Efficacy and Safety of PD-1 Inhibitor-Based Treatment in Advanced Cervical Cancer

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Shunqin Hu, Xiuying Li

 
For citation: Hu S, Li X. Efficacy and Safety of PD-1 Inhibitor-Based Treatment in Advanced Cervical Cancer. International Journal of Biomedicine. 2026;16(1):46-52. doi:10.21103/Article16(1)_OA5
 
Originally published March 5, 2026

Abstract: 

Background: This meta-analysis aimed to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of PD-1 inhibitor-based treatment in advanced cervical cancer patients.  
Methods and Results: PubMed and Web of Science were systematically searched for relevant studies. This meta-analysis comprises 14 studies involving 1504 patients. The pooled results of ORR (objective response rate) and DCR (disease control rate) are as follows, respectively: 1) 16% and 53% in patients who were treated with a PD-1 inhibitor; 2) 26% and 56% in patients who were treated with a PD-1 plus a CTLA-4 inhibitor; 3) 68% and 92% in patients who were treated with a PD-1 inhibitor plus an antiangiogenic agent. Patients treated with a PD-1 inhibitor, a PD-1 inhibitor plus an antiangiogenic agent, or single-agent pembrolizumab experienced ≥ grade 3 adverse events at rates of 21%, 50%, and 10%, respectively.
Conclusion: Although the therapeutic efficacy of a PD-1 inhibitor plus an antiangiogenic agent is superior to PD-1 inhibitor monotherapy or the combination of a PD-1 and CTLA-4 inhibitor, this combination is more toxic than other treatment strategies. Further evidence from large-scale randomized controlled trials is needed to validate the current results.

Keywords: 
cervical cancer • immunotherapy • efficacy • safety
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Received November 22, 2025.
Accepted December 30, 2025.
©2026 International Medical Research and Development Corporation.