Immunity-boosting breast cancer drug could save thousands, finds UK research

Keytruda treatment found to cut risk of aggressive cancer returning after surgery by more than a third

Thousands of lives could be saved with a promising" immunotherapy drug that can cut the risk of an aggressive form of breast cancer returning by more than a third, according to exciting" results from a long-term global study.

Keytruda, also known as pembrolizumab, uses the patient's own immune system to fight cancer. The drug works by helping the immune system recognise and attack cancer cells, and is already used to treat lung cancer, skin cancer, bladder cancer and Hodgkin lymphoma. It is administered in a solution via a drip into the patient's bloodstream, with the number of sessions depending on the type of cancer.