Tislelizumab in combination with chemotherapy for nasopharyngeal cancer – first line

Tislelizumab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin is in clinical development for the treatment of patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). NPC is a rare type of cancer that affects the part of the throat connecting the back of the nose to the back of the mouth (the pharynx). It is often difficult to distinguish the symptoms of NPC from less serious conditions and many people do not have any symptoms until the cancer reaches an advanced stage. Therefore, there is a medical need for effective treatments for advanced nasopharyngeal cancer.
Tislelizumab is a protein that has been designed to recognise and block a target called PD-1 found on certain cells of the immune system. Some cancers make a protein that attaches to PD-1 and switches off the immune cells’ ability to attack the cancer. By blocking PD-1, the medicine stops the cancer switching off these immune cells, thereby increasing the immune system’s ability to kill the cancer cells. If licenced, tislelizumab in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin will provide a first line treatment option for patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer.