for Keytruda
  12. 12. FDA FoundationOne CDx Approval
  13. 13. Melanoma survival rate


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