A case series on the efficacy and safety of a PD-1 inhibitor combined with antiangiogenic agents in the treatment of recurrent MSI-H endometrial cancer

Background: Endometrial cancer (EC) is one of the most common gynecological malignancies in developed countries worldwide. The treatment of recurrent endometrial cancer is a very difficult problem in clinical work. Studies on patients with recurrent EC microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) are very rare. The objective of this study is to initially evaluate the therapeutic effect of a PD-1 inhibitor combined with antiangiogenic agents in the treatment of recurrent MSI-H endometrial cancer.

Methods: Eight patients with recurrent MSI-H endometrial cancer were recruited from Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital from July 2019 to July 2021, and their median age was 55.3 (range, 46-62) years. All patients experienced recurrence after surgical treatment, and the median recurrence and metastasis time was 6.6 (range, 4-10) months. The pathological types were all endometrioid carcinomas. PD-1 inhibitors were selected from camrelizumab or pembrolizumab, and antiangiogenic targeted agents were selected from apatinib or anlotinib.

Results: The median follow-up time was 11.0 (range, 5-19) months. In the case series, all 8 cases could be evaluated for curative effect with complete response in 4 cases and partial response in 4 cases. The overall objective response rate was 100%.

Conclusions: PD-1 inhibitors combined with antiangiogenic agents may have good therapeutic effects on patients with recurrent MSI-H endometrial cancer and may become an important method for the treatment of recurrent endometrial cancer in the future.