Tumor Local Microenvironment Is a Key Factor Affecting the Efficacy of PD-1 Inhibitor in Advanced Cervical Cancer: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Introduction: Conventional radiotherapy or chemotherapy is ineffective in the treatment of recurrent and metastatic cervical cancer. In recent years, immunotherapy has shown promise in the treatment of various solid tumours, including cervical cancer. The overall response rate of the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor in cervical cancer is 14% -27%, and when combined with radiotherapy or conventional chemotherapy, the overall response rate can be further improved. Case presentation: We report here a case of a 49-year-old female patient presenting with two metastatic lesions of cervical cancer after postoperative radiotherapy, the first was located in the para-aortic region and the second in the presacral region. The enlarged para-aortic lymph nodes had not previously received radiotherapy, while the enlarged presacral lymph nodes had previously received postoperative radiotherapy. Treatment results showed that the recurrent presacral mass did not respond to the PD-1 inhibitor (camrelizumab) alone, whereas the metastatic para-aortic lymph nodes responded favourably to camrelizumab combined with low-intensity radiotherapy. Conclusion: PD1/PD-L1 inhibitors combined with radiotherapy should make it possible to overcome the bottleneck of conventional radiotherapy, improve patient prognosis or achieve better local control rates with lower radiotherapy doses.