Loading Curie Briefs...
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
A phase 2 trial found that combining pemetrexed and pembrolizumab produced durable responses in patients with recurrent or metastatic salivary gland cancer — a disease with no FDA-approved treatments. The objective response rate hit 63.6%, with responses lasting a median of over 15 months. The regimen was also notably well tolerated, with many patients staying on treatment for the full two-year study period.
Salivary gland cancer is a rare, heterogeneous disease with more than 20 subtypes and zero FDA-approved therapies — making every treatment win count. A new phase 2 trial is offering some real hope: the combination of pemetrexed (a chemotherapy agent typically used in lung cancer) and pembrolizumab (an immune checkpoint inhibitor) showed promising and durable activity in patients with recurrent or metastatic salivary gland cancer, particularly those with salivary duct carcinoma.
The trial enrolled 25 patients, with 24 receiving treatment. Responses were seen across multiple subtypes, including acinic cell and mucoepidermoid carcinoma — subtypes historically resistant to treatment. Notably, the regimen was well tolerated, with many patients completing the full ~2-year treatment course, which is unusual for chemotherapy-based regimens.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: With no approved standard of care, oncologists treating salivary gland cancer are largely navigating uncharted territory. This combination — easy to administer and well tolerated — could become a meaningful option, potentially finding its way into NCCN guidelines pending further study.
