New Treatments & Clinical Trials for Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic cancer in the United States, with about 66,000 new cases each year. Most cases are caught early because irregular bleeding prompts women to see their doctors. Surgery is standard treatment, and many early-stage patients are cured with hysterectomy alone, though some receive additional chemotherapy or radiation.

What's actually going on in research

Trials are testing immune checkpoint inhibitors, especially for advanced or recurrent disease with mismatch repair deficiency. Studies are evaluating targeted therapies against specific mutations like PIK3CA and PTEN. Researchers are also testing less invasive approaches for early-stage disease, including fertility-sparing treatments for women who want to preserve their ability to have children.

What to know before you search

Eligibility typically depends on stage at diagnosis, molecular features of the tumor, prior treatments, and whether the cancer has recurred after initial therapy.

What types of trials are currently open

• Immunotherapy trials — Testing checkpoint inhibitors alone or with chemotherapy for advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer. Some focus on cancers with mismatch repair deficiency or high tumor mutation burden.
• Targeted therapy trials — Testing drugs that block specific mutations common in endometrial cancer, such as PIK3CA inhibitors or drugs targeting the estrogen receptor pathway.
• Surgical trials — Comparing different surgical approaches or studying whether surgery can be avoided in select early-stage patients treated with hormonal therapy.
• Adjuvant therapy trials — Testing whether additional treatment after surgery improves outcomes, often using molecular features to select patients who might benefit.
• Prevention trials — Testing interventions in women at high risk for endometrial cancer, including those with Lynch syndrome or obesity-related risk.