The NHS has fast-tracked a new immunotherapy through its Cancer Drugs Fund that could offer women with advanced endometrial cancer "significant extra time before their disease progresses."

The government said trials have shown that adding dostarlimab (a type of immunotherapy) to chemotherapy can slow the spread of certain forms of endometrial cancer, giving patients the hope of more time to live before their condition worsens.

The NHS will begin offering the treatment as of today, following approval by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
 

The treatment will be offered to women whose advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer has certain genetic profiles known as high microsatellite instability (MSI) or mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR), which are present in around a quarter of womb cancers.

It is estimated that around 200 women living with advanced primary or recurrent endometrial cancer will be eligible each year.

Clinical trials showed that nearly two thirds of patients treated with dostarlimab alongside standard chemotherapy had not seen their cancer progress after 12 months of treatment, more than twice the rate seen in patients treated with chemotherapy alone.

Dr Chloe Barr, trustee and advocacy lead at Peaches Womb Cancer Trust, said the new treatment will "provide options for patients currently facing the frightening reality of very few effective anti-cancer treatments."

She added: “Today’s decision is very welcome news, and we hope that this is just the first step towards wider availability of more effective first-line treatment options for those affected by this devastating cancer.

Womb cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women in the UK – with around 9,400 women diagnosed with womb cancer every year.

Endometrial cancer is the most common type of womb cancer, and while it often has a better prognosis than other womb cancers if diagnosed early, advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma can be challenging to treat with short survival times.