A phase 2 study of combined chemo-immunotherapy with cisplatin-pembrolizumab and radiation for unresectable vulvar squamous cell carcinoma.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Unresectable or metastatic vulvar cancer has relatively poor outcomes despite chemotherapy-sensitized radiation therapy and combination cytotoxic therapy. Despite the virus-associated and immunogenic nature of this disease, novel immunotherapy options that exploit this advantage are currently lacking. Platinum agents such as cisplatin have been shown to prime dendritic cells for T-cell costimulation, promote downregulation of inhibitory checkpoint molecules, and sensitize tumor cells to cytotoxic T-cell killing. Radiation therapy has also been shown to promote immunogenetic cell death as monotherapy and in combination with cisplatin. In combination with pembrolizumab, cisplatin-sensitized radiation is hypothesized to increase overall response rates and recurrence-free su

SUBMITTER: Yeku O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7491059 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature