Expert Explains Keytruda Combo Survival Gains in Resistant Ovarian Cancer

The phase 3 KEYNOTE B96 trial showed that Keytruda (pembrolizumab) combined with paclitaxel, with or without bevacizumab, improved overall survival in patients with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

Dr. Nicoletta Colombo, faculty at the University of Milan-Bicocca and Director of the Gynecologic Oncology Program at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, explained in an interview with CURE that the trial not only met its primary endpoint of progression-free survival but also demonstrated an overall survival benefit, offering patients a new treatment option in a setting with significant unmet need.

The benefit was especially pronounced in patients whose tumors were PD-L1 positive, with a combined positive score of one or higher. In this population, median overall survival reached 18 months, one of the longest reported in platinum-resistant, recurrent ovarian cancer. The overall study population had a median survival of 17.7 months, both exceeding historical results.

The survival improvement was achieved against a strong control arm of paclitaxel, with or without bevacizumab, which had a median overall survival of about 14 months.

Transcript

The phase 3 KEYNOTE‑B96 trial showed that Keytruda plus paclitaxel, with or without bevacizumab, improved overall survival in patients with platinum‑resistant ovarian cancer. From your perspective, what is the most important takeaway from these results for patients, and how does it compare to previous treatment options?

The study is quite important, first of all because it’s a randomized phase 3 trial that not only met its primary endpoint of progression‑free survival but also showed an overall survival benefit. That means we now have solid data suggesting that patients with platinum‑resistant ovarian cancer may have another treatment option in a setting with significant unmet need.

I want to underline that we first analyzed overall survival in patients whose tumors express PD‑L1, with a combined positive score of one or higher. In this population, we achieved an improvement in overall survival with a difference in median of more than four months, which is the population included in the FDA‑approved indication.

So just to be clear, even though we also saw an overall survival benefit in the broader study population, this PD‑L1‑positive group is particularly important. An 18‑month median overall survival in that PD‑L1‑positive population is one of the longest ever reported in platinum‑resistant, recurrent ovarian cancer, and the overall population median of 17.7 months is also unprecedented when compared with historical results.

It’s also important because this improvement in overall survival was demonstrated against a very high‑performing control arm — paclitaxel with or without bevacizumab, which in this setting had a median overall survival of about 14 months.

References

1. “KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) Plus Paclitaxel With or Without Bevacizumab Significantly Improved Key Secondary Endpoint of Overall Survival (OS) Versus Paclitaxel With or Without Bevacizumab in Patients With Platinum-Resistant Recurrent Ovarian Cancer” by Dr. Nicoletta Colombo, et al., presented at the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology 2026 Congress.

Transcript has been edited for clarity and conciseness.

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