Dr. Slomovitz on the Key Objectives of the KEYNOTE-B21 Trial in High-Risk Endometrial Cancer

Brian M. Slomovitz, MD, co-chair, Cancer Research Committee, director, Gynecologic Oncology, Mount Sinai Medical Center Miami Beach; clinical trial advisor, member, Board of Directors, the GOG Foundation; professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Florida International University, discusses the phase 3 ENGOT-en11/GOG-3053/KEYNOTE-B21 trial (NCT04634877).

The trial in progress is evaluating pembrolizumab vs placebo in combination with adjuvant chemotherapy with or without radiation therapy in patients with newly diagnosed high-risk endometrial cancer after surgery with curative intent, Slomovitz says. This trial is unique in that it allows for the administration of radiation therapy based on clinician discretion, Slomovitz adds. Adjuvant trials in endometrial cancer have proven to be difficult to get started, according to Slomovitz, who adds that KEYNOTE-B21 seeks to enroll 990 patients.

The purpose of the large, global trial is to understand whether the addition of pembrolizumab will improve outcomes in patients with high-risk endometrial cancer, Slomovitz adds. It is known that immunotherapy is effective in those with recurrent disease and for those with microsatellite instability, immunotherapy in the single-agent setting would be indicated, Slomovitz concludes.