Immunotherapy / PD-1 inhibitorFDA-approvedSecond-line
Keytruda
Generic name: pembrolizumab
How it works
Blocks the PD-1 receptor on immune cells, allowing them to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Cancer types
Lung Cancer— All patients
Efficacy
Studies show that patients with non-small cell lung cancer who received Keytruda had a response rate of approximately 20%.
Side effects
Mild
Most people tolerate this treatment well. Side effects are generally manageable and do not require stopping treatment.
Evidence from research
| Study | Cancer type | Stage | Efficacy | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Testing Olaparib and Pembrolizumab for Advanced Uveal Melanoma | Melanoma | phase-2 | — | Source → |
| Rare kidney disease linked to lung cancer treatment | Lung Cancer | observational | — | Source → |
| Testing Adoptive Cell Therapy for Metastatic Melanoma | Melanoma | phase-2 | — | Source → |
| Pembrolizumab Dosage: Weight-Based and Fixed-Dose Compared in Lung Cancer | Lung Cancer | observational | Median overall survival was 18.4 months for fixed-dose pembrolizumab and 23.2 months for weight-based pembrolizumab. | Source → |
| Melanoma Treatment Trial Investigates Combination of NeoVax and Immunotherapies | Melanoma | phase-1 | — | Source → |
| Testing Nemtabrutinib and Pembrolizumab for Richter Transformation | Leukemia | phase-2 | — | Source → |
| New Cancer Treatment Shows Promise for Lung Cancer Patients | Lung Cancer | preclinical | In treatment-naive patients receiving doublet therapy, confirmed objective response rate (ORR) was 54.8%, median duration of response (mDOR) was 20.1 months, and median progression-free survival (mPFS) was 11.2 months. | Source → |
| Pembrolizumab and Intismeran Autogene in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer | Lung Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Study of Sacituzumab Tirumotecan and Pembrolizumab for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Combining Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy for Lung Cancer with Brain Metastases | Lung Cancer | phase-2 | The intracranial objective response rate was 46.2% (95% CI, 19.2-74.8), with 6 patients achieving partial response. | Source → |
| Adjuvant Therapy Patterns After Chemoimmunotherapy for Early-Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer | observational | — | Source → |
| Evaluating Adagrasib in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer | Lung Cancer | phase-2 | — | Source → |
| Pembrolizumab and Chemotherapy for Advanced Lung Cancer | Lung Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Testing Sonidegib and Pembrolizumab in Advanced Solid Tumors | Lung Cancer | phase-1 | — | Source → |
| Study of Combination Therapy for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer | Colorectal Cancer | phase-2 | — | Source → |
| Study of Adagrasib and Pembrolizumab in Untreated Lung Cancer | Lung Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| New Treatment Combination for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Being Tested | Breast Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Pembrolizumab and Radiation Therapy for Mesothelioma | Lung Cancer | phase-1 | — | Source → |
| Pembrolizumab and Anetumab Ravtansine for Mesothelioma Treatment | Lung Cancer | phase-1 | — | Source → |
| Personalized Vaccine Trial for Advanced Solid Tumors | Breast Cancer | phase-1 | — | Source → |
| New Lung Cancer Treatment Combination Shows Promise | Lung Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Comparing a Proposed Lung Cancer Treatment to a Standard Medication | Lung Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Testing GT103 with Pembrolizumab for Advanced Lung Cancer | Lung Cancer | phase-2 | — | Source → |
| Testing a Combination Treatment for Early-stage Triple-negative Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer | phase-2 | — | Source → |
| Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment Trial Recruiting Participants | Lung Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Testing Pembrolizumab as Adjuvant Therapy for Triple Receptor-Negative Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Ovarian Cancer Treatment Trial: Pembrolizumab and Paclitaxel Combination | Ovarian Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Evaluating Pembrolizumab and Enzalutamide in Metastatic Prostate Cancer | Prostate Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Testing Immunotherapy After Surgery for High-Risk Melanoma | Melanoma | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Testing a New Treatment for Acute Myeloid Leukemia | Leukemia | phase-2 | — | Source → |
| Personalized Cancer Vaccine Shows Long-Term Benefit | Melanoma | phase-2 | The vaccine reduced the risk of melanoma recurrence or death by roughly 49%. | Source → |
| Combining Immunotherapy and Chemotherapy in Melanoma Treatment | Melanoma | phase-2 | The overall response rate was 43%, and the disease control rate was 53%. | Source → |
| Combining Two Cancer Treatments Shows Promise in Advanced Melanoma | Melanoma | phase-1/2 | Among 20 patients treated in phase 2, the overall response rate was 45%, median progression-free survival was 6.6 months, and median overall survival was 29.5 months. | Source → |
| Combination Therapy Fails to Show Benefit in Melanoma Study | Melanoma | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Pembrolizumab's Effect on New Skin Cancers in Melanoma Patients | Melanoma | phase-3 | The median recurrence-free survival with new primary melanoma counted as an event was 59.2 months with placebo and not reached with pembrolizumab (hazard ratio, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.52-0.80). | Source → |
| Pembrolizumab Shows Promise in Treating Desmoplastic Melanoma | Melanoma | phase-2 | The pathological complete response rate was 71% (95% confidence interval, 51-87%; P < 0.001). | Source → |
| Pembrolizumab Monotherapy in Advanced Lung Cancer | Lung Cancer | observational | The median progression-free survival was 5.6 months, with 6-month and 60-month PFS rates of 47.4% and 5.1%, respectively. | Source → |
| Comparing Two Cancer Treatments in Lung Cancer Patients | Lung Cancer | phase-3 | The pathological complete response rate was 43.8% in the pembrolizumab group. | Source → |
| Immunotherapy Helps Patient with Advanced Colorectal Cancer | Colorectal Cancer | observational | — | Source → |
| Pembrolizumab dosing schedule may be safe and effective for breast cancer patients | Breast Cancer | observational | Rates of grade 3 or higher immune-related adverse events were lower in extended-interval dosing (4%) compared to standard-interval dosing (20%). | Source → |
| Rare but Fatal Heart Condition Linked to Cancer Treatment | Lung Cancer | review | — | Source → |
| Combining Virus and Immunotherapy Shows Promise in Lung Cancer | Lung Cancer | phase-1/2 | Partial responses were seen in two patients with prior acquired anti-PD-1 resistance and disease stabilization in six patients, giving a clinical benefit rate of 80%. | Source → |
| New Treatment Options for Advanced Ovarian Cancer Patients | Ovarian Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Rare Side Effect of Cancer Treatment Causes Nerve Damage | Melanoma | observational | — | Source → |
| Combination Therapy Fails to Improve CLL Response, but Activates CD8 T Cells | Leukemia | phase-2 | There was 1 complete response and 9 partial responses in 10 patients evaluable for response. | Source → |
| Rare Lung Condition Linked to Cancer Treatment | Lung Cancer | observational | — | Source → |
| Pembrolizumab treatment shows promise for rare lung cancer | Lung Cancer | observational | — | Source → |
| Antibiotics, Steroids, and PPIs May Affect Lung Cancer Treatment | Lung Cancer | observational | — | Source → |
| Rare Lung Injury in Cancer Treatment | Lung Cancer | observational | — | Source → |
| Pembrolizumab Shows Promise in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer | Pancreatic Cancer | observational | The patient had a durable response of 13 months. | Source → |
| Pembrolizumab as Adjuvant Treatment for Early-Stage Lung Cancer | Lung Cancer | phase-3 | Pembrolizumab extended life years (1.55) and quality-adjusted life years (1.19). | Source → |
| Pembrolizumab Slows Ovarian Cancer Growth in Lab Experiments | Ovarian Cancer | lab-study | — | Source → |
| NK Cells Respond to Anti-PD-1 Therapy in Melanoma Patients | Melanoma | lab-study | — | Source → |
| Pembrolizumab's Effectiveness in Common Cancers | Melanoma | review | — | Source → |
| Pembrolizumab Works Well for Older Lung Cancer Patients | Lung Cancer | observational | No significant differences in median time on treatment (12.7 vs. 14.3 months) or median overall survival (18.2 vs. 27.4 months) were observed between older and younger groups. | Source → |
| Rare Skin Condition Linked to Cancer Treatment | Lung Cancer | observational | — | Source → |
| Rare Side Effect of Cancer Treatment: Encephalomyelitis After Immunotherapy | Melanoma | observational | — | Source → |
| Pembrolizumab Side Effect Treated with Efgartigimod | Melanoma | observational | — | Source → |
| Pembrolizumab treatment shows promise for ovarian cancer patients | Ovarian Cancer | phase-2 | Major pathologic responses were observed in 27% of patients (95%CI 14-46). | Source → |
| Pembrolizumab Extends Survival in Melanoma Patients | Melanoma | phase-3 | At 48 months, RFS rates were 71.3% for pembrolizumab and 58.3% for placebo, and DMFS rates were 81.0% and 70.1%, respectively. | Source → |
| Brazilian Study Examines Cost of New Melanoma Treatments | Melanoma | observational | — | Source → |
| Rare Side Effect of Cancer Treatment: Pancreatitis | Pancreatic Cancer | observational | — | Source → |
| Pembrolizumab Can Cause Colitis in Lung Cancer Patients | Lung Cancer | observational | — | Source → |
This information is provided for general education only and is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making treatment decisions.