Cancer care is changing Someday soon doctors may not be so concerned with whether the disease originates in the colon lungs or breast Instead of categorizing cancers by body parts theyll use biomarkers like MSI-H or dMMR to identify and treat the illnessOn May 23 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted accelerated approval to pembrolizumab made by Merck and marketed as Keytruda for adults and children without remaining treatment alternatives and with metastatic solid tumors identified with a biomarker called microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR)Tumors with MSI-H and dMMR markersmost commonly found in colorectal endometrial and gastrointestinal cancershave abnormalities that affect DNA repair inside the cell Its believed that Keytruda works by blocking a cellular pathway known as PD-1PD-L1 containing proteins found on the bodys immune cells and some cancer cells The drug may help the bodys immune system fight the cancer cells but the FDA doesnt specify howIn clinical trials pembrolizumab showed promise treating cancers More >>