Drug Formulary information is intended for use by healthcare professionals. It is not intended to be medical advice. Some of the information, including information about funding for cancer drugs, does not apply to all patients. Cancer treatment plans are unique to each patient. If you are a patient, please speak with your healthcare team to understand how this information applies to you.
PEMB; CRBP(RT)+PEMB
Curative
Regimen is considered appropriate as part of the standard care of patients; meaningfully improves outcomes (survival, quality of life), tolerability or costs compared to alternatives (recommended by the Disease Site Team and national consensus body e.g. pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review, pCODR). Recommendation is based on an appropriately conducted phase III clinical trial relevant to the Canadian context OR (where phase III trials are not feasible) an appropriately sized phase II trial. Regimens where one or more drugs are not approved by Health Canada for any indication will be identified under Rationale and Use.
This Regimen Abstract is an abbreviated version of a Regimen Monograph and contains only top level information on usage, dosing, schedule, cycle length and special notes (if available). Information in regimen abstracts is accurate to the extent of the ST-QBP regimen master listings, and has not undergone the full review process of a regimen monograph. Full regimen monographs will be published for each ST-QBP regimen as they are developed.
Treatment of patients with stage III to IVA locally advanced cervical cancer
(Refer to NDFP eligibility form for detailed funding criteria.)
pembrolizumab
New Drug Funding Program
(Pembrolizumab - In Combination with Chemoradiotherapy for Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer)
(NDFP Website
)
Concurrent with radiotherapy:
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pembrolizumab †,1 | 2 mg /kg | IV (max 200 mg) | Day 1 and 22 |
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†Give pembrolizumab before chemoradiotherapy when given on the same day. |
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| CARBOplatin | AUC 1.5 to 2 | IV | Days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29* |
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* Day 36 carboplatin dose is optional.
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pembrolizumab 1 | 2 mg /kg | IV (max 200 mg) | Day 43, 64, and 85 (q3 weeks for 3 doses) |
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Followed by single agent pembrolizumab (PEMB) q6 weeks (start 3 weeks after last pembrolizumab dose): |
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pembrolizumab 1,2 | 4 mg /m² | IV (max 400 mg) | Every 6 weeks |
1Dosing based on NDFP funding criteria.
2Alternative dosing schedule: pembrolizumab 2 mg/kg (max 200mg) IV q3 weeks.
Carboplatin: Repeat weekly for 5 to 6 doses concurrently with radiotherapy, unless disease progression or unacceptable toxicity
Pembrolizumab: Repeat 2 mg/kg (max 200 mg) every 3 weeks for 5 cycles, followed by 4 mg/kg (max 400 mg) every 6 weeks, until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity, up to a maximum of 2 years (approximately 105 weeks).
Moderate (Carboplatin AUC < 5) (Carboplatin with or without pembrolizumab)
Minimal (Pembrolizumab only)
- Also refer to CCO Antiemetic Recommendations.
Screen for hepatitis B virus in all cancer patients starting systemic treatment. Refer to the hepatitis B virus screening and management guideline.
Other Supportive Care:
Pembrolizumab:
- Routine pre-medication is not recommended.
- May consider antipyretic and H1-receptor antagonist in patients who experienced a grade 1-2 infusion reaction.
Carboplatin:
- There is insufficient evidence that routine prophylaxis with pre-medications reduce infusion reaction (IR) rates.
- Corticosteroids and H1-receptor antagonists ± H2-receptor antagonists may reduce IR rates for some patients (e.g. gynecological patients with a platinum-free interval (PFI) > 12 months or a history of drug allergy who are receiving carboplatin starting from the 7th cycle) but no optimal pre-medication regimen has been established.
Other:
- Avoid the use of corticosteroids or immunosuppressants before starting pembrolizumab treatment. Corticosteroids may be used as premedication (e.g. antiemetic) when given with chemotherapy.
Canada’s Drug Agency. Reimbursement Recommendation: Pembrolizumab (Keytruda). Canadian Journal of Health Technologies. October 2025.
Carboplatin drug monograph. Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario).
Lorusso D, Xiang Y, Hasegawa K, et al. Pembrolizumab or placebo with chemoradiotherapy followed by pembrolizumab or placebo for newly diagnosed, high-risk, locally advanced cervical cancer (ENGOT-cx11/GOG-3047/KEYNOTE-A18): overall survival results from a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet 2024;404(10460):1321-332.
Lorusso D, Xiang Y, Hasegawa K, et al. Pembrolizumab or placebo with chemoradiotherapy followed by pembrolizumab or placebo for newly diagnosed, high-risk, locally advanced cervical cancer (ENGOT-cx11/GOG-3047/KEYNOTE-A18): a randomised, double-blind, phase 3 clinical trial. Lancet 2024;403(10434):1341-350.
Pembrolizumab drug monograph. Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario).
March 2026 Updated Rationale/Uses, Supplementary Public Funding, Drug Regimen, and Cycle Frequency sections
Calvert Formula
DOSE (mg) = target AUC X (GFR + 25)
- AUC = product of serum concentration (mg/mL) and time (min)
- GFR (glomerular filtration rate) expressed as measured Creatinine Clearance or estimated from Serum Creatinine (by Cockcroft and Gault method or Jelliffe method)
(Calvert AH, Newell DR, Gumbrell LA, et al, Carboplatin dosage: Prospective evaluation of a simple formula based on renal function. J Clin Oncol, 1989; 7: 1748-1756)
Regimen Abstracts
A Regimen Abstract is an abbreviated version of a Regimen Monograph and contains only top level information on usage, dosing, schedule, cycle length and special notes (if available). It is intended for healthcare providers and is to be used for informational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for medical advice, and all uses of the Regimen Abstract are subject to clinical judgment. Such information is provided on an “as-is” basis, without any representation, warranty, or condition, whether express, or implied, statutory or otherwise, as to the information’s quality, accuracy, currency, completeness, or reliability, and Cancer Care Ontario disclaims all liability for the use of this information, and for any claims, actions, demands or suits that arise from such use.
Information in regimen abstracts is accurate to the extent of the ST-QBP regimen master listings, and has not undergone the full review process of a regimen monograph. Full regimen monographs will be published for each ST-QBP regimen as they are developed.
Regimen Monographs
Refer to the New Drug Funding Program or Ontario Public Drug Programs websites for the most up-to-date public funding information.
The information set out in the drug monographs, regimen monographs, appendices and symptom management information (for health professionals) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended for healthcare providers and is to be used for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects of a particular drug, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition. The information in the Formulary is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.
The format and content of the drug monographs, regimen monographs, appendices and symptom management information contained in the Formulary will change as they are reviewed and revised on a periodic basis. The date of last revision will be visible on each page of the monograph and regimen. Since standards of usage are constantly evolving, it is advised that the Formulary not be used as the sole source of information. It is strongly recommended that original references or product monograph be consulted prior to using a chemotherapy regimen for the first time.
Some Formulary documents, such as the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets and symptom management information (for patients), are intended for patients. Patients should always consult with their healthcare provider if they have questions regarding any information set out in the Formulary documents.
While care has been taken in the preparation of the information contained in the Formulary, such information is provided on an “as-is” basis, without any representation, warranty, or condition, whether express, or implied, statutory or otherwise, as to the information’s quality, accuracy, currency, completeness, or reliability.
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