Efficacy and Safety of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) With Platinum Doublet Chemotherapy as Neoadjuvant/Adjuvant Therapy for Participants With Resectable Stage II, IIIA, and Resectable IIIB (T3-4N2) Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (MK-3475-671/KEYNOTE-671)

Running, not enrolling · Phase 3 · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

In brief

This trial will evaluate the safety and efficacy of pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in combination with platinum doublet neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) before surgery \[neoadjuvant phase\], followed by pembrolizumab alone after surgery \[adjuvant phase\] in participants with resectable stage II, IIIA, and resectable IIIB (T3-4N2) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The primary hypotheses of this study are that neoadjuvant pembrolizumab (vs. placebo) in combination with NAC, followed by surgery and adjuvant pembrolizumab (vs. placebo) will improve: 1) event free survival (EFS) by biopsy assessed by local pathologist or by investigator-assessed imaging using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1); and 2) overall survival (OS).

Key facts

Study ID: NCT03425643
Run by: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
People needed: 797
Starts: 2018-04-24
Expected to finish: 2026-10-15
Last updated by the study team: 2026-07-29

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

Have previously untreated and pathologically confirmed resectable Stage II, IIIA, or IIIB (N2) NSCLC.
If male, must agree to use contraception or practice abstinence as well as refrain from donating sperm during the treatment period and for the time needed to eliminate each study intervention after the last dose of study intervention.
If female, may participate if not pregnant or breastfeeding, and at least one of the following conditions apply: 1) not a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP); or 2) a WOCBP who agrees to follow contraceptive guidance during the treatment period and for the time needed to eliminate each study intervention after the last dose of study intervention and agrees not to donate eggs (ova, oocytes) to others or freeze/store for her own use for the purpose of reproduction during this period.
Have available formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tumor tissue sample blocks for submission. If blocks are not available, have unstained slides for submission for central programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) testing.
Have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 1 within 10 days of randomization.
Have adequate organ function.

You may not qualify if…

Has one of the following tumor locations/types:1) NSCLC involving the superior sulcus; 2) Large cell neuro-endocrine cancer (LCNEC); or 3) Sarcomatoid tumor.
Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis /interstitial lung disease that required steroids or has current pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease that requires steroids.
Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy.
Has had an allogenic tissue/sold organ transplant.
Has a known severe hypersensitivity (≥ Grade 3) to pembrolizumab, its active substance and/or any of its excipients.
Has a known severe hypersensitivity (≥ Grade 3) to any of the study chemotherapy agents and/or to any of their excipients.
Has an active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years.
Has a known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
Has a known history of Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C.
Has a known history of active tuberculosis.
Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the trial, interfere with the participant's participation for the full duration of the trial, or is not in the best interest of the participant to participate.
Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperating with the requirements of the trial.
Has received prior therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 agent or with an agent directed to another co-inhibitory T-cell receptor.
Has received prior systemic anti-cancer therapy including investigational agents for the current malignancy prior to randomization/allocation.
Has received prior radiotherapy within 2 weeks of start of trial treatment.
Has received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of trial drug.
Is currently participating in or has participated in a trial of an investigational agent or has used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of trial treatment.
Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving either systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior the first dose of trial drug.
Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment within the past 5 years.

Where it is running

Western Regional Medical Center, Inc. ( Site 0050) — Goodyear, Arizona, United States
University of Arizona Cancer Center - Dignity Health ( Site 0062) — Phoenix, Arizona, United States
University of Arizona Cancer Center ( Site 0012) — Tucson, Arizona, United States
Pacific Cancer Medical Center, Inc. ( Site 0004) — Anaheim, California, United States
Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center ( Site 0061) — Burbank, California, United States
Pacific Cancer Care ( Site 0035) — Monterey, California, United States
John Wayne Cancer Institute ( Site 0049) — Santa Monica, California, United States
St Joseph Heritage Healthcare ( Site 0040) — Santa Rosa, California, United States
Stanford University, Stanford Cancer Center ( Site 0046) — Stanford, California, United States
Hartford Hospital ( Site 0069) — Hartford, Connecticut, United States
Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute ( Site 0015) — Newark, Delaware, United States
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville ( Site 0022) — Jacksonville, Florida, United States
Miami Cancer Institute-Baptist Hospital ( Site 0068) — Miami, Florida, United States
Southeastern Regional Medical Center ( Site 0051) — Newnan, Georgia, United States
Northwest Oncology and Hematology ( Site 0001) — Elk Grove Village, Illinois, United States
Ingalls Memorial Hospital ( Site 0044) — Harvey, Illinois, United States
PPG-Oncology ( Site 0043) — Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States
University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics ( Site 0010) — Iowa City, Iowa, United States
Ashland-Bellefonte Cancer Center ( Site 0021) — Ashland, Kentucky, United States
Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Cancer Institute ( Site 0081) — Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Boston Medical Center ( Site 0057) — Boston, Massachusetts, United States
UMass Memorial Medical Center ( Site 0030) — Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
Henry Ford Health System ( Site 0031) — Detroit, Michigan, United States
Herbert Herman Cancer Center, Sparrow Hospital ( Site 0034) — Lansing, Michigan, United States
Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center ( Site 0028) — Gilbert, Arizona, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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