KEYTRUDA® is indicated for:
- First-line treatment of locally advanced unresectable or metastatic carcinoma of the esophagus or HER2 negative adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (tumour centre 1 to 5 centimetres above the gastric cardia) in combination with platinum and fluoropyrimidine based chemotherapy, in adult patients.
Anatomy of esophageal cancer3,4
Cancer Stages: Locally advanced unresectable, Metastatic
Tumor Location: Esophagus, Esophagogastric junction
NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®*) for Esophageal and Esophagogastric Junction Cancers
Systemic therapy recommendations for unresectable locally advanced or metastatic cancer (where local therapy is not indicated)5
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Pembrolizumab, fluoropyrimidine and cisplatin is a preferred first-line therapy regimen option.
Flexible dosing with KEYTRUDA®1
Recommended dosing regimen for esophageal cancer: administered as a 30-minute IV infusion every 30 minutes and that can be given as 200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks up to 24 months or until disease recurrence or unacceptable toxicity.
Let patients know that they have two options for KEYTRUDA® dosing, and discuss which regimen is right for them.
Learn more about KEYTRUDA®‘s recommended dosing.
Learn MoreFU=fluorouracil.
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References:
1. KEYTRUDA® Product Monograph. Merck Canada Inc. April 19, 2023.
2. Health Canada Notice of Compliance Search. https://health-products.canada.ca/noc-ac/index-eng.jsp. Accessed September 27, 2022.
3. American Cancer Society. What is Esophageal Cancer? Accessed August 6, 2022. Available at:https://www.cancer.org/cancer/esophagus-cancer/about/what-is-cancer-of-the-esophagus.html.
4. Marieb EN. The Digestive System and Body Metabolism (Chapter 14). Essentials of Human Anatomy & Physiology, 7th Edition. Copyright © 2003 Pearson Education, Inc.
5. Referenced with permission from the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines®) for Esophageal Cancer V.2.2022. © National Comprehensive Cancer Network, Inc. 2021. All rights reserved. Accessed February 18, 2022. To view the most recent and complete version of the guideline, go online to NCCN.org. NCCN makes no warranties of any kind whatsoever regarding their content, use or application and disclaims any responsibility for their application or use in any way.