Updated results from the Phase 2 COLIBRI trial suggest that adding immunotherapy before and after standard chemoradiation can significantly improve outcomes for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. After a median follow-up of about 40 months, the treatment achieved a 3-year progression-free survival rate of 83% and an overall survival rate of 90%.
Patients with earlier-stage disease experienced the best outcomes, while those with more advanced disease also showed strong survival rates. Researchers found that the effectiveness of treatment was closely linked to the tumor’s immune activity. Patients whose tumors were already immune-active, or became immune-active after initial immunotherapy, had much better outcomes than those whose tumors remained immune-inactive.
The treatment included one cycle of nivolumab plus ipilimumab before chemoradiation, followed by six months of nivolumab maintenance therapy. No new safety concerns emerged during long-term follow-up, and most patients completed the full treatment course.
Researchers are now studying blood-based biomarkers and circulating tumor DNA to better predict treatment response. A follow-up study, COLIBRI-2, is already underway to evaluate a new immunotherapy combination designed to activate more immune-resistant tumors.