Monoclonal antibodyFDA-approvedFirst-line
Pembrolizumab
How it works
Blocks PD-1, a protein that normally helps cancer cells evade the immune system, allowing the immune system to attack cancer cells.
Cancer types
Colorectal Cancer— Microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) or mismatch repair deficient (dMMR)
Lung Cancer— All patients
Efficacy
Studies show that around 50% of patients achieved an objective response, with a median overall survival of approximately 16.9 months.
Side effects
Moderate
Side effects can be significant and may require dose adjustments or supportive medication, but the treatment is usually continued.
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 → |
| 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 → |
| Testing Adoptive Cell Therapy for Metastatic Melanoma | Melanoma | phase-2 | — | Source → |
| Testing Nemtabrutinib and Pembrolizumab for Richter Transformation | Leukemia | phase-2 | — | Source → |
| Melanoma Treatment Trial Investigates Combination of NeoVax and Immunotherapies | Melanoma | phase-1 | — | 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 → |
| 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 → |
| Study of Sacituzumab Tirumotecan and Pembrolizumab for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer | phase-3 | — | 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 → |
| 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 → |
| Pembrolizumab and Chemotherapy for Advanced Lung Cancer | Lung Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| New Treatment Combination for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Being Tested | Breast Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Study of Adagrasib and Pembrolizumab in Untreated Lung Cancer | Lung Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Pembrolizumab and Anetumab Ravtansine for Mesothelioma Treatment | Lung Cancer | phase-1 | — | Source → |
| Pembrolizumab and Radiation Therapy for Mesothelioma | 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 → |
| Testing GT103 with Pembrolizumab for Advanced Lung Cancer | Lung Cancer | phase-2 | — | Source → |
| Testing Pembrolizumab as Adjuvant Therapy for Triple Receptor-Negative Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Evaluating Pembrolizumab and Enzalutamide in Metastatic Prostate Cancer | Prostate Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Testing a Combination Treatment for Early-stage Triple-negative Breast Cancer | Breast Cancer | phase-2 | — | Source → |
| Ovarian Cancer Treatment Trial: Pembrolizumab and Paclitaxel Combination | Ovarian Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Treatment Trial Recruiting Participants | Lung Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Testing Immunotherapy After Surgery for High-Risk Melanoma | Melanoma | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Immunotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer | Pancreatic Cancer | phase-2 | — | Source → |
| Cost of Lung Cancer Treatments Compared | Lung Cancer | observational | — | Source → |
| Lung Cancer Treatment Study | Lung Cancer | phase-3 | — | Source → |
| Lung Cancer Treatment Study | Lung Cancer | 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 → |
| Pembrolizumab-chemotherapy outcomes in lung cancer | Lung Cancer | observational | Median OS was 13.8 months in the KEYNOTE-189 cohort and 12.0 months in the KEYNOTE-407 cohort. | Source → |
| Pembrolizumab Trial for Mesothelioma | Lung Cancer | phase-1 | — | 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 → |
| Immunotherapy Helps Patient with Lung Cancer | Lung Cancer | preclinical | — | 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 → |
| Rare but Fatal Heart Condition Linked to Cancer Treatment | Lung Cancer | review | — | 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 → |
| 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.