Immunotherapy Combinations
In February 2026, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new treatment for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer that combines immunotherapy and chemotherapy infusions: pembrolizumab (Keytruda) plus weekly paclitaxel (Taxol), with or without bevacizumab (Avastin).
Here is a breakdown of this drug combination:
- Pembrolizumab “is an immunotherapy that helps the immune system attack cancer by removing blockers that cancer uses to evade immune detection,” says David O’Malley, MD, director of the division of gynecologic oncology at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center in Columbus. These blockers refer to the programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) protein that cancer cells can use to connect with certain immune cells and avoid being recognized by the immune system.
- Paclitaxel is a chemotherapy drug that interferes with cancer cells’ ability to divide and multiply, which helps slow or stop their growth.
- Bevacizumab is a targeted therapy that blocks the growth of new blood vessels, essentially cutting off the tumors’ nutrient supply. Whether bevacizumab is included in this combination treatment depends on your health history and whether your oncology team feels it’s a safe option for you.
Together, these medications attack the tumor in different ways while also helping the immune system recognize and fight cancer cells, says Josephine Kim, MD, a gynecologic oncologist at City of Hope Orange County in Irvine, California.
What Research Found
Paclitaxel, given weekly and especially when combined with bevacizumab, was already a well-established treatment for platinum-resistant ovarian cancer before this approval, Dr. O’Malley says. Researchers wanted to see whether adding pembrolizumab could improve outcomes.
Who May Be Eligible
This treatment is approved for people with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer who have already received one or two prior treatments and whose tumors test positive for the PD-L1 protein.
Testing the tumor for PD-L1 can help healthcare providers determine whether this immunotherapy combination may be an option, Dr. Kim says.
Side Effects
Because this treatment uses three types of medication, the side effects vary widely depending on which drug is causing them.
The following side effects were reported in the clinical trial:
- Anemia (low red blood cell count)
- Neutropenia (low white blood cell count, which can raise infection risk)
- Fatigue
- Hair loss
- Nausea or vomiting
- Peripheral neuropathy (numbness, tingling, or pain in the hands or feet)
Pembrolizumab can cause the immune system to attack healthy organs and tissues, leading to inflammation in the lungs, colon, liver, thyroid, or other organs. Depending on how severe the reaction is, your care team may pause or stop immunotherapy, says Kulkarni.
“While some side effects can be serious, they’re often manageable when identified early, which is why patients are monitored closely and encouraged to report new or worsening symptoms right away,” Kim says.
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