Pembrolizumab and lenvatinib in the treatment of recurrent ovarian carcinoma: A single institution experience

Background: Advanced stage ovarian carcinoma has a poor prognosis with recurrence rates of over 80%, 5-year survival of 36–45%, and limited response to standard therapy. Pembrolizumab and lenvatinib are FDA approved for treatment of microsatellite stable (MSS)/mismatch repair proficient (pMMR) endom...

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Main Authors: Helen Toma, Rebeca Kelly, Chelsea Katz, Hannah Hong, Hannah Diasti, David P. Warshal, Lauren Krill
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Gynecologic Oncology Reports
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352578925001365
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author Helen Toma
Rebeca Kelly
Chelsea Katz
Hannah Hong
Hannah Diasti
David P. Warshal
Lauren Krill
author_facet Helen Toma
Rebeca Kelly
Chelsea Katz
Hannah Hong
Hannah Diasti
David P. Warshal
Lauren Krill
author_sort Helen Toma
collection DOAJ
description Background: Advanced stage ovarian carcinoma has a poor prognosis with recurrence rates of over 80%, 5-year survival of 36–45%, and limited response to standard therapy. Pembrolizumab and lenvatinib are FDA approved for treatment of microsatellite stable (MSS)/mismatch repair proficient (pMMR) endometrial and renal cell cancers. Early phase II studies have shown promising results in a variety of advanced solid tumors, including ovarian cancer. We report on the clinical outcome of recurrent MSS/pMMR ovarian cancer patients treated with this therapy. Methods: For this retrospective cohort study, patients with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer treated with pembrolizumab and lenvatinib from January 2020 to April 2024 at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper were identified. Demographic data, tumor characteristics, germline/somatic genetic testing, treatment duration, and toxicity were collected. Response rate by RECIST criteria, progression free survival (PFS), and clinical benefit rate were calculated. Results: Sixteen patients were identified. Most had high-grade serous (n = 11, 68.75 %) or clear cell histologies (n = 4, 25 %) and FIGO stage III/IV disease (n = 15, 93.75 %). Eighty-one percent had platinum resistant recurrent disease. Three patients discontinued therapy after one cycle, unrelated to drug toxicity, and were non-evaluable for response. Of 13 patients evaluable for response, 54 % had a partial response and 31 % had stable disease. The 6-month clinical benefit rate was 69 %. The median PFS for all evaluable patients was 7.9 months. At the time of data analysis, 2 patients remained on treatment. Conclusion: Pembrolizumab-lenvatinib therapy demonstrated favorable clinical benefit in recurrent, platinum resistant MSS/pMMR ovarian cancer, a group of patients in need of more therapeutic options.
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spelling doaj-art-dbac5d7ec6fd4d069d4b9c3ece6d58052025-08-21T04:17:14ZengElsevierGynecologic Oncology Reports2352-57892025-08-016010181110.1016/j.gore.2025.101811Pembrolizumab and lenvatinib in the treatment of recurrent ovarian carcinoma: A single institution experienceHelen Toma0Rebeca Kelly1Chelsea Katz2Hannah Hong3Hannah Diasti4David P. Warshal5Lauren Krill6MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper University, Camden, NJ, USA; Corresponding author at: MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper University Hospital, 2 Cooper Plaza, Camden, NJ, 08013, USA.Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USAMD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper University, Camden, NJ, USAMD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper University, Camden, NJ, USACooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ, USAMD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper University, Camden, NJ, USAMD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper University, Camden, NJ, USABackground: Advanced stage ovarian carcinoma has a poor prognosis with recurrence rates of over 80%, 5-year survival of 36–45%, and limited response to standard therapy. Pembrolizumab and lenvatinib are FDA approved for treatment of microsatellite stable (MSS)/mismatch repair proficient (pMMR) endometrial and renal cell cancers. Early phase II studies have shown promising results in a variety of advanced solid tumors, including ovarian cancer. We report on the clinical outcome of recurrent MSS/pMMR ovarian cancer patients treated with this therapy. Methods: For this retrospective cohort study, patients with a diagnosis of ovarian cancer treated with pembrolizumab and lenvatinib from January 2020 to April 2024 at MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper were identified. Demographic data, tumor characteristics, germline/somatic genetic testing, treatment duration, and toxicity were collected. Response rate by RECIST criteria, progression free survival (PFS), and clinical benefit rate were calculated. Results: Sixteen patients were identified. Most had high-grade serous (n = 11, 68.75 %) or clear cell histologies (n = 4, 25 %) and FIGO stage III/IV disease (n = 15, 93.75 %). Eighty-one percent had platinum resistant recurrent disease. Three patients discontinued therapy after one cycle, unrelated to drug toxicity, and were non-evaluable for response. Of 13 patients evaluable for response, 54 % had a partial response and 31 % had stable disease. The 6-month clinical benefit rate was 69 %. The median PFS for all evaluable patients was 7.9 months. At the time of data analysis, 2 patients remained on treatment. Conclusion: Pembrolizumab-lenvatinib therapy demonstrated favorable clinical benefit in recurrent, platinum resistant MSS/pMMR ovarian cancer, a group of patients in need of more therapeutic options.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352578925001365
spellingShingle Helen Toma
Rebeca Kelly
Chelsea Katz
Hannah Hong
Hannah Diasti
David P. Warshal
Lauren Krill
Pembrolizumab and lenvatinib in the treatment of recurrent ovarian carcinoma: A single institution experience
Gynecologic Oncology Reports
title Pembrolizumab and lenvatinib in the treatment of recurrent ovarian carcinoma: A single institution experience
title_full Pembrolizumab and lenvatinib in the treatment of recurrent ovarian carcinoma: A single institution experience
title_fullStr Pembrolizumab and lenvatinib in the treatment of recurrent ovarian carcinoma: A single institution experience
title_full_unstemmed Pembrolizumab and lenvatinib in the treatment of recurrent ovarian carcinoma: A single institution experience
title_short Pembrolizumab and lenvatinib in the treatment of recurrent ovarian carcinoma: A single institution experience
title_sort pembrolizumab and lenvatinib in the treatment of recurrent ovarian carcinoma a single institution experience
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352578925001365
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