Dr. Tewari on Immunotherapeutic Strategies in Cervical Cancer

Krishnansu Tewari, MD, associate professor, Division of Gynecologic Oncology, University of California, Irvine, discusses immunotherapeutic strategies in recurrent cervical cancer.

There are many immunotherapeutic strategies that are being investigated in cervical cancer. One of them, explains Tewari, is the use of atezolizumab (Tecentriq) in the frontline setting of recurrent disease. It will be similar to the phase III GOG 240 trial in which adding bevacizumab (Avastin) to chemotherapy improved overall survival for women with cervical cancer. The trial, run through Genetech, will examine a chemotherapy doublet plus bevacizumab with or without atezolizumab.

Additionally, another study is being done by Lion Pharmaceuticals Inc. looking at tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). The technology’s ability to isolate the TILs, expand them, and reinfuse them into the patient has demonstrated some durable complete responses that have been reported by the NCI, says Tewari.

Finally, Advaxis has a therapeutic vaccine in the primary setting for locally advanced disease. It is a modified listeria that contains the HPV16 E7, which is a viral oncoprotein. The combination of the 2, explains Tewari, will in theory rev up the immune system. This is being studied as maintenance therapy in the frontline setting.