Endometrial cancer starts in the tissue that lines your uterus. If the cancer is platinum-resistant, platinum-based chemotherapy drugs will not work well to kill it or stop it from returning after treatment.

Your doctor may prescribe a combination of treatments for endometrial cancer, which often include chemotherapy after surgery or if surgery isn’t an option.

Chemotherapy for endometrial cancer usually includes a combination of two or more drugs, including a platinum-based drug such as cisplatin or carboplatin.

Endometrial cancer is platinum-resistant if it continues to grow or comes back within 6 months of treatment with carboplatin or cisplatin.

The cancer may spread to areas outside your endometrium, such as your ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder, bowel, or more distant tissues and organs.

Read on to learn more about your treatment options and outlook if you have platinum-resistant endometrial cancer.

Your doctor may prescribe one or more of the following treatments for platinum-resistant endometrial cancer.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. It may involve treatment with one drug or a combination of drugs. Chemotherapy can come in intravenous (IV) or pill form.

Your doctor may recommend a nonplatinum type of chemotherapy if you have platinum-resistant endometrial cancer. Your doctor may prescribe it alone or in combination with other treatments, such as a hormone therapy drug.

Hormone therapy

Your doctor may recommend hormone therapy if you have platinum-resistant endometrial cancer that’s progesterone receptor (PR) positive, estrogen receptor (ER) positive, or both.

If the cancer cells are PR-positive, your doctor may prescribe synthetic forms of progesterone, such as:

  • medroxyprogesterone acetate (MGA, Provera)
  • megestrol acetate (MA, Megace)

If the cancer cells are ER-positive, your doctor may prescribe drugs to reduce or block estrogen, such as:

  • tamoxifen (Nolvadex, Soltamox)
  • fulvestrant (Faslodex)
  • goserelin (Zoladex)
  • leuprolide (Lupron)
  • letrozole (Femara)
  • anastrozole (Arimidex)
  • exemestane (Aromasin)

Some types of endometrial cancer are PR-negative, ER-negative, or both, which means they don’t respond to certain types of hormone therapy or any hormone therapy.

Your doctor can help you learn whether hormone therapy is a treatment option.

Immunotherapy

Your doctor may prescribe immunotherapy drugs to help your immune system recognize and kill platinum-resistant endometrial cancer cells.

For example, your doctor may prescribe one of the following:

  • dostarlimab-gxly (Jemperli)
  • durvalumab (Imfinzi)
  • pembrolizumab (Keytruda)

It’s important to note that, in some states, durvalumab is only approved when a doctor prescribes it alongside chemotherapy. Your doctor will let you know if that medication is an option.

Scientists are also continuing to develop and test other immunotherapy drugs for endometrial cancer, such as atezolizumab.

Your doctor may prescribe an immunotherapy drug alone or in combination with other treatments, such as a targeted therapy drug.

Targeted therapy

Your doctor may prescribe targeted therapy drugs, which target specific changes that help cancer cells spread and grow.

For example, they may prescribe:

  • angiogenesis inhibitors, such as bevacizumab (Avastin)
  • kinase inhibitors, such as lenvatinib (Lenvima)
  • mTOR inhibitors, such as everolimus (Affinitor) and temsirolimus (Torisel)

Scientists are also continuing to develop and test other targeted therapy drugs for endometrial cancer, such as the PARP inhibitor olaparib (Lynparza).

Your doctor may prescribe a targeted therapy drug on its own or combine it with other treatments, such as an immunotherapy drug — for example, the kinase inhibitor lenvatinib with pembrolizumab immune therapy.

Your outlook with platinum-resistant endometrial cancer depends on multiple factors, including:

  • whether the cancer has spread to nearby or distant parts of your body
  • the specific treatment you receive
  • your overall health

The American Cancer Society (ACS)Trusted Source reports that compared with people without endometrial cancer:

  • 95% of people with “local” endometrial cancer that hasn’t spread outside the uterus survive for 5 years or longer
  • 70% of people with “regional” endometrial cancer that’s spread from the uterus to nearby tissues or organs survive for 5 years or longer
  • 18% of people with “distant” endometrial cancer that’s spread from the uterus to distant parts of the body, such as the bones, liver, or lungs, survive for 5 years or longer

These survival rates are for endometrial cancer in general and aren’t specific to platinum-resistant endometrial cancer. Platinum resistance makes treating endometrial cancer more challenging, which may affect your outlook.

For endometrial cancer that’s spread from the uterus to distant parts of the body, new treatments are helping people with this type of cancer live longer.

Your doctor can help you learn more about your condition, treatment options, and outlook.

Talk with your doctor about your treatment goals and priorities. Ask them to explain your options, including the potential benefits and risks of the different treatments.

Your treatment options will depend on multiple factors, such as::

  • whether the cancer has spread to nearby or distant tissues or organs
  • whether the cancer is PR-positive, ER-positive, both, or neither
  • which treatments you’ve tried in the past
  • your overall health and medical history

Let your doctor know if you’re experiencing symptoms or treatment side effects that are difficult to manage. They may adjust your treatment plan or recommend strategies to ease symptoms or side effects, such as pain or nausea.

Your doctor may also refer you to a support group, mental health specialist, or other resources to help you manage the emotional challenges of living with endometrial cancer.

Platinum-resistant endometrial cancer continues to grow or comes back after treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy.

Your doctor may prescribe other treatments, such as surgery, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, immunotherapy, or targeted therapy.

Your treatment options and outlook will depend on multiple factors, including whether the cancer has spread or returned to nearby or distant parts of your body.

Although there’s currently no cure for endometrial cancer that’s spread to distant parts of your body, getting treatment might help improve your outlook.

Talk with your doctor to learn about your treatment options and outlook. Let them know if you’re finding it difficult to manage symptoms, treatment side effects, or the emotional effects of your condition. They may adjust your treatment plan or recommend resources.

Joining a support group for people with endometrial cancer may also help you manage the challenges of this condition.