Uterine Cancer Treatment Advances

Uterine cancer is the ninth most common type of cancer in the United States, representing more than 3% of all new cancer cases every year. It is also a highly treatable form of cancer, with surgery (hysterectomy), radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy among the options for doctors and their patients. And new developments in all of those treatments are coming out all the time.

Scientists now have complex ways to collect detailed genetic information about cancerous uterine tumors. Armed with tumor-specific data, doctors can recommend treatment plans tailored to the individual. One of the advances in studying tumor genetics is called next-generation sequencing (NGS), a process of rapidly collecting large amounts of genetic information. NGS can help manage uterine cancer.

Immunotherapy helps the body’s immune system identify and attack cancer cells. Examples of  immunotherapy drugs used for endometrial cancer include avelumab (Bavencio), dostarlimab (Jemperli), durvalumab (Imfinzi), nivolumab (Opdivo), and pembrolizumab (Keytruda). Recent research suggests that adding immunotherapy to standard cancer treatment may help slow or stall disease progression. Experts say it’s likely immunotherapy may become much more commonly used to treat advanced uterine cancer.

Targeted therapy uses drugs that interfere with the growth of cancer cells, while sparing most healthy cells. This treatment is usually reserved for high-risk cancers that have metastasized (spread) or recurred (come back after treatment). Drugs used in targeted therapies include bevacizumab (Avastin), lenvatinib (Lenvima), and trastuzumab (Herceptin), among others. They are sometimes used along with chemotherapy. Some drugs are taken orally, while others are given through an IV.

Instead of having a hysterectomy through one large cut in your belly area (abdomen), you may be a candidate for a less-invasive procedure called laparoscopic surgery. This involves a few small cuts in the belly, and a tiny camera used to see inside you. Some laparoscopic surgeries are done with a doctor controlling robotic arms that perform the delicate procedure. Laparoscopic surgeries have a faster recovery time than abdominal surgery.

Radiation therapy uses high-energy radiation to shrink or destroy cancer cells. Promising new developments include MRI-guided procedures, which use magnetic resonance imaging and a device called a linear accelerator for more precise targeting of the tumors. Research is also showing how combining radiation therapy with chemotherapy after surgery is proving to work better than radiation therapy alone.

Hormone therapy may be an option for some people, such as those with advanced-stage or recurrent cancer. It's also sometimes used if surgery isn't possible or if the person wishes to keep their uterus in hopes of getting pregnant. This type of hormone therapy is different from that used to treat symptoms of menopause. Hormones and hormone-blocking drugs used for this treatment include progestins, tamoxifen, and aromatase inhibitors.

Uterine cancer treatment is an active area of research, particularly with a steady increase in the number of clinical trials involving immunotherapy. Clinical trials have risks and benefits. Experimental treatments may be no better than standard therapies and may bring on serious side effects. Clinical trials also mean you may have access to helpful treatments that aren't available to the public. If interested, talk with your doctor.

Research in recent years suggests that women may have more serious side effects from certain uterine cancer treatments than was thought before. As a result, health care professionals are becoming more aware of the importance of monitoring and responding to changes in a person's quality of life, particularly as a result of advanced uterine cancer treatment.

Recent advances in treatments are improving how well and how long people with cancer are living. Advances in areas such as immunotherapy are not only improving the survival odds of people with uterine cancer, but are doing so with tolerable side effects. If you have been diagnosed with uterine cancer, talk with your doctor about all of your treatment options in order to find the best, most promising plan for you.