A recent clinical trial conducted in Singapore has revealed that a novel drug combination significantly enhances treatment outcomes for patients with recurrent or advanced nasopharyngeal cancer. The trial, led by the National University Cancer Institute, Singapore (NCIS), demonstrated that a combination of pembrolizumab and bevacizumab increased tumour response rates by more than four times compared to pembrolizumab alone.
The study, published in The Lancet Oncology on 15 January 2025, involved 48 patients from the National University Hospital, NCIS, and Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Results showed that 58.3% of patients receiving the drug cocktail experienced tumour shrinkage or disappearance, compared to just 12.5% in the single-drug group. The median progression-free survival was notably longer at 13.8 months for the combination therapy, as opposed to 1.6 months for the single drug.
Pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy drug, works by blocking the PD-1 protein on immune cells, enhancing their ability to attack cancer cells. Bevacizumab targets the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which is abundant in nasopharyngeal cancer cells, helping to normalise blood vessels and facilitate immune cell movement into the tumour.
Professor Goh Boon Cher, Deputy Director of NCIS, highlighted the significance of the findings, stating that the combination therapy could potentially change treatment practices. Dr Chong Wan Qin, a lead investigator, noted the therapy’s potential to extend progression-free survival and improve quality of life for patients who have exhausted standard treatments.
This breakthrough offers new hope for nasopharyngeal cancer patients, particularly in Singapore, where it is the third most common cancer among men aged 30 to 49. The study was supported by various Singaporean health and research bodies, underscoring the collaborative effort to advance cancer treatment.
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