Clinical Pharmacology for Keytruda
Mechanism Of Action
Binding of the PD-1 ligands, PD-L1 and PD-L2, to the PD-1 receptor found on T cells, inhibits T cell proliferation and cytokine production. Upregulation of PD-1 ligands occurs in some tumors and signaling through this pathway can contribute to inhibition of active T-cell immune surveillance of tumors. Pembrolizumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to the PD-1 receptor and blocks its interaction with PD-L1 and PD-L2, releasing PD-1 pathway-mediated inhibition of the immune response, including the anti-tumor immune response. In syngeneic mouse tumor models, blocking PD-1 activity resulted in decreased tumor growth.
In syngeneic mouse tumor models, combination treatment of a PD-1 blocking antibody and kinase inhibitor lenvatinib decreased tumor-associated macrophages, increased activated cytotoxic T cells, and reduced tumor growth compared to either treatment alone.
Pharmacodynamics
There are no clinically significant exposure-response relationships for efficacy or safety at pembrolizumab dosages of 200 mg or 2 mg/kg every 3 weeks and 400 mg every 6 weeks regardless of cancer type based on observed data in adult patients with melanoma, cHL, and PMBCL.
Pharmacokinetics
The pharmacokinetics (PK) of pembrolizumab was characterized using a population PK analysis with concentration data collected from 2993 patients with various cancers who received pembrolizumab doses of 1 to 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks, 2 to 10 mg/kg every 3 weeks, or 200 mg every 3 weeks.
Steady-state concentrations of pembrolizumab were reached by 16 weeks of repeated dosing with an every 3-week regimen and the systemic accumulation was 2.1-fold. The peak concentration (Cmax), trough concentration (Cmin), and area under the plasma concentration versus time curve at steady state (AUCss) of pembrolizumab increased dose proportionally in the dose range of 2 to 10 mg/kg every 3 weeks.
Distribution
The geometric mean value (CV%) for volume of distribution at steady state is 6.0 L (20%).
Elimination
Pembrolizumab clearance (CV%) is approximately 23% lower [geometric mean, 195 mL/day (40%)] at steady state than that after the first dose [252 mL/day (37%)]; this decrease in clearance with time is not considered clinically important. The terminal half-life (t½) is 22 days (32%).
Specific Populations
The following factors had no clinically important effect on the CL of pembrolizumab: age (range: 15 to 94 years), sex, race (89% White), renal impairment (eGFR ≥15 mL/min/1.73 m² ), mild to moderate hepatic impairment (total bilirubin ≤3 times ULN and any AST), or tumor burden. The impact of severe hepatic impairment (total bilirubin >3 times ULN and any AST) on the pharmacokinetics of pembrolizumab is unknown.
Pediatric Patients
Pembrolizumab concentrations with weight-based dosing at 2 mg/kg every 3 weeks in pediatric patients (10 months to 17 years) are comparable to those of adults at the same dose.
Immunogenicity
The observed incidence of anti-drug antibodies (ADA) is highly dependent on the sensitivity and specificity of the assay. Differences in assay methods preclude meaningful comparisons of the incidence of ADA in the studies described in this section with the incidence of ADA in other studies, including those of KEYTRUDA or of other pembrolizumab products.
Trough levels of pembrolizumab interfere with the electrochemiluminescent (ECL) assay results; therefore, a subset analysis was performed in the KEYTRUDA-treated patients with a pembrolizumab concentration below the drug tolerance level of the ADA assay.
In clinical studies in patients treated with KEYTRUDA at a dosage of 2 mg/kg every 3 weeks, 200 mg every 3 weeks, or 10 mg/kg every 2 or 3 weeks, 27 (2.1%) of 1,289 evaluable patients tested positive for treatment-emergent anti-pembrolizumab antibodies of whom 6 (0.5%) patients had neutralizing antibodies against pembrolizumab. There were no identified clinically significant effects of ADA on pembrolizumab pharmacokinetics or on the risk of infusion reactions. Because of the low occurrence of ADA, the effect of these ADA on the effectiveness of KEYTRUDA is unknown.
Animal Toxicology And/Or Pharmacology
In animal models, inhibition of PD-1/PD-L1 signaling increased the severity of some infections and enhanced inflammatory responses. Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected PD-1 knockout mice exhibit markedly decreased survival compared with wild-type controls, which correlated with increased bacterial proliferation and inflammatory responses in these animals. PD-1 blockade using a primate anti-PD-1 antibody was also shown to exacerbate M. tuberculosis infection in rhesus macaques. PD-1 and PD-L1 knockout mice and mice receiving PD-L1-blocking antibody have also shown decreased survival following infection with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus. Administration of pembrolizumab in chimpanzees with naturally occurring chronic hepatitis B infection resulted in two out of four animals with significantly increased levels of serum ALT, AST, and GGT, which persisted for at least 1 month after discontinuation of pembrolizumab.
Clinical Studies
Melanoma
Ipilimumab-Naive Melanoma
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in KEYNOTE-006 (NCT01866319), a randomized (1:1:1), open-label, multicenter, active-controlled trial in 834 patients. Patients were randomized to receive KEYTRUDA at a dose of 10 mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks or 10 mg/kg intravenously every 3 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity or to ipilimumab 3 mg/kg intravenously every 3 weeks for 4 doses unless discontinued earlier for disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients with disease progression could receive additional doses of treatment unless disease progression was symptomatic, was rapidly progressive, required urgent intervention, occurred with a decline in performance status, or was confirmed at 4 to 6 weeks with repeat imaging. Randomization was stratified by line of therapy (0 vs. 1), ECOG PS (0 vs. 1), and PD-L1 expression (≥1% of tumor cells [positive] vs. <1% of tumor cells [negative]) according to an investigational use only (IUO) assay. Key eligibility criteria were unresectable or metastatic melanoma; no prior ipilimumab; and no more than one prior systemic treatment for metastatic melanoma. Patients with BRAF V600E mutation-positive melanoma were not required to have received prior BRAF inhibitor therapy. Patients with autoimmune disease; a medical condition that required immunosuppression; previous severe hypersensitivity to other monoclonal antibodies; and HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection, were ineligible. Assessment of tumor status was performed at 12 weeks, then every 6 weeks through Week 48, followed by every 12 weeks thereafter. The major efficacy outcome measures were overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS; as assessed by blinded independent central review [BICR] using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid
Tumors [RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ]). Additional efficacy outcome measures were objective response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DoR).
The study population characteristics were: median age of 62 years (range: 18 to 89); 60% male; 98% White; 66% had no prior systemic therapy for metastatic disease; 69% ECOG PS of 0; 80% had PD-L1 positive melanoma, 18% had PD-L1 negative melanoma, and 2% had unknown PD-L1 status using the IUO assay; 65% had M1c stage disease; 68% with normal LDH; 36% with reported BRAF mutation-positive melanoma; and 9% with a history of brain metastases. Among patients with BRAF mutation-positive melanoma, 139 (46%) were previously treated with a BRAF inhibitor.
The study demonstrated statistically significant improvements in OS and PFS for patients randomized to KEYTRUDA as compared to ipilimumab. Among the 91 patients randomized to KEYTRUDA 10 mg/kg every 3 weeks with an objective response, response durations ranged from 1.4+ to 8.1+ months. Among the 94 patients randomized to KEYTRUDA 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks with an objective response, response durations ranged from 1.4+ to 8.2 months. Efficacy results are summarized in Table 57 and Figure 1.
Table 57: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-006
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 10 mg/kg every 3 weeks
n=277 |
KEYTRUDA 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks
n=279 |
Ipilimumab 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks
n=278 |
| OS |
| Deaths (%) |
92 (33%) |
85 (30%) |
112 (40%) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.69 (0.52, 0.90) |
0.63 (0.47, 0.83) |
— |
| p-Value (stratified log-rank) |
0.004 |
<0.001 |
— |
| PFS by BICR |
| Events (%) |
157 (57%) |
157 (56%) |
188 (68%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
4.1 (2.9, 6.9) |
5.5 (3.4, 6.9) |
2.8 (2.8, 2.9) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.58 (0.47, 0.72) |
0.58 (0.46, 0.72) |
--- |
| p-Value (stratified log-rank) |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
— |
| Best objective response by BICR |
| ORR (95% CI) |
33% (27, 39) |
34% (28, 40) |
12% (8, 16) |
| Complete response rate |
6% |
5% |
1% |
| Partial response rate |
27% |
29% |
10% |
| * Hazard ratio (KEYTRUDA compared to ipilimumab) based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard model |
Figure 1: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-006*
Ipilimumab-Refractory Melanoma
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in KEYNOTE-002 (NCT01704287), a multicenter, randomized (1:1:1), active-controlled trial in 540 patients randomized to receive one of two doses of KEYTRUDA in a blinded fashion or investigator’s choice chemotherapy. The treatment arms consisted of KEYTRUDA 2 mg/kg or 10 mg/kg intravenously every 3 weeks or investigator’s choice of any of the following chemotherapy regimens: dacarbazine 1000 mg/m² intravenously every 3 weeks (26%), temozolomide 200 mg/m² orally once daily for 5 days every 28 days (25%), carboplatin AUC 6 mg/mL/min intravenously plus paclitaxel 225 mg/m² intravenously every 3 weeks for four cycles then carboplatin AUC of 5 mg/mL/min plus paclitaxel 175 mg/m² every 3 weeks (25%), paclitaxel 175 mg/m² intravenously every 3 weeks (16%), or carboplatin AUC 5 or 6 mg/mL/min intravenously every 3 weeks (8%). Randomization was stratified by ECOG PS (0 vs. 1), LDH levels (normal vs. elevated [≥110% ULN]) and BRAF V600 mutation status (wild-type [WT] or V600E). The trial included patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma with progression of disease; refractory to two or more doses of ipilimumab (3 mg/kg or higher) and, if BRAF V600 mutation-positive, a BRAF or MEK inhibitor; and disease progression within 24 weeks following the last dose of ipilimumab. The trial excluded patients with uveal melanoma and active brain metastasis. Patients received KEYTRUDA until unacceptable toxicity; disease progression that was symptomatic, was rapidly progressive, required urgent intervention, occurred with a decline in performance status, or was confirmed at 4 to 6 weeks with repeat imaging; withdrawal of consent; or physician’s decision to stop therapy for the patient. Assessment of tumor status was performed at 12 weeks after randomization, then every 6 weeks through week 48, followed by every 12 weeks thereafter. Patients on chemotherapy who experienced progression of disease were offered KEYTRUDA. The major efficacy outcomes were PFS as assessed by BICR per RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, and OS. Additional efficacy outcome measures were confirmed ORR as assessed by BICR per RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, and DoR.
The study population characteristics were: median age of 62 years (range: 15 to 89), 43% age 65 or older; 61% male; 98% White; and 55% ECOG PS of 0 and 45% ECOG PS of 1. Twenty-three percent of patients were BRAF V600 mutation positive, 40% had elevated LDH at baseline, 82% had M1c disease, and 73% had two or more prior therapies for advanced or metastatic disease.
The study demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in PFS for patients randomized to KEYTRUDA as compared to control arm. There was no statistically significant difference between KEYTRUDA 2 mg/kg and chemotherapy or between KEYTRUDA 10 mg/kg and chemotherapy in the OS analysis in which 55% of the patients who had been randomized to receive chemotherapy had crossed over to receive KEYTRUDA. Among the 38 patients randomized to KEYTRUDA 2 mg/kg with an objective response, response durations ranged from 1.3+ to 11.5+ months. Among the 46 patients randomized to KEYTRUDA 10 mg/kg with an objective response, response durations ranged from 1.1+ to 11.1+ months. Efficacy results are summarized in Table 58 and Figure 2.
Table 58: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-002
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 2 mg/kg every 3 weeks
n=180 |
KEYTRUDA 10 mg/kg every 3 weeks
n=181 |
Chemotherapy
n=179 |
| PFS |
| Number of Events, n (%) |
129 (72%) |
126 (70%) |
155 (87%) |
| Progression, n (%) |
105 (58%) |
107 (59%) |
134 (75%) |
| Death, n (%) |
24 (13%) |
19 (10%) |
21 (12%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
2.9 (2.8, 3.8) |
2.9 (2.8, 4.7) |
2.7 (2.5, 2.8) |
| p-Value (stratified log-rank) |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
— |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.57 (0.45, 0.73) |
0.50 (0.39, 0.64) |
— |
| OS†|
| Deaths (%) |
123 (68%) |
117 (65%) |
128 (72%) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.86 (0.67, 1.10) |
0.74 (0.57, 0.96) |
--- |
| p-Value (stratified log-rank) |
0.117 |
0.011‡ |
— |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
13.4 (11.0, 16.4) |
14.7 (11.3, 19.5) |
11.0 (8.9, 13.8) |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR (95% CI) |
21% (15, 28) |
25% (19, 32) |
4% (2, 9) |
| Complete response rate |
2% |
3% |
0% |
| Partial response rate |
19% |
23% |
4% |
* Hazard ratio (KEYTRUDA compared to chemotherapy) based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard model
† With additional follow-up of 18 months after the PFS analysis
‡ Not statistically significant compared to multiplicity adjusted significance level of 0.01 |
Figure 2: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Progression-Free Survival in KEYNOTE-002
Adjuvant Treatment Of Resected Stage IIB Or IIC Melanoma
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in KEYNOTE-716 (NCT03553836), a multicenter, randomized (1:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with completely resected Stage IIB or IIC melanoma. Patients were randomized to KEYTRUDA 200 mg or the pediatric (≥12 years old) dose of KEYTRUDA 2 mg/kg intravenously (up to a maximum of 200 mg) every three weeks or placebo for up to one year until disease recurrence or unacceptable toxicity. Randomization was stratified by AJCC 8th edition T Stage (>2.0-4.0 mm with ulceration vs. >4.0 mm without ulceration vs. >4.0 mm with ulceration). Patients must not have been previously treated for melanoma beyond complete surgical resection for their melanoma prior to study entry. The major efficacy outcome measure was investigator-assessed recurrence-free survival (RFS) (defined as the time between the date of randomization and the date of first recurrence [local, in-transit or regional lymph nodes or distant recurrence] or death, whichever occurred first). New primary melanomas were excluded from the definition of RFS. Distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), defined as a spread of tumor to distant organs or distant lymph nodes, was an additional efficacy outcome measure. Patients underwent imaging every six months for one year from randomization, every 6 months from years 2 to 4, and then once in year 5 from randomization or until recurrence, whichever came first.
The study population characteristics were: median age of 61 years (range: 16 to 87), 39% age 65 or older; 60% male; 98% White; and 93% ECOG PS of 0 and 7% ECOG PS of 1. Sixty-four percent had Stage IIB and 35% had Stage IIC.
The trial demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in RFS and DMFS for patients randomized to the KEYTRUDA arm compared with placebo. Efficacy results are summarized in Table 59 and Figure 3.
Table 59: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-716
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks
n=487 |
Placebo
n=489 |
| RFS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
54 (11 %) |
82 (17%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
NR (22.6, NR) |
NR (NR, NR) |
| Hazard ratio*†(95% CI) |
0.65 (0.46, 0.92) |
| p-Value†|
0.0132* |
| DMFS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
63 (13%) |
95 (19%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
NR (NR, NR) |
NR (NR, NR) |
| Hazard ratio*†(95% CI) |
0.64 (0.47, 0.88) |
| p-Value†|
0.0058§ |
* Based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard model
† Based on a log-rank test stratified by American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th edition (AJCC) stage
‡ p-Value is compared with 0.0202 of the allocated alpha for this interim analysis.
§ p-Value is compared with 0.0256 of the allocated alpha for this interim analysis.
NR = not reached |
Figure 3: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Recurrence-Free Survival in KEYNOTE-716
Adjuvant Treatment Of Stage III Resected Melanoma
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in KEYNOTE-054 (NCT02362594), a multicenter, randomized (1:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with completely resected Stage IIIA (>1 mm lymph node metastasis), IIIB, or IIIC melanoma. Patients were randomized to KEYTRUDA 200 mg intravenously every three weeks or placebo for up to one year until disease recurrence or unacceptable toxicity. Randomization was stratified by American Joint Committee on Cancer 7th edition (AJCC) stage (IIIA vs. IIIB vs. IIIC 1-3 positive lymph nodes vs. IIIC ≥4 positive lymph nodes) and geographic region (North America, European countries, Australia, and other countries as designated). Patients must have undergone lymph node dissection and, if indicated, radiotherapy within 13 weeks prior to starting treatment. The major efficacy outcome measure was investigator-assessed recurrence-free survival (RFS) in the whole population and in the population with PD-L1 positive tumors where RFS was defined as the time between the date of randomization and the date of first recurrence (local, regional, or distant metastasis) or death, whichever occurs first. New primary melanomas were excluded from the definition of RFS. DMFS in the whole population and in the population with PD-L1 positive tumors were additional efficacy outcome measures. DMFS was defined as a spread of tumor to distant organs or distant lymph nodes. Patients underwent imaging every 12 weeks after the first dose of KEYTRUDA for the first two years, then every 6 months from year 3 to 5, and then annually.
The study population characteristics were: median age of 54 years (range: 19 to 88), 25% age 65 or older; 62% male; and 94% ECOG PS of 0 and 6% ECOG PS of 1. Sixteen percent had Stage IIIA, 46% had Stage IIIB, 18% had Stage IIIC (1-3 positive lymph nodes), and 20% had Stage IIIC (≥4 positive lymph nodes); 50% were BRAF V600 mutation positive and 44% were BRAF wild-type; and 84% had PDÂL1 positive melanoma with TPS ≥1% according to an IUO assay.
The trial demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in RFS and DMFS for patients randomized to the KEYTRUDA arm compared with placebo. Efficacy results are summarized in Table 60 and Figure 4.
Table 60: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-054
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks
n=514 |
Placebo
n=505 |
| RFS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
135 (26%) |
216 (43%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
NR |
20.4 (16.2, NR) |
| Hazard ratio*†(95% CI) |
0.57 (0.46, 0.70) |
| p-Value†(log-rank) |
<0.001± |
| DMFS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
173 (34%) |
245 (49%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
NR (49.6, NR) |
40.0 (27.7, NR) |
| Hazard ratio*†(95% CI) |
0.60 (0.49, 0.73) |
| p-Value†(log-rank) |
<0.0001§ |
* Based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard model
† Stratified by American Joint Committee on Cancer 7th edition (AJCC) stage
± p-Value is compared with 0.016 of the allocated alpha for this interim analysis.
§ p-Value is compared with 0.028 of the allocated alpha for this analysis.
NR = not reached |
For patients with PD-L1 positive tumors, the RFS HR was 0.54 (95% CI: 0.42, 0.69); p<0.0001. For patients with PD-L1 positive tumors, the DMFS HR was 0.61 (95% CI: 0.49, 0.76); p<0.0001. The RFS and DMFS benefit for KEYTRUDA compared to placebo was observed regardless of tumor PD-L1 expression.
Figure 4: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Recurrence-Free Survival in KEYNOTE-054
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
First-Line Treatment Of Metastatic Nonsquamous NSCLC With Pemetrexed And Platinum Chemotherapy
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy was investigated in KEYNOTE-189 (NCT02578680), a randomized, multicenter, double-blind, active-controlled trial conducted in 616 patients with metastatic nonsquamous NSCLC, regardless of PD-L1 tumor expression status, who had not previously received systemic therapy for metastatic disease and in whom there were no EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations. Patients with autoimmune disease that required systemic therapy within 2 years of treatment; a medical condition that required immunosuppression; or who had received more than 30 Gy of thoracic radiation within the prior 26 weeks were ineligible. Randomization was stratified by smoking status (never vs. former/current), choice of platinum (cisplatin vs. carboplatin), and tumor PD-L1 status (TPS <1% [negative] vs. TPS ≥1%). Patients were randomized (2:1) to one of the following treatment arms:
- KEYTRUDA 200 mg, pemetrexed 500 mg/m² , and investigator’s choice of cisplatin 75 mg/m² or carboplatin AUC 5 mg/mL/min intravenously on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle for 4 cycles followed by KEYTRUDA 200 mg and pemetrexed 500 mg/m² intravenously every 3 weeks. KEYTRUDA was administered prior to chemotherapy on Day 1.
- Placebo, pemetrexed 500 mg/m² , and investigator’s choice of cisplatin 75 mg/m² or carboplatin AUC 5 mg/mL/min intravenously on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle for 4 cycles followed by placebo and pemetrexed 500 mg/m² intravenously every 3 weeks.
Treatment with KEYTRUDA continued until RECIST v1.1 (modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ)-defined progression of disease as determined by the investigator, unacceptable toxicity, or a maximum of 24 months. Administration of KEYTRUDA was permitted beyond RECIST-defined disease progression if the patient was clinically stable and considered to be deriving clinical benefit by the investigator. Patients randomized to placebo and chemotherapy were offered KEYTRUDA as a single agent at the time of disease progression. Assessment of tumor status was performed at Week 6, Week 12, and then every 9 weeks thereafter. The main efficacy outcome measures were OS and PFS as assessed by BICR according to RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ. Additional efficacy outcome measures were ORR and DoR, as assessed by BICR according to RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ.
The study population characteristics were: median age of 64 years (range: 34 to 84), 49% age 65 or older; 59% male; 94% White and 3% Asian; 56% ECOG PS of 1; and 18% with history of brain metastases. Thirty-one percent had tumor PD-L1 expression TPS <1% [negative]. Seventy-two percent received carboplatin and 12% were never smokers. A total of 85 patients in the placebo and chemotherapy arm received an anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibody at the time of disease progression.
The trial demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in OS and PFS for patients randomized to KEYTRUDA in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy compared with placebo, pemetrexed, and platinum chemotherapy. Table 61 and Figure 5 summarize the efficacy results for KEYNOTE-189.
Table 61: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-189
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks Pemetrexed Platinum Chemotherapy
n=410 |
Placebo Pemetrexed Platinum Chemotherapy
n=206 |
| OS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
127 (31%) |
108 (52%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
NR |
11.3 |
| (NR, NR) |
(8.7, 15.1) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.49 (0.38, 0.64) |
| p-Value†|
<0.0001 |
| PFS |
| Number of patients with event (%) |
245 (60%) |
166 (81 %) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
8.8 (7.6, 9.2) |
4.9 (4.7, 5.5) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.52 (0.43, 0.64) |
| p-Value†|
<0.0001 |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR‡ (95% CI) |
48% (43, 53) |
19% (14, 25) |
| Complete response |
0.5% |
0.5% |
| Partial response |
47% |
18% |
| p-Value§ |
<0.0001 |
| Duration of Response |
| Median in months (range) |
11.2 (1.1+, 18.0+) |
7.8 (2.1+, 16.4+) |
* Based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard model
† Based on a stratified log-rank test
‡ Response: Best objective response as confirmed complete response or partial response § Based on Miettinen and Nurminen method stratified by PD-L1 status, platinum chemotherapy, and smoking status NR = not reached |
At the protocol-specified final OS analysis, the median in the KEYTRUDA in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy arm was 22.0 months (95% CI: 19.5, 24.5) compared to 10.6 months (95% CI: 8.7, 13.6) in the placebo with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy arm, with an HR of 0.56 (95% CI: 0.46, 0.69).
Figure 5: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-189*
First-Line Treatment Of Metastatic Squamous NSCLC With Carboplatin And Either Paclitaxel Or Paclitaxel Protein-Bound Chemotherapy
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA in combination with carboplatin and investigator’s choice of either paclitaxel or paclitaxel protein-bound was investigated in KEYNOTE-407 (NCT02775435), a randomized, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in 559 patients with metastatic squamous NSCLC, regardless of PD-L1 tumor expression status, who had not previously received systemic therapy for metastatic disease. Patients with autoimmune disease that required systemic therapy within 2 years of treatment; a medical condition that required immunosuppression; or who had received more than 30 Gy of thoracic radiation within the prior 26 weeks were ineligible. Randomization was stratified by tumor PDÂL1 status (TPS <1% [negative] vs. TPS ≥1%), choice of paclitaxel or paclitaxel protein-bound, and geographic region (East Asia vs. non-East Asia). Patients were randomized (1:1) to one of the following treatment arms; all study medications were administered via intravenous infusion:
KEYTRUDA 200 mg and carboplatin AUC 6 mg/mL/min on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle for 4 cycles, and paclitaxel 200 mg/m² on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle for 4 cycles or paclitaxel protein-bound 100 mg/m² on Days 1, 8 and 15 of each 21-day cycle for 4 cycles, followed by KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks. KEYTRUDA was administered prior to chemotherapy on Day 1.
Placebo and carboplatin AUC 6 mg/mL/min on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle for 4 cycles and paclitaxel 200 mg/m² on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle for 4 cycles or paclitaxel protein-bound 100 mg/m² on Days 1, 8 and 15 of each 21-day cycle for 4 cycles, followed by placebo every 3 weeks.
Treatment with KEYTRUDA and chemotherapy or placebo and chemotherapy continued until RECIST v1.1 (modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ)-defined progression of disease as determined by BICR, unacceptable toxicity, or a maximum of 24 months. Administration of KEYTRUDA was permitted beyond RECIST-defined disease progression if the patient was clinically stable and deriving clinical benefit as determined by the investigator. Patients randomized to the placebo and chemotherapy arm were offered KEYTRUDA as a single agent at the time of disease progression. Assessment of tumor status was performed every 6 weeks through Week 18, every 9 weeks through Week 45 and every 12 weeks thereafter. The main efficacy outcome measures were PFS and ORR as assessed by BICR using RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, and OS. An additional efficacy outcome measure was DoR as assessed by BICR according to RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ.
The study population characteristics were: median age of 65 years (range: 29 to 88), 55% age 65 or older; 81% male; 77% White; 71% ECOG PS of 1; and 8% with a history of brain metastases. Thirty-five percent had tumor PD-L1 expression TPS <1%; 19% were from the East Asian region; and 60% received paclitaxel.
The trial demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in OS, PFS and ORR in patients randomized to KEYTRUDA in combination with carboplatin and either paclitaxel or paclitaxel protein-bound chemotherapy compared with patients randomized to placebo with carboplatin and either paclitaxel or paclitaxel protein-bound chemotherapy. Table 62 and Figure 6 summarize the efficacy results for KEYNOTE-407.
Table 62: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-407
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks Carboplatin Paclitaxel/Paclitaxel protein-bound
n=278 |
Placebo Carboplatin Paclitaxel/Paclitaxel protein-bound
n=281 |
| OS |
| Number of events (%) |
85 (31 %) |
120 (43%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
15.9 (13.2, NE) |
11.3 (9.5, 14.8) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.64 (0.49, 0.85) |
| p-Value†|
0.0017 |
| PFS |
| Number of events (%) |
152 (55%) |
197 (70%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
6.4 (6.2, 8.3) |
4.8 (4.2, 5.7) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.56 (0.45, 0.70) |
| p-Value†|
<0.0001 |
| n=101 |
n=103 |
| Objective Response Rate‡ |
| ORR (95% CI) |
58% (48, 68) |
35% (26, 45) |
| Difference (95% CI) |
23.6% (9.9, 36.4) |
| p-Value§ |
0.0008 |
| Duration of Response‡ |
| Median duration of response in months (range) |
7.2 (2.4, 12.4+) |
4.9 (2.0, 12.4+) |
* Based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard model
† Based on a stratified log-rank test
‡ ORR primary analysis and DoR analysis were conducted with the first 204 patients enrolled.
§ Based on a stratified Miettinen-Nurminen test
NE = not estimable |
At the protocol-specified final OS analysis, the median in the KEYTRUDA in combination with carboplatin and either paclitaxel or paclitaxel protein-bound chemotherapy arm was 17.1 months (95% CI: 14.4, 19.9) compared to 11.6 months (95% CI: 10.1, 13.7) in the placebo with carboplatin and either paclitaxel or paclitaxel protein-bound chemotherapy arm, with an HR of 0.71 (95% CI: 0.58, 0.88).
Figure 6: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-407*
First-Line Treatment Of Metastatic NSCLC With PD-L1 Expression (TPS≥ 1%) As A Single Agent
KEYNOTE-042
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in KEYNOTE-042 (NCT02220894), a randomized, multicenter, open-label, active-controlled trial conducted in 1274 patients with Stage III NSCLC who were not candidates for surgical resection or definitive chemoradiation, or patients with metastatic NSCLC. Only patients whose tumors expressed PD-L1 (TPS ≥1%) by an immunohistochemistry assay using the PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx kit and who had not received prior systemic treatment for metastatic NSCLC were eligible. Patients with EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations; autoimmune disease that required systemic therapy within 2 years of treatment; a medical condition that required immunosuppression; or who had received more than 30 Gy of radiation in the thoracic region within the prior 26 weeks of initiation of study were ineligible. Randomization was stratified by ECOG PS (0 vs. 1), histology (squamous vs. nonsquamous), geographic region (East Asia vs. non-East Asia), and PD-L1 expression (TPS ≥50% vs. TPS 1 to 49%). Patients were randomized (1:1) to receive KEYTRUDA 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks or investigator’s choice of either of the following platinum-containing chemotherapy regimens:
- Pemetrexed 500 mg/m² every 3 weeks and carboplatin AUC 5 to 6 mg/mL/min every 3 weeks on Day 1 for a maximum of 6 cycles followed by optional pemetrexed 500 mg/m² every 3 weeks for patients with nonsquamous histologies;
- Paclitaxel 200 mg/m² every 3 weeks and carboplatin AUC 5 to 6 mg/mL/min every 3 weeks on Day 1 for a maximum of 6 cycles followed by optional pemetrexed 500 mg/m² every 3 weeks for patients with nonsquamous histologies.
Treatment with KEYTRUDA continued until RECIST v1.1 (modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ)-defined progression of disease, unacceptable toxicity, or a maximum of 24 months. Administration of KEYTRUDA was permitted beyond RECIST-defined disease progression if the patient was clinically stable and deriving clinical benefit as determined by the investigator. Treatment with KEYTRUDA could be reinitiated at the time of subsequent disease progression and administered for up to 12 months. Assessment of tumor status was performed every 9 weeks. The main efficacy outcome measure was OS in the subgroup of patients with TPS ≥50% NSCLC, the subgroup of patients with TPS ≥20% NSCLC, and the overall population with TPS ≥1% NSCLC. Additional efficacy outcome measures were PFS and ORR in the subgroup of patients with TPS ≥50% NSCLC, the subgroup of patients with TPS ≥20% NSCLC, and the overall population with TPS ≥1% NSCLC as assessed by BICR according to RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ.
The study population characteristics were: median age of 63 years (range: 25 to 90), 45% age 65 or older; 71% male; and 64% White, 30% Asian, and 2% Black. Nineteen percent were Hispanic or Latino. Sixty-nine percent had ECOG PS of 1; 39% with squamous and 61% with nonsquamous histology; 87% had M1 disease and 13% had Stage IIIA (2%) or Stage IIIB (11%) and who were not candidates for surgical resection or definitive chemoradiation per investigator assessment; and 5% with treated brain metastases at baseline. Forty-seven percent of patients had TPS ≥50% NSCLC and 53% had TPS 1 to 49% NSCLC.
The trial demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in OS for patients (PD-L1 TPS ≥50%, TPS ≥20%, TPS ≥1%) randomized to KEYTRUDA as compared with chemotherapy. Table 63 and Figure 7 summarize the efficacy results in the subgroup of patients with TPS ≥50% and in all randomized patients with TPS ≥1%.
Table 63: Efficacy Results of All Randomized Patients (TPS ≥1% and TPS ≥50%) in KEYNOTE-042
| Endpoint |
TPS ≥1% |
TPS ≥50% |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks
n=637 |
Chemotherapy
n=637 |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks
n=299 |
Chemotherapy
n=300 |
| OS |
|
| Number of events (%) |
371 (58%) |
438 (69%) |
157 (53%) |
199 (66%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
16.7 (13.9, 19.7) |
12.1 (11.3, 13.3) |
20.0 (15.4, 24.9) |
12.2 (10.4, 14.2) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.81 (0.71, 0.93) |
0.69 (0.56, 0.85) |
| p-Value†|
0.0036 |
0.0006 |
| PFS |
|
| Number of events (%) |
507 (80%) |
506 (79%) |
221 (74%) |
233 (78%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
5.4 (4.3, 6.2) |
6.5 (6.3, 7.0) |
6.9 (5.9, 9.0) |
6.4 (6.1, 6.9) |
| Hazard ratio*,‡(95% CI) |
1.07 (0.94, 1.21) |
0.82 (0.68, 0.99) |
| p-Value†|
-‡ |
NS§ |
| Objective Response Rate |
|
| ORR‡ (95% CI) |
27% (24, 31) |
27% (23, 30) |
39% (33.9, 45.3) |
32% (26.8, 37.6) |
| Complete response rate |
0.5% |
0.5% |
0.7% |
0.3% |
| Partial response rate |
27% |
26% |
39% |
32% |
| Duration of Response |
|
| % with duration ≥12 months¶ |
47% |
16% |
42% |
17% |
| % with duration ≥18 months¶ |
26% |
6% |
25% |
5% |
* Based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard model
† Based on a stratified log-rank test; compared to a p-Value boundary of 0.0291
‡ Not evaluated for statistical significance as a result of the sequential testing procedure for the secondary endpoints § Not significant compared to a p-Value boundary of 0.0291
¶ Based on observed duration of response |
The results of all efficacy outcome measures in the subgroup of patients with PD-L1 TPS ≥20% NSCLC were intermediate between the results of those with PD-L1 TPS ≥1% and those with PD-L1 TPS ≥50%. In a pre-specified exploratory subgroup analysis for patients with TPS 1-49% NSCLC, the median OS was 13.4 months (95% CI: 10.7, 18.2) for the pembrolizumab group and 12.1 months (95% CI: 11.0, 14.0) in the chemotherapy group, with an HR of 0.92 (95% CI: 0.77, 1.11).
Figure 7: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in all Randomized Patients in KEYNOTE-042 (TPS ≥1%)
KEYNOTE-024
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was also investigated in KEYNOTE-024 (NCT02142738), a randomized, multicenter, open-label, active-controlled trial in 305 previously untreated patients with metastatic NSCLC. The study design was similar to that of KEYNOTE-042, except that only patients whose tumors had high PD-L1 expression (TPS of 50% or greater) by an immunohistochemistry assay using the PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx kit were eligible. Patients were randomized (1:1) to receive KEYTRUDA 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks or investigator’s choice of any of the following platinum-containing chemotherapy regimens:
- Pemetrexed 500 mg/m² every 3 weeks and carboplatin AUC 5 to 6 mg/mL/min every 3 weeks on Day 1 for 4 to 6 cycles followed by optional pemetrexed 500 mg/m² every 3 weeks for patients with nonsquamous histologies;
- Pemetrexed 500 mg/m² every 3 weeks and cisplatin 75 mg/m² every 3 weeks on Day 1 for 4 to 6 cycles followed by optional pemetrexed 500 mg/m² every 3 weeks for patients with nonsquamous histologies;
- Gemcitabine 1250 mg/m² on days 1 and 8 and cisplatin 75 mg/m² every 3 weeks on Day 1 for 4 to 6 cycles;
- Gemcitabine 1250 mg/m² on Days 1 and 8 and carboplatin AUC 5 to 6 mg/mL/min every 3 weeks on Day 1 for 4 to 6 cycles;
- Paclitaxel 200 mg/m² every 3 weeks and carboplatin AUC 5 to 6 mg/mL/min every 3 weeks on Day 1 for 4 to 6 cycles followed by optional pemetrexed maintenance (for nonsquamous histologies).
Patients randomized to chemotherapy were offered KEYTRUDA at the time of disease progression.
The main efficacy outcome measure was PFS as assessed by BICR according to RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ. Additional efficacy outcome measures were OS and ORR as assessed by BICR according to RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ.
The study population characteristics were: median age of 65 years (range: 33 to 90), 54% age 65 or older; 61% male; 82% White and 15% Asian; 65% with ECOG PS of 1; 18% with squamous and 82% with nonsquamous histology and 9% with history of brain metastases. A total of 66 patients in the chemotherapy arm received KEYTRUDA at the time of disease progression.
The trial demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in both PFS and OS for patients randomized to KEYTRUDA as compared with chemotherapy. Table 64 and Figure 8 summarize the efficacy results for KEYNOTE-024.
Table 64: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-024
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks
n=154 |
Chemotherapy
n=151 |
| PFS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
73 (47%) |
116 (77%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
10.3 (6.7, NR) |
6.0 (4.2, 6.2) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.50 (0.37, 0.68) |
| p-Value (stratified log-rank) |
<0.001 |
| OS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
44 (29%) |
64 (42%) |
| Median in months (95% CI)†|
30.0 (18.3, NR) |
14.2 (9.8, 19.0) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.60 (0.41, 0.89) |
| p-Value (stratified log-rank) |
0.005‡ |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR (95% CI) |
45% (37, 53) |
28% (21, 36) |
| Complete response rate |
4% |
1% |
| Partial response rate |
41% |
27% |
| p-Value (Miettinen-Nurminen) |
0.001 |
| Median duration of response in months (range) |
NR (1.9+, 14.5+) |
6.3 (2.1+, 12.6+) |
* Based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard model for the interim analysis
† Based on the protocol-specified final OS analysis conducted at 169 events, which occurred 14 months after the interim analysis.
‡ p-Value is compared with 0.0118 of the allocated alpha for the interim analysis NR = not reached |
Figure 8: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-024*
Previously Treated NSCLC With PD-L1 Expression (TPS≥ 1%)
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in KEYNOTE-010 (NCT01905657), a randomized, multicenter, open-label, active-controlled trial conducted in 1033 patients with metastatic NSCLC that had progressed following platinum-containing chemotherapy, and if appropriate, targeted therapy for EGFR or ALK genomic tumor aberrations. Eligible patients had PD-L1 expression TPS of 1% or greater by an immunohistochemistry assay using the PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx kit. Patients with autoimmune disease; a medical condition that required immunosuppression; or who had received more than 30 Gy of thoracic radiation within the prior 26 weeks were ineligible. Randomization was stratified by tumor PD-L1 expression (PD-L1 expression TPS ≥50% vs. PD-L1 expression TPS=1-49%), ECOG PS (0 vs. 1), and geographic region (East Asia vs. non-East Asia). Patients were randomized (1:1:1) to receive KEYTRUDA 2 mg/kg intravenously every 3 weeks, KEYTRUDA 10 mg/kg intravenously every 3 weeks or docetaxel intravenously 75 mg/m² every 3 weeks until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. Patients randomized to KEYTRUDA were permitted to continue until disease progression that was symptomatic, rapidly progressive, required urgent intervention, occurred with a decline in performance status, or confirmation of progression at 4 to 6 weeks with repeat imaging or for up to 24 months without disease progression. Assessment of tumor status was performed every 9 weeks. The main efficacy outcome measures were OS and PFS as assessed by BICR according to RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, in the subgroup of patients with TPS ≥50% and the overall population with TPS ≥1%. Additional efficacy outcome measures were ORR and DoR in the subgroup of patients with TPS ≥50% and the overall population with TPS ≥1%.
The study population characteristics were: median age of 63 years (range: 20 to 88), 42% age 65 or older; 61% male; 72% White and 21% Asian; 66% ECOG PS of 1; 43% with high PD-L1 tumor expression; 21% with squamous, 70% with nonsquamous, and 8% with mixed, other or unknown histology; 91% metastatic (M1) disease; 15% with history of brain metastases; and 8% and 1% with EGFR and ALK genomic aberrations, respectively. All patients had received prior therapy with a platinum-doublet regimen, 29% received two or more prior therapies for their metastatic disease.
Tables 65 and 66 and Figure 9 summarize efficacy results in the subgroup with TPS ≥50% population and in all patients, respectively.
Table 65: Efficacy Results of the Subgroup of Patients with TPS ≥50% in KEYNOTE-010
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 2 mg/kg every 3 weeks
n=139 |
KEYTRUDA 10 mg/kg every 3 weeks
n=151 |
Docetaxel 75 mg/m² every 3 weeks
n=152 |
| OS |
| Deaths (%) |
58 (42%) |
60 (40%) |
86 (57%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
14.9 (10.4, NR) |
17.3 (11.8, NR) |
8.2 (6.4, 10.7) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.54 (0.38, 0.77) |
0.50 (0.36, 0.70) |
— |
| p-Value (stratified log-rank) |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
— |
| PFS |
| Events (%) |
89 (64%) |
97 (64%) |
118 (78%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
5.2 (4.0, 6.5) |
5.2 (4.1, 8.1) |
4.1 (3.6, 4.3) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.58 (0.43, 0.77) |
0.59 (0.45, 0.78) |
— |
| p-Value (stratified log-rank) |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
— |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR†(95% CI) |
30% (23, 39) |
29% (22, 37) |
8% (4, 13) |
| p-Value (Miettinen-Nurminen) |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
— |
| Median duration of response in months (range) |
NR |
NR |
8.1 |
| (0.7+, 16.8+) |
(2.1+, 17.8+) |
(2.1+, 8.8+) |
* Hazard ratio (KEYTRUDA compared to docetaxel) based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard model
† All responses were partial responses
NR = not reached |
Table 66: Efficacy Results of All Randomized Patients (TPS ≥1%) in KEYNOTE-010
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 2 mg/kg every 3 weeks
n=344 |
KEYTRUDA 10 mg/kg every 3 weeks
n=346 |
Docetaxel 75 mg/m² every 3 weeks
n=343 |
| OS |
| Deaths (%) |
172 (50%) |
156 (45%) |
193 (56%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
10.4 (9.4, 11.9) |
12.7 (10.0, 17.3) |
8.5 (7.5, 9.8) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.71 (0.58, 0.88) |
0.61 (0.49, 0.75) |
— |
| p-Value (stratified log-rank) |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
— |
| PFS |
| Events (%) |
266 (77%) |
255 (74%) |
257 (75%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
3.9 (3.1, 4.1) |
4.0 (2.6, 4.3) |
4.0 (3.1, 4.2) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.88 (0.73, 1.04) |
0.79 (0.66, 0.94) |
— |
| p-Value (stratified log-rank) |
0.068 |
0.005 |
— |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR†(95% CI) |
18% (14, 23) |
19% (15, 23) |
9% (7, 13) |
| p-Value (Miettinen-Nurminen) |
<0.001 |
<0.001 |
— |
| Median duration of response in months (range) |
NR |
NR |
6.2 |
| (0.7+, 20.1+) |
(2.1+, 17.8+) |
(1.4+, 8.8+) |
* Hazard ratio (KEYTRUDA compared to docetaxel) based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard model
† All responses were partial responses NR = not reached |
Figure 9: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in all Randomized Patients in KEYNOTE-010 (TPS ≥1%)
Neoadjuvant And Adjuvant Treatment Of Resectable NSCLC
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA in combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery and continued adjuvant treatment with KEYTRUDA as a single agent was investigated in KEYNOTE-671 (NCT03425643), a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in 797 patients with previously untreated and resectable Stage II, IIIA, or IIIB (N2) NSCLC by AJCC 8th edition. Patients were enrolled regardless of tumor PD-L1 expression. Patients with active autoimmune disease that required systemic therapy within 2 years of treatment, a medical condition that required immunosuppression, or a history of interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis that required steroids were ineligible. Randomization was stratified by stage (II vs. III), tumor PD-L1 expression (TPS ≥50% or <50%), histology (squamous vs. nonsquamous), and geographic region (East Asia vs. non-East Asia).
Patients were randomized (1:1) to one of the following treatment arms:
- Treatment Arm A: neoadjuvant KEYTRUDA 200 mg on Day 1 in combination with cisplatin 75 mg/m² and either pemetrexed 500 mg/m² on Day 1 or gemcitabine 1000 mg/m² on Days 1 and 8 of each 21-day cycle for up to 4 cycles. Within 4-12 weeks following surgery, KEYTRUDA 200 mg was administered every 3 weeks for up to 13 cycles.
- Treatment Arm B: neoadjuvant placebo on Day 1 in combination with cisplatin 75 mg/m² and either pemetrexed 500 mg/m² on Day 1 or gemcitabine 1000 mg/m² on Days 1 and 8 of each 21-day cycle for up to 4 cycles. Within 4-12 weeks following surgery, placebo was administered every 3 weeks for up to 13 cycles.
All study medications were administered via intravenous infusion. Treatment with KEYTRUDA or placebo continued until completion of the treatment (17 cycles), disease progression that precluded definitive surgery, disease recurrence in the adjuvant phase, disease progression for those who did not undergo surgery or had incomplete resection and entered the adjuvant phase, or unacceptable toxicity. Assessment of tumor status was performed at baseline, Week 7, and Week 13 in the neoadjuvant phase and within 4 weeks prior to the start of the adjuvant phase. Following the start of the adjuvant phase, assessment of tumor status was performed every 16 weeks through the end of Year 3, and then every 6 months thereafter.
The trial was not designed to isolate the effect of KEYTRUDA in each phase (neoadjuvant or adjuvant) of treatment.
The major efficacy outcome measures were OS and investigator-assessed event-free survival (EFS). Additional efficacy outcome measures were pathological complete response (pCR) rate and major pathological response (mPR) rate as assessed by blinded independent pathology review.
The study population characteristics were: median age of 64 years (range: 26 to 83); 45% age 65 or older and 7% age 75 or older; 71% male; 61% White, 31% Asian, 2% Black, 4% race not reported; 9% Hispanic or Latino; 63% ECOG PS of 0 and 37% ECOG PS of 1. Thirty percent had Stage II and 70% had Stage III disease; 33% had TPS ≥50% and 67% had TPS <50%; 43% had tumors with squamous histology and 57% had tumors with non-squamous histology; 31% were from the East Asian region.
Eighty-one percent of patients in the KEYTRUDA in combination with platinum-containing chemotherapy arm received definitive surgery compared to 76% of patients in the placebo in combination with platinum-containing chemotherapy arm.
The trial demonstrated statistically significant improvements in OS and EFS for patients randomized to KEYTRUDA in combination with platinum-containing chemotherapy followed by KEYTRUDA as a single agent compared with patients randomized to placebo in combination with platinum-containing chemotherapy followed by placebo alone.
Table 67 and Figure 10 summarize the efficacy results for KEYNOTE-671.
Table 67: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-671
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks with chemotherapy /KEYTRUDA
n=397 |
Placebo with chemotherapy /Placebo
n=400 |
| OS |
| Number of patients with event (%) |
110 (28%) |
144 (36%) |
| Median in months* (95% CI) |
NR (NR, NR) |
52.4 (45.7, NR) |
| Hazard ratio†(95% CI) |
0.72 (0.56, 0.93) |
| p-Value‡,§ |
0.0103 |
| EFS |
| Number of patients with event (%) |
139 (35%) |
205 (51 %) |
| Median in months* (95% CI) |
NR (34.1, NR) |
17.0 (14.3, 22.0) |
| Hazard ratio†(95% CI) |
0.58 (0.46, 0.72) |
| p-Value‡,¶ |
<0.0001 |
* Based on Kaplan-Meier estimates
† Based on Cox regression model with treatment as a covariate stratified by stage, tumor PD-L1 expression, histology, and geographic region
‡ Based on stratified log-rank test § Compared to a two-sided p-Value boundary of 0.0109
¶ Compared to a two-sided p-Value boundary of 0.0092
NR = not reached |
Figure 10: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-671
The trial demonstrated a statistically significant difference in pCR rate (18.1% vs. 4.0%; p<0.0001) and mPR rate (30.2% vs. 11.0%; p<0.0001).
Adjuvant Treatment Of Resected NSCLC
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in KEYNOTE-091 (NCT02504372), a multicenter, randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in 1177 patients with completely resected Stage IB (T2a ≥4 cm), II, or IIIA NSCLC by AJCC 7th edition. Patients had not received neoadjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Adjuvant chemotherapy up to 4 cycles was optional. Patients were ineligible if they had active autoimmune disease, were on chronic immunosuppressive agents, or had a history of interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis. Randomization was stratified by stage (IB vs. II vs. IIIA), receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy (yes vs. no), PD-L1 status (TPS <1% [negative] vs. TPS 1-49% vs. TPS ≥50%), and geographic region (Western Europe vs. Eastern Europe vs. Asia vs. Rest of World). Patients were randomized (1:1) to receive KEYTRUDA 200 mg or placebo intravenously every 3 weeks.
Treatment continued until RECIST v1.1-defined disease recurrence as determined by the investigator, unacceptable toxicity or up to one year. Tumor assessments were conducted every 12 weeks for the first year, then every 6 months for years 2 to 3, and then annually through year 5. After year 5, imaging was performed as per local standard of care. The major efficacy outcome measure was investigator-assessed disease-free survival (DFS). An additional efficacy outcome measure was OS.
Of 1177 patients randomized, 1010 (86%) received adjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy following resection. Among these 1010 patients, the median age was 64 years (range: 35 to 84), 49% age 65 or older; 68% male; 77% White, 18% Asian; 86% current or former smokers; and 39% with ECOG PS of 1. Eleven percent had Stage IB, 57% had Stage II, and 31% had Stage IIIA disease. Thirty-nine percent had PD-L1 TPS <1% [negative], 33% had TPS 1-49%, and 28% had TPS ≥50%. Fifty-two percent were from Western Europe, 20% from Eastern Europe, 17% from Asia, and 11% from Rest of World.
The trial met its primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in DFS in the overall population for patients randomized to the KEYTRUDA arm compared to patients randomized to the placebo arm. In an exploratory subgroup analysis of the 167 patients (14%) who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy, the DFS HR was 1.25 (95% CI: 0.76, 2.05). OS results were not mature with only 42% of pre-specified OS events in the overall population.
Table 68 and Figure 11 summarize the efficacy results for KEYNOTE-091 in patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy.
Table 68: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-091 for Patients Who Received Adjuvant Chemotherapy
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks
n=506 |
Placebo
n=504 |
| DFS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
177 (35%) |
231 (46%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
58.7 (39.2, NR) |
34.9 (28.6, NR) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.73 (0.60, 0.89) |
* Based on the unstratified univariate Cox regression model
NR = not reached |
Figure 11: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Disease-Free Survival in KEYNOTE-091 for Patients Who Received Adjuvant Chemotherapy
Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma
First-Line Treatment Of Unresectable Advanced Or Metastatic Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) With Pemetrexed And Platinum Chemotherapy
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA in combination with pemetrexed and platinum chemotherapy was investigated in KEYNOTE-483 (NCT02784171), a multicenter, randomized, open-label, active-controlled trial that enrolled 440 patients with unresectable advanced or metastatic MPM and no prior systemic therapy for advanced/metastatic disease. Patients were enrolled regardless of tumor PD-L1 expression. Patients with autoimmune disease that required systemic therapy within 3 years of treatment or a medical condition that required immunosuppression were ineligible. Randomization was stratified by histological subtype (epithelioid vs. non-epithelioid). Patients were randomized (1:1) to one of the following treatment arms; all study medications were administered via intravenous infusion:
- KEYTRUDA 200 mg with pemetrexed 500 mg/m² and cisplatin 75 mg/m² or carboplatin AUC 5-6 mg/mL/min on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle for up to 6 cycles, followed by KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks. KEYTRUDA was administered prior to chemotherapy on Day 1.
- Pemetrexed 500 mg/m² and cisplatin 75 mg/m² or carboplatin AUC 5-6 mg/mL/min on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle for up to 6 cycles.
Treatment with KEYTRUDA continued until disease progression as determined by the investigator according to modified RECIST 1.1 for mesothelioma (mRECIST), unacceptable toxicity, or a maximum of 24 months. Assessment of tumor status was performed every 6 weeks for 18 weeks, followed by every 12 weeks thereafter. The main efficacy outcome measure was OS. Additional efficacy outcome measures were PFS, ORR, and DoR, as assessed by BICR according to mRECIST.
The study population characteristics were: median age of 70 years (77% age 65 or older); 76% male; 79% White, 21% race not reported or unknown; 2% Hispanic or Latino; and 53% ECOG performance status of 1. Seventy-eight percent had epithelioid and 22% had non-epithelioid histology; 60% had tumors with PD-L1 CPS ≥1 and 30% had tumors with PD-L1 CPS <1.
The trial demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in OS, PFS, and ORR in patients randomized to KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy compared with patients randomized to chemotherapy alone. Table 69 and Figure 12 summarize the efficacy results for KEYNOTE-483.
Table 69: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-483
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks Pemetrexed Platinum Chemotherapy
(n=222) |
Pemetrexed Platinum Chemotherapy
(n=218) |
| OS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
167 (75%) |
175 (80%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
17.3 (14.4, 21.3) |
16.1 (13.1, 18.2) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.79 (0.64, 0.98) |
| p-Value†|
0.0162 |
| PFS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
190 (86%) |
166 (76%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
7.1 (6.9, 8.1) |
7.1 (6.8, 7.7) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.80 (0.65, 0.99) |
| p-Value†|
0.0194 |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR % (95% CI) |
52% (45.5, 59.0) |
29% (23.0, 35.4) |
| Complete responses |
1 (0.5%) |
0 (0%) |
| Partial responses |
115 (52%) |
63 (29%) |
| p-Value‡ |
<0.00001 |
| Duration of Response§ |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
6.9 (5.8, 8.3) |
6.8 (5.5, 8.5) |
* Based on stratified Cox proportional hazard model
† Based on stratified log-rank test
‡ Based on Miettinen and Nurminen method stratified by histological subtype at randomization (epithelioid vs. non-epithelioid)
§ Based on patients with a best overall response as confirmed complete or partial response; n=116 for patients in the KEYTRUDA combination arm; n=63 for patients in the chemotherapy arm |
Figure 12: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-483
In a pre-specified exploratory analysis based on histology, in the subgroup of patients with epithelioid histology (n=345), the hazard ratio (HR) for OS was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.70, 1.13), with median OS of 19.8 months in KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy and 18.2 months in chemotherapy alone. In the subgroup of patients with non-epithelioid histology (n=95), the HR for OS was 0.57 (95% CI: 0.36, 0.89), with median OS of 12.3 months in KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy and 8.2 months in chemotherapy alone.
Head And Neck Squamous Cell Cancer
First-Line Treatment Of Metastatic Or Unresectable, Recurrent HNSCC
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in KEYNOTE-048 (NCT02358031), a randomized, multicenter, open-label, active-controlled trial conducted in 882 patients with metastatic HNSCC who had not previously received systemic therapy for metastatic disease or with recurrent disease who were considered incurable by local therapies. Patients with active autoimmune disease that required systemic therapy within two years of treatment or a medical condition that required immunosuppression were ineligible. Randomization was stratified by tumor PD-L1 expression (TPS ≥50% or <50%) according to the PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx kit, HPV status according to p16 IHC (positive or negative), and ECOG PS (0 vs. 1). Patients were randomized 1:1:1 to one of the following treatment arms:
- KEYTRUDA 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks
- KEYTRUDA 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks, carboplatin AUC 5 mg/mL/min intravenously every 3 weeks or cisplatin 100 mg/m² intravenously every 3 weeks, and FU 1000 mg/m² /day as a continuous intravenous infusion over 96 hours every 3 weeks (maximum of 6 cycles of platinum and FU)
- Cetuximab 400 mg/m² intravenously as the initial dose then 250 mg/m² intravenously once weekly, carboplatin AUC 5 mg/mL/min intravenously every 3 weeks or cisplatin 100 mg/m² intravenously every 3 weeks, and FU 1000 mg/m² /day as a continuous intravenous infusion over 96 hours every 3 weeks (maximum of 6 cycles of platinum and FU)
Treatment with KEYTRUDA continued until RECIST v1.1-defined progression of disease as determined by the investigator, unacceptable toxicity, or a maximum of 24 months. Administration of KEYTRUDA was permitted beyond RECIST-defined disease progression if the patient was clinically stable and considered to be deriving clinical benefit by the investigator. Assessment of tumor status was performed at Week 9 and then every 6 weeks for the first year, followed by every 9 weeks through 24 months. A retrospective re-classification of patients’ tumor PD-L1 status according to CPS using the PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx kit was conducted using the tumor specimens used for randomization.
The main efficacy outcome measures were OS and PFS as assessed by BICR according to RECIST v1.1 (modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ) sequentially tested in the subgroup of patients with CPS ≥20, the subgroup of patients with CPS ≥1, and the overall population.
The study population characteristics were: median age of 61 years (range: 20 to 94), 36% age 65 or older; 83% male; 73% White, 20% Asian and 2.4% Black; 61% had ECOG PS of 1; and 79% were former/current smokers. Twenty-two percent of patients’ tumors were HPV-positive, 23% had PD-L1 TPS ≥50%, and 95% had Stage IV disease (Stage IVA 19%, Stage IVB 6%, and Stage IVC 70%). Eighty-five percent of patients’ tumors had PD-L1 expression of CPS ≥1 and 43% had CPS ≥20.
The trial demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in OS for patients randomized to KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy compared to those randomized to cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy at a pre-specified interim analysis in the overall population. Table 70 and Figure 13 summarize efficacy results for KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy.
Table 70: Efficacy Results* for KEYTRUDA plus Platinum/Fluorouracil in KEYNOTE-048
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks Platinum FU
n=281 |
Cetuximab Platinum FU
n=278 |
| OS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
197 (70%) |
223 (80%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
13.0 (10.9, 14.7) |
10.7 (9.3, 11.7) |
| Hazard ratio†(95% CI) |
0.77 (0.63, 0.93) |
| p-Value‡ |
0.0067 |
| PFS |
| Number of patients with event (%) |
244 (87%) |
253 (91 %) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
4.9 (4.7, 6.0) |
5.1 (4.9, 6.0) |
| Hazard ratio†(95% CI) |
0.92 (0.77, 1.10) |
| p-Value‡ |
0.3394 |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR§ (95% CI) |
36% (30.0, 41.5) |
36% (30.7, 42.3) |
| Complete response rate |
6% |
3% |
| Partial response rate |
30% |
33% |
| Duration of Response |
| Median in months (range) |
6.7 (1.6+, 30.4+) |
4.3 (1.2+, 27.9+) |
* Results at a pre-specified interim analysis
† Based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard model
‡ Based on stratified log-rank test § Response: Best objective response as confirmed complete response or partial response |
At the pre-specified final OS analysis for the ITT population, the hazard ratio was 0.72 (95% CI: 0.60, 0.87). In addition, KEYNOTE-048 demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in OS for the subgroups of patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥1 (HR=0.65, 95% CI: 0.53, 0.80) and CPS ≥20 (HR=0.60, 95% CI: 0.45, 0.82).
Figure 13: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival for KEYTRUDA plus Platinum/Fluorouracil in KEYNOTE-048*
The trial also demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in OS for the subgroup of patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥1 randomized to KEYTRUDA as a single agent compared to those randomized to cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy at a pre-specified interim analysis. At the time of the interim and final analyses, there was no significant difference in OS between the KEYTRUDA single agent arm and the control arm for the overall population.
Table 71 summarizes efficacy results for KEYTRUDA as a single agent in the subgroups of patients with CPS ≥1 HNSCC and CPS ≥20 HNSCC. Figure 14 summarizes the OS results in the subgroup of patients with CPS ≥1 HNSCC.
Table 71: Efficacy Results* for KEYTRUDA as a Single Agent in KEYNOTE-048 (CPS ≥1 and CPS ≥20)
| Endpoint |
CPS ≥1 |
CPS ≥20 |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks
n=257 |
Cetuximab Platinum FU
n=255 |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks
n=133 |
Cetuximab Platinum FU
n=122 |
| OS |
| Number of events (%) |
177 (69%) |
206 (81%) |
82 (62%) |
95 (78%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
12.3 (10.8, 14.9) |
10.3 (9.0, 11.5) |
14.9 (11.6, 21.5) |
10.7 (8.8, 12.8) |
| Hazard ratio†(95% CI) |
0.78 (0.64, 0.96) |
0.61 (0.45, 0.83) |
| p-Value‡ |
0.0171 |
0.0015 |
| PFS |
| Number of events (%) |
225 (88%) |
231 (91%) |
113 (85%) |
111 (91 %) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
3.2 (2.2, 3.4) |
5.0 (4.8, 5.8) |
3.4 (3.2, 3.8) |
5.0 (4.8, 6.2) |
| Hazard ratio†(95% CI) |
1.15 (0.95, 1.38) |
0.97 (0.74, 1.27) |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR§ (95% CI) |
19% (14.5, 24.4) |
35% (29.1, 41.1) |
23% (16.4, 31.4) |
36% (27.6, 45.3) |
| Complete response rate |
5% |
3% |
8% |
3% |
| Partial response rate |
14% |
32% |
16% |
33% |
| Duration of Response |
| Median in months (range) |
20.9 (1.5+, 34.8+) |
4.5 (1.2+, 28.6+) |
20.9 (2.7, 34.8+) |
4.2 (1.2+, 22.3+) |
* Results at a pre-specified interim analysis
† Based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard model
‡ Based on a stratified log-rank test
§ Response: Best objective response as confirmed complete response or partial response |
At the pre-specified final OS analysis comparing KEYTRUDA as a single agent to cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy, the hazard ratio for the subgroup of patients with CPS ≥1 was 0.74 (95% CI: 0.61, 0.90) and the hazard ratio for the subgroup of patients with CPS ≥20 was 0.58 (95% CI: 0.44, 0.78).
In an exploratory subgroup analysis for patients with CPS 1-19 HNSCC at the time of the pre-specified final OS analysis, the median OS was 10.8 months (95% CI: 9.0, 12.6) for KEYTRUDA as a single agent and 10.1 months (95% CI: 8.7, 12.1) for cetuximab in combination with chemotherapy, with an HR of 0.86 (95% CI: 0.66, 1.12).
Figure 14: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival for KEYTRUDA as a Single Agent in KEYNOTE-048 (CPS ≥1)*
Previously Treated Recurrent Or Metastatic HNSCC
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in KEYNOTE-012 (NCT01848834), a multicenter, non-randomized, open-label, multi-cohort study that enrolled 174 patients with recurrent or metastatic HNSCC who had disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy administered for recurrent or metastatic HNSCC or following platinum-containing chemotherapy administered as part of induction, concurrent, or adjuvant therapy. Patients with active autoimmune disease, a medical condition that required immunosuppression, evidence of interstitial lung disease, or ECOG PS ≥2 were ineligible.
Patients received KEYTRUDA 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks (n=53) or 200 mg every 3 weeks (n=121) until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression that was symptomatic, was rapidly progressive, required urgent intervention, occurred with a decline in performance status, or was confirmed at least 4 weeks later with repeat imaging. Patients without disease progression were treated for up to 24 months. Treatment with pembrolizumab could be reinitiated for subsequent disease progression and administered for up to 1 additional year. Assessment of tumor status was performed every 8 weeks. The major efficacy outcome measures were ORR according to RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, as assessed by BICR, and DoR.
The study population characteristics were median age of 60 years, 32% age 65 or older; 82% male; 75% White, 16% Asian, and 6% Black; 87% had M1 disease; 33% had HPV positive tumors; 63% had prior cetuximab; 29% had an ECOG PS of 0 and 71% had an ECOG PS of 1; and the median number of prior lines of therapy administered for the treatment of HNSCC was 2.
The ORR was 16% (95% CI: 11, 22) with a complete response rate of 5%. The median follow-up time was 8.9 months. Among the 28 responding patients, the median DoR had not been reached (range: 2.4+ to 27.7+ months), with 23 patients having responses of 6 months or longer. The ORR and DoR were similar irrespective of dosage regimen (10 mg/kg every 2 weeks or 200 mg every 3 weeks) or HPV status.
Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma
KEYNOTE-204
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in KEYNOTE-204 (NCT02684292), a randomized, open-label, active controlled trial conducted in 304 patients with relapsed or refractory cHL. The trial enrolled adults with relapsed or refractory disease after at least one multi-agent chemotherapy regimen. Patients were randomized (1:1) to receive:
- KEYTRUDA 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks or
- Brentuximab vedotin (BV) 1.8 mg/kg intravenously every 3 weeks
Treatment was continued until unacceptable toxicity, disease progression, or a maximum of 35 cycles (up to approximately 2 years). Disease assessment was performed every 12 weeks. Randomization was stratified by prior autologous HSCT (yes vs. no) and disease status after frontline therapy (primary refractory vs. relapse <12 months after completion vs. relapse ≥12 months after completion). The main efficacy measure was PFS as assessed by BICR using 2007 revised International Working Group criteria.
The study population characteristics were: median age of 35 years (range: 18 to 84); 57% male; 77% White, 9% Asian, 3.9% Black. The median number of prior therapies was 2 (range: 1 to 10) in the KEYTRUDA arm and 3 (range: 1 to 11) in the BV arm, with 18% in both arms having 1 prior line. Forty-two percent of patients were refractory to the last prior therapy, 29% had primary refractory disease, 37% had prior autologous HSCT, 5% had received prior BV, and 39% had prior radiation therapy.
Efficacy is summarized in Table 72 and Figure 15.
Table 72: Efficacy Results in Patients with cHL in KEYNOTE-204
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks
n=151 |
Brentuximab Vedotin 1.8 mg/kg every 3 weeks
n=153 |
| PFS |
| Number of patients with event (%) |
81 (54%) |
88 (58%) |
| Median in months (95% CI)* |
13.2 (10.9, 19.4) |
8.3 (5.7, 8.8) |
| Hazard ratio†(95% CI) |
0.65 (0.48, 0.88) |
| p-Value‡ |
0.0027 |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR§ (95% CI) |
66% (57, 73) |
54% (46, 62) |
| Complete response |
25% |
24% |
| Partial response |
41% |
30% |
| Duration of Response |
| Median in months (range)* |
20.7 (0.0+, 33.2+) |
13.8 (0.0+, 33.9+) |
* Based on Kaplan-Meier estimates.
† Based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard model.
‡ Based on a stratified log-rank test. One-sided p-Value, with a prespecified boundary of 0.0043. § Difference in ORR is not statistically significant.
+ Denotes a censored value. |
Figure 15: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Progression-Free Survival in KEYNOTE-204
KEYNOTE-087
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in KEYNOTE-087 (NCT02453594), a multicenter, non-randomized, open-label trial in 210 patients with relapsed or refractory cHL. Patients with active, nonÂinfectious pneumonitis, an allogeneic HSCT within the past 5 years (or >5 years but with symptoms of GVHD), active autoimmune disease, a medical condition that required immunosuppression, or an active infection requiring systemic therapy were ineligible for the trial. Patients received KEYTRUDA 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks until unacceptable toxicity or documented disease progression, or for up to 24 months in patients who did not progress. Disease assessment was performed every 12 weeks. The major efficacy outcome measures (ORR, Complete Response Rate, and DoR) were assessed by BICR according to the 2007 revised International Working Group (IWG) criteria.
The study population characteristics were: median age of 35 years (range: 18 to 76), 9% age 65 or older; 54% male; 88% White; and 49% ECOG PS of 0 and 51% ECOG PS of 1. The median number of prior lines of therapy administered for the treatment of cHL was 4 (range: 1 to 12). Fifty-eight percent were refractory to the last prior therapy, including 35% with primary refractory disease and 14% whose disease was chemo-refractory to all prior regimens. Sixty-one percent of patients had undergone prior autologous HSCT, 83% had received prior brentuximab vedotin and 36% of patients had prior radiation therapy.
Efficacy results for KEYNOTE-087 are summarized in Table 73.
Table 73: Efficacy Results in Patients with cHL in KEYNOTE-087
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks
n=210* |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR (95% CI) |
69% (62, 75) |
| Complete response rate |
22% |
| Partial response rate |
47% |
| Duration of Response |
| Median in months (range) |
11.1 (0.0+, 11.1)† |
* Median follow-up time of 9.4 months
† Based on patients (n=145) with a response by independent review |
Primary Mediastinal Large B-Cell Lymphoma
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in KEYNOTE-170 (NCT02576990), a multicenter, open-label, single-arm trial in 53 patients with relapsed or refractory PMBCL. Patients were not eligible if they had active non-infectious pneumonitis, allogeneic HSCT within the past 5 years (or >5 years but with symptoms of GVHD), active autoimmune disease, a medical condition that required immunosuppression, or an active infection requiring systemic therapy. Patients were treated with KEYTRUDA 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks until unacceptable toxicity or documented disease progression, or for up to 24 months for patients who did not progress. Disease assessments were performed every 12 weeks and assessed by BICR according to the 2007 revised IWG criteria. The efficacy outcome measures were ORR and DoR.
The study population characteristics were: median age of 33 years (range: 20 to 61 years); 43% male; 92% White; and 43% ECOG PS of 0 and 57% ECOG PS of 1. The median number of prior lines of therapy administered for the treatment of PMBCL was 3 (range 2 to 8). Thirty-six percent had primary refractory disease, 49% had relapsed disease refractory to the last prior therapy, and 15% had untreated relapse. Twenty-six percent of patients had undergone prior autologous HSCT, and 32% of patients had prior radiation therapy. All patients had received rituximab as part of a prior line of therapy.
For the 24 responders, the median time to first objective response (complete or partial response) was 2.8 months (range 2.1 to 8.5 months). Efficacy results for KEYNOTE-170 are summarized in Table 74.
Table 74: Efficacy Results in Patients with PMBCL in KEYNOTE-170
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks
n=53* |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR (95% CI) |
45% (32, 60) |
| Complete response rate |
11% |
| Partial response rate |
34% |
| Duration of Response |
| Median in months (range) |
NR (1.1+, 19.2+)†|
* Median follow-up time of 9.7 months
† Based on patients (n=24) with a response by independent review NR = not reached |
Urothelial Cancer
In Combination With Enfortumab Vedotin For The Treatment Of Patients With Urothelial Cancer
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA in combination with enfortumab vedotin was evaluated in KEYNOTE-A39 (NCT04223856), an open-label, randomized, multicenter trial that enrolled 886 patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who received no prior systemic therapy for locally advanced or metastatic disease. Patients with active CNS metastases, ongoing sensory or motor neuropathy Grade ≥2, or uncontrolled diabetes defined as hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) ≥8% or HbA1c ≥7% with associated diabetes symptoms were excluded.
Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive either:
- KEYTRUDA 200 mg over 30 minutes on Day 1 and enfortumab vedotin 1.25 mg/kg on Days 1 and 8 of each 21-day cycle. KEYTRUDA was given approximately 30 minutes after enfortumab vedotin. Treatment was continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. In the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity, KEYTRUDA was continued for up to 2 years.
- Gemcitabine 1000 mg/m² on Days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle with cisplatin 70 mg/m² or carboplatin (AUC = 4.5 or 5) on Day 1 of a 21-day cycle. Treatment was continued until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity for up to 6 cycles.
Randomization was stratified by cisplatin eligibility, PD-L1 expression, and presence of liver metastases.
The median age was 69 years (range: 22 to 91); 77% were male; 67% were White, 22% were Asian, 1% were Black or African American, and 10% were unknown or other; 12% were Hispanic or Latino. Patients had a baseline ECOG performance status of 0 (49%), 1 (47%), or 2 (3%). Forty-seven percent of patients had a documented baseline HbA1c of <5.7%. At baseline, 95% of patients had metastatic urothelial cancer, including 72% with visceral and 22% with liver metastases, and 5% had locally advanced urothelial cancer. Eighty-five percent of patients had urothelial carcinoma (UC) histology including 6% with UC mixed squamous differentiation and 2% with UC mixed other histologic variants. Forty-six percent of patients were considered cisplatin-ineligible and 54% were considered cisplatin-eligible at time of randomization.
The major efficacy outcome measures were OS and PFS as assessed by BICR according to RECIST v1.1. Additional efficacy outcome measures included ORR as assessed by BICR.
The trial demonstrated statistically significant improvements in OS, PFS, and ORR for patients randomized to KEYTRUDA in combination with enfortumab vedotin as compared to platinum-based chemotherapy. Efficacy results were consistent across all stratified patient subgroups.
Table 75 and Figures 16 and 17 summarize the efficacy results for KEYNOTE-A39.
Table 75: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-A39
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks in combination with Enfortumab Vedotin
n=442 |
Cisplatin or carboplatin with gemcitabine
n=444 |
| OS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
133 (30%) |
226 (51 %) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
31.5 (25.4, NR) |
16.1 (13.9, 18.3) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.47 (0.38, 0.58) |
| p-Value†|
<0.0001 |
| PFS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
223 (50%) |
307 (69%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
12.5 (10.4, 16.6) |
6.3 (6.2, 6.5) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.45 (0.38, 0.54) |
| p-Value†|
<0.0001 |
| Confirmed Objective Response Rate‡ |
| ORR§ % (95% CI) |
68% (63, 72) |
44% (40, 49) |
| p-Value¶ |
<0.0001 |
| Complete response |
29% |
12% |
| Partial response |
39% |
32% |
* Based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard regression model
† Two-sided p-Value based on stratified log-rank test
‡ Includes only patients with measurable disease at baseline (n=437 for KEYTRUDA in combination with enfortumab vedotin, n=441 for chemotherapy).
§ Based on patients with a best overall response as confirmed complete or partial response
¶ Two-sided p-Value based on Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test stratified by PD-L1 expression, cisplatin eligibility and liver metastases
NR = not reached |
Figure 16: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-A39
Figure 17: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Progression-Free Survival in KEYNOTE-A39
In Combination With Enfortumab Vedotin For The Treatment Of Cisplatin-Ineligible Patients With Urothelial Cancer
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA in combination with enfortumab vedotin was evaluated in KEYNOTE-869 (NCT03288545), an open-label, multi-cohort (dose escalation cohort, Cohort A, Cohort K) study in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer who were ineligible for cisplatin-containing chemotherapy and received no prior systemic therapy for locally advanced or metastatic disease. Patients with active CNS metastases, ongoing sensory or motor neuropathy Grade ≥2, or uncontrolled diabetes defined as hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) ≥8% or HbA1c ≥7% with associated diabetes symptoms were excluded from participating in the study.
Patients in the dose escalation cohort (n=5), Cohort A (n=40), and Cohort K (n=76) received enfortumab vedotin 1.25 mg/kg as an IV infusion over 30 minutes on Days 1 and 8 of a 21-day cycle followed by KEYTRUDA 200 mg as an IV infusion on Day 1 of a 21-day cycle approximately 30 minutes after enfortumab vedotin. Patients were treated until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
A total of 121 patients received KEYTRUDA in combination with enfortumab vedotin. The median age was 71 years (range: 51 to 91); 74% were male; 85% were White, 5% were Black, 4% were Asian and 6% were other, unknown or not reported. Ten percent of patients were Hispanic or Latino. Forty-five percent of patients had an ECOG performance status of 1 and 15% had an ECOG performance status of 2. Forty-seven percent of patients had a documented baseline HbA1c of <5.7%. Reasons for cisplatin-ineligibility included: 60% with baseline creatinine clearance of 30-59 mL/min, 10% with ECOG PS of 2, 13% with Grade 2 or greater hearing loss, and 16% with more than one cisplatin-ineligibility criteria.
At baseline, 97.5% of patients had metastatic urothelial cancer and 2.5% of patients had locally advanced urothelial cancer. Thirty-seven percent of patients had upper tract disease. Eighty-four percent of patients had visceral metastasis at baseline, including 22% with liver metastases. Thirty-nine percent of patients had TCC histology; 13% had TCC with squamous differentiation, and 48% had TCC with other histologic variants.
The major efficacy outcome measures were ORR and DoR as assessed by BICR according to RECIST v1.1.
The median follow-up time for the dose escalation cohort + Cohort A was 44.7 months (range 0.7 to 52.4) and for Cohort K was 14.8 months (range: 0.6 to 26.2).
Efficacy results are presented in Table 76 below.
Table 76: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-869, Combined Dose Escalation Cohort, Cohort A, and Cohort K
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA in combination with Enfortumab Vedotin
n=121 |
| Confirmed ORR (95% CI) |
68% (58.7, 76.0) |
| Complete response rate |
12% |
| Partial response rate |
55% |
The median duration of response for the dose escalation cohort + Cohort A was 22.1 months (range: 1.0+ to 46.3+) and for Cohort K was not reached (range: 1.2 to 24.1+).
Platinum-Ineligible Patients With Urothelial Carcinoma
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in KEYNOTE-052 (NCT02335424), a multicenter, open-label, single-arm trial in 370 patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma who had one or more comorbidities, including patients who were not eligible for any platinum-containing chemotherapy. The trial excluded patients with autoimmune disease or a medical condition that required immunosuppression. Patients received KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. Patients with initial radiographic disease progression could receive additional doses of treatment during confirmation of progression unless disease progression was symptomatic, was rapidly progressive, required urgent intervention, or occurred with a decline in performance status. Patients without disease progression could be treated for up to 24 months. Tumor response assessments were performed at 9 weeks after the first dose, then every 6 weeks for the first year, and then every 12 weeks thereafter. The major efficacy outcome measures were ORR and DoR as assessed by BICR according to RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ.
The study population characteristics were: median age of 74 years; 77% male; and 89% White. Eighty-seven percent had M1 disease, and 13% had M0 disease. Eighty-one percent had a primary tumor in the lower tract, and 19% of patients had a primary tumor in the upper tract. Eighty-five percent of patients had visceral metastases, including 21% with liver metastases. Fifty percent of patients had baseline creatinine clearance of <60 mL/min, 32% had ECOG PS of 2, 9% had ECOG PS of 2 and baseline creatinine clearance of <60 mL/min, and 9% had one or more of Class III heart failure, Grade 2 or greater peripheral neuropathy, and Grade 2 or greater hearing loss. Ninety percent of patients were treatment naïve, and 10% received prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy.
The median follow-up time for 370 patients treated with KEYTRUDA was 11.4 months (range 0.1 to 63.8 months). Efficacy results are summarized in Table 77.
Table 77: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-052
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks |
All Subjects
n=370 |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR (95% CI) |
29% (24, 34) |
| Complete response rate |
10% |
| Partial response rate |
20% |
| Duration of Response |
| Median in months (range) |
33.4 (1.4+, 60.7+) |
| + Denotes ongoing response |
Platinum-Eligible Patients With Previously Untreated Urothelial Carcinoma
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA for the first-line treatment of platinum-eligible patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma was investigated in KEYNOTE-361 (NCT02853305), a multicenter, randomized, open-label, active-controlled study in 1010 previously untreated patients. The safety and efficacy of KEYTRUDA in combination with platinum-based chemotherapy for previously untreated patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma has not been established.
The study compared KEYTRUDA with or without platinum-based chemotherapy (i.e., cisplatin or carboplatin with gemcitabine) to platinum-based chemotherapy alone. Among the patients receiving KEYTRUDA plus platinum-based chemotherapy, 44% received cisplatin and 56% received carboplatin.
The study did not meet its major efficacy outcome measures of improved PFS or OS in the KEYTRUDA plus chemotherapy arm compared to the chemotherapy-alone arm. Additional efficacy endpoints, including improvement of OS in the KEYTRUDA monotherapy arm, could not be formally tested.
Previously Treated Urothelial Carcinoma
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in KEYNOTE-045 (NCT02256436), a multicenter, randomized (1:1), active-controlled trial in 542 patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma with disease progression on or after platinum-containing chemotherapy. The trial excluded patients with autoimmune disease or a medical condition that required immunosuppression.
Patients were randomized to receive either KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks (n=270) or investigator’s choice of any of the following chemotherapy regimens all given intravenously every 3 weeks (n=272): paclitaxel 175 mg/m² (n=90), docetaxel 75 mg/m² (n=92), or vinflunine 320 mg/m² (n=90). Treatment continued until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. Patients with initial radiographic disease progression could receive additional doses of treatment during confirmation of progression unless disease progression was symptomatic, was rapidly progressive, required urgent intervention, or occurred with a decline in performance status. Patients without disease progression could be treated for up to 24 months. Assessment of tumor status was performed at 9 weeks after randomization, then every 6 weeks through the first year, followed by every 12 weeks thereafter. The major efficacy outcomes were OS and PFS as assessed by BICR per RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ. Additional efficacy outcome measures were ORR as assessed by BICR per RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, and DoR.
The study population characteristics were: median age of 66 years (range: 26 to 88), 58% age 65 or older; 74% male; 72% White and 23% Asian; 42% ECOG PS of 0 and 56% ECOG PS of 1; and 96% M1 disease and 4% M0 disease. Eighty-seven percent of patients had visceral metastases, including 34% with liver metastases. Eighty-six percent had a primary tumor in the lower tract and 14% had a primary tumor in the upper tract. Fifteen percent of patients had disease progression following prior platinum-containing neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy. Twenty-one percent had received 2 or more prior systemic regimens in the metastatic setting. Seventy-six percent of patients received prior cisplatin, 23% had prior carboplatin, and 1% were treated with other platinum-based regimens.
The study demonstrated statistically significant improvements in OS and ORR for patients randomized to KEYTRUDA as compared to chemotherapy. There was no statistically significant difference between KEYTRUDA and chemotherapy with respect to PFS. The median follow-up time for this trial was 9.0 months (range: 0.2 to 20.8 months). Table 78 and Figure 18 summarize the efficacy results for KEYNOTE-045.
Table 78: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-045
|
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks
n=270 |
Chemotherapy
n=272 |
| OS |
| Deaths (%) |
155 (57%) |
179 (66%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
10.3 (8.0, 11.8) |
7.4 (6.1, 8.3) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.73 (0.59, 0.91) |
| p-Value (stratified log-rank) |
0.004 |
| PFS by BICR |
| Events (%) |
218 (81%) |
219 (81%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
2.1 (2.0, 2.2) |
3.3 (2.3, 3.5) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.98 (0.81, 1.19) |
| p-Value (stratified log-rank) |
0.833 |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR (95% CI) |
21% (16, 27) |
11% (8, 16) |
| Complete response rate |
7% |
3% |
| Partial response rate |
14% |
8% |
| p-Value (Miettinen-Nurminen) |
0.002 |
| Median duration of response in |
NR |
4.3 |
| months (range) |
(1.6+, 15.6+) |
(1.4+, 15.4+) |
* Hazard ratio (KEYTRUDA compared to chemotherapy) based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard model
+ Denotes ongoing response
NR = not reached |
Figure 18: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-045
BCG-Unresponsive High-Risk Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in KEYNOTE-057 (NCT02625961), a multicenter, open-label, single-arm trial in 96 patients with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG)-unresponsive, high-risk, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) with carcinoma in situ (CIS) with or without papillary tumors who are ineligible for or have elected not to undergo cystectomy. BCG-unresponsive high-risk NMIBC was defined as persistent disease despite adequate BCG therapy, disease recurrence after an initial tumor-free state following adequate BCG therapy, or T1 disease following a single induction course of BCG. Adequate BCG therapy was defined as administration of at least five of six doses of an initial induction course plus either of: at least two of three doses of maintenance therapy or at least two of six doses of a second induction course. Prior to treatment, all patients had undergone transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) to remove all resectable disease (Ta and T1 components). Residual CIS (Tis components) not amenable to complete resection was allowed. The trial excluded patients with muscle invasive (i.e., T2, T3, T4) locally advanced non-resectable or metastatic urothelial carcinoma, concurrent extra-vesical (i.e., urethra, ureter or renal pelvis) non-muscle invasive transitional cell carcinoma of the urothelium, or autoimmune disease or a medical condition that required immunosuppression.
Patients received KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks until unacceptable toxicity, persistent or recurrent high-risk NMIBC, or progressive disease. Assessment of tumor status was performed every 12 weeks for two years and then every 24 weeks for three years, and patients without disease progression could be treated for up to 24 months. The major efficacy outcome measures were complete response (as defined by negative results for cystoscopy [with TURBT/biopsies as applicable], urine cytology, and computed tomography urography [CTU] imaging) and duration of response.
The study population characteristics were: median age of 73 years (range: 44 to 92); 44% age ≥75; 84% male; 67% White; and 73% and 27% with an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1, respectively. Tumor pattern at study entry was CIS with T1 (13%), CIS with high grade TA (25%), and CIS (63%). Baseline high-risk NMIBC disease status was 27% persistent and 73% recurrent. The median number of prior instillations of BCG was 12.
The median follow-up time was 28.0 months (range: 4.6 to 40.5 months). Efficacy results are summarized in Table 79.
Table 79: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-057
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks
n=96 |
| Complete Response Rate (95% CI) |
41% (31, 51) |
| Duration of Response* |
| Median in months (range) |
16.2 (0.0+, 30.4+) |
| % (n) with duration ≥12 months |
46% (18) |
* Based on patients (n=39) that achieved a complete response; reflects period from the time complete response was achieved
+ Denotes ongoing response |
Microsatellite Instability-High Or Mismatch Repair Deficient Cancer
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in 504 patients with MSI-H or dMMR cancers enrolled in three multicenter, non-randomized, open-label, multi-cohort trials: KEYNOTE-164 (NCT02460198), KEYNOTE-158 (NCT02628067), and KEYNOTE-051 (NCT02332668). All trials excluded patients with autoimmune disease or a medical condition that required immunosuppression. Regardless of histology, MSI or MMR tumor status was determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR; local or central) or immunohistochemistry (IHC; local or central), respectively.
- KEYNOTE-164 enrolled 124 patients with advanced MSI-H or dMMR colorectal cancer (CRC) that progressed following treatment with fluoropyrimidine and either oxaliplatin or irinotecan +/-anti-VEGF/EGFR mAb-based therapy.
- KEYNOTE-158 enrolled 373 patients with advanced MSI-H or dMMR non-colorectal cancers (non-CRC) who had disease progression following prior therapy. Patients were either prospectively enrolled with MSI-H/dMMR tumors (Cohort K) or retrospectively identified in one of 10 solid tumor cohorts (Cohorts A-J).
- KEYNOTE-051 enrolled 7 pediatric patients with MSI-H or dMMR cancers.
Adult patients received KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks (pediatric patients received 2 mg/kg every 3 weeks) until unacceptable toxicity, disease progression, or a maximum of 24 months. In KEYNOTE-164 and KEYNOTE-158, assessment of tumor status was performed every 9 weeks through the first year, then every 12 weeks thereafter. In KEYNOTE-051, assessment of tumor status was performed every 8 weeks for 24 weeks, and then every 12 weeks thereafter. The major efficacy outcome measures were ORR and DoR as assessed by BICR according to RECIST v1.1 (modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ in KEYNOTE-158) and as assessed by the investigator according to RECIST v1.1 in KEYNOTE-051.
In KEYNOTE-164 and KEYNOTE-158, the study population characteristics were median age of 60 years, 36% age 65 or older; 44% male; 78% White, 14% Asian, 4% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 3% Black; and 45% ECOG PS of 0 and 55% ECOG PS of 1. Ninety-two percent of patients had metastatic disease and 4% had locally advanced, unresectable disease. Thirty-seven percent of patients received one prior line of therapy and 61% received two or more prior lines of therapy.
In KEYNOTE-051, the study population characteristics were median age of 11 years (range: 3 to 16); 71% female; 86% White and 14% Asian; and 57% had a Lansky/Karnofsky Score of 100. Seventy-one percent of patients had Stage IV and 14% had Stage III disease. Fifty-seven percent of patients received one prior line of therapy and 29% received two prior lines of therapy.
Discordant results were observed between local MSI-H or dMMR tests and central testing among patients enrolled in Cohort K of KEYNOTE-158. Among 104 tumor samples that were MSI-H or dMMR by local testing and also tested using the FoundationOne®CDx (F1CDx) test, 59 (56.7%) were MSI-H and 45 (43.3%) were not MSI-H. Among 169 tumor samples that were MSI-H or dMMR by local testing and also tested using the VENTANA MMR RxDx Panel, 105 (62.1%) were dMMR and 64 (37.9%) were pMMR.
Efficacy results are summarized in Tables 80 and 81.
Table 80: Efficacy Results for Patients with MSI-H/dMMR Cancer
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA
n=504* |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR (95% CI)†|
33.3% (29.2, 37.6) |
| Complete response rate |
10.3% |
| Partial response rate |
23.0% |
| Duration of Response |
n=168 |
| Median in months (range) |
63.2 (1.9+, 63.9+) |
| % with duration ≥12 months |
77% |
| % with duration ≥36 months |
39% |
* Median follow-up time of 20.1 months (range 0.1 to 71.4 months)
† Of the 7 pediatric patients from KEYNOTE-051, 1 patient had a radiographic complete response after initial growth of their tumor but is not reflected in the results.
+ Denotes ongoing response |
Table 81: Response by Tumor Type
|
N |
Objective Response Rate I |
Duration of Response range (months) |
| n (%) |
95% C |
| CRC |
124 |
42 (34%) |
(26%, 43%) |
(4.4, 58.5+) |
| Non-CRC* |
380 |
126 (33%) |
(28%, 38%) |
(1.9+, 63.9+) |
| Endometrial cancer |
94 |
47 (50%) |
(40%, 61%) |
(2.9, 63.2) |
| Gastric or GE junction cancer |
51 |
20 (39%) |
(26%, 54%) |
(1.9+, 63.0+) |
| Small intestinal cancer |
27 |
16 (59%) |
(39%, 78%) |
(3.7+, 57.3+) |
| Brain cancer |
27†|
1 (4%)‡ |
(0%, 19%) |
18.9 |
| Ovarian cancer |
25 |
8 (32%) |
(15%, 54%) |
(4.2, 56.6+) |
| Biliary cancer |
22 |
9 (41%) |
(21%, 64%) |
(6.2, 49.0+) |
| Pancreatic cancer |
22 |
4 (18%) |
(5%, 40%) |
(8.1, 24.3+) |
| Sarcoma |
14 |
3 (21%) |
(5%, 51 %) |
(35.4+, 57.2+) |
| Breast cancer |
13 |
1 (8%) |
(0%,36%) |
24.3+ |
| Other§ |
13 |
4 (31%) |
(9%, 61 %) |
(6.2+, 32.3+) |
| Cervical cancer |
11 |
1 (9%) |
(0%, 41 %) |
63.9+ |
| Neuroendocrine cancer |
11 |
1 (9%) |
(0%, 41 %) |
13.3 |
| Prostate cancer |
8 |
1 (13%) |
(0%, 53%) |
24.5+ |
| Adrenocortical cancer |
7 |
1 (14%) |
(0%, 58%) |
4.2 |
| Mesothelioma |
7 |
0 (0%) |
(0%, 41 %) |
|
| Thyroid cancer |
7 |
1 (14%) |
(0%, 58%) |
8.2 |
| Small cell lung cancer |
6 |
2 (33%) |
(4%, 78%) |
(20.0, 47.5) |
| Bladder cancer |
6 |
3 (50%) |
(12%, 88%) |
(35.6+, 57.5+) |
| Salivary cancer |
5 |
2 (40%) |
(5%, 85%) |
(42.6+, 57.8+) |
| Renal cell cancer |
4 |
1 (25%) |
(0%, 81 %) |
22.0 |
* Results include patients in Cohort K of KEYNOTE-158 that were later determined to be pMMR or not MSI-H by central testing
† Includes 6 pediatric patients with brain cancer
‡ In addition to the 1 adult responder, 1 pediatric patient had a radiographic complete response after initial growth of their tumor.
§ Includes tumor type (n): anal (3), HNSCC (1), nasopharyngeal (1), retroperitoneal (1), testicular (1), vaginal (1), vulvar (1), appendiceal adenocarcinoma, NOS (1), hepatocellular carcinoma (1), and carcinoma of unknown origin (1). Includes 1 pediatric patient with abdominal adenocarcinoma.
+ Denotes ongoing response |
Exploratory Analysis By TMB
In an exploratory analysis performed in 138 patients (Cohort K of KEYNOTE-158) who were tested retrospectively for tumor mutation burden (TMB) using an FDA-approved test, 45 (33%) had tumors with TMB score of <10 mut/Mb; ORR in these 45 patients was 6.7% (95% CI: 1.4, 18.3). Among the 45 patients with TMB score of <10 mut/Mb, 39 of the patients were pMMR/not MSI-H when tested using an FDA-approved test.
Microsatellite Instability-High Or Mismatch Repair Deficient Colorectal Cancer
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in KEYNOTE-177 (NCT02563002), a multicenter, randomized, open-label, active-controlled trial that enrolled 307 patients with previously untreated unresectable or metastatic MSI-H or dMMR CRC. MSI or MMR tumor status was determined locally using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively. Patients with autoimmune disease or a medical condition that required immunosuppression were ineligible.
Patients were randomized (1:1) to receive KEYTRUDA 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks or investigator’s choice of the following chemotherapy regimens given intravenously every 2 weeks:
- mFOLFOX6 (oxaliplatin, leucovorin, and FU) or mFOLFOX6 in combination with either bevacizumab or cetuximab: Oxaliplatin 85 mg/m² , leucovorin 400 mg/m² (or levoleucovorin 200 mg/m² ), and FU 400 mg/m² bolus on Day 1, then FU 2400 mg/m² over 46-48 hours. Bevacizumab 5 mg/kg on Day 1 or cetuximab 400 mg/m² on first infusion, then 250 mg/m² weekly.
- FOLFIRI (irinotecan, leucovorin, and FU) or FOLFIRI in combination with either bevacizumab or cetuximab: Irinotecan 180 mg/m² , leucovorin 400 mg/m² (or levoleucovorin 200 mg/m² ), and FU 400 mg/m² bolus on Day 1, then FU 2400 mg/m² over 46-48 hours. Bevacizumab 5 mg/kg on Day 1 or cetuximab 400 mg/m² on first infusion, then 250 mg/m² weekly.
Treatment with KEYTRUDA or chemotherapy continued until RECIST v1.1-defined progression of disease as determined by the investigator or unacceptable toxicity. Patients treated with KEYTRUDA without disease progression could be treated for up to 24 months. Assessment of tumor status was performed every 9 weeks. Patients randomized to chemotherapy were offered KEYTRUDA at the time of disease progression. The main efficacy outcome measures were PFS (as assessed by BICR according to RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ) and OS. Additional efficacy outcome measures were ORR and DoR.
A total of 307 patients were enrolled and randomized to KEYTRUDA (n=153) or chemotherapy (n=154). The baseline characteristics of these 307 patients were: median age of 63 years (range: 24 to 93), 47% age 65 or older; 50% male; 75% White and 16% Asian; 52% had an ECOG PS of 0 and 48% had an ECOG PS of 1; and 27% received prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Among 154 patients randomized to receive chemotherapy,143 received chemotherapy per the protocol. Of the 143 patients, 56% received mFOLFOX6, 44% received FOLFIRI, 70% received bevacizumab plus mFOLFOX6 or FOLFIRI, and 11% received cetuximab plus mFOLFOX6 or FOLFIRI.
The trial demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in PFS for patients randomized to KEYTRUDA compared with chemotherapy. There was no statistically significant difference between KEYTRUDA and chemotherapy in the final OS analysis. Sixty percent of the patients who had been randomized to receive chemotherapy had crossed over to receive subsequent anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies including KEYTRUDA. The median follow-up time at the final analysis was 38.1 months (range: 0.2 to 58.7 months). Table 82 and Figure 19 summarize the key efficacy measures for KEYNOTE-177.
Table 82: Efficacy Results in Patients with MSI-H or dMMR CRC in KEYNOTE-177
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks
n=153 |
Chemotherapy
n=154 |
| PFS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
82 (54%) |
113 (73%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
16.5 (5.4, 32.4) |
8.2 (6.1, 10.2) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.60 (0.45, 0.80) |
| p-Value†|
0.0004 |
| OS‡ |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
62 (41 %) |
78 (51 %) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
NR (49.2, NR) |
36.7 (27.6, NR) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.74 (0.53, 1.03) |
| p-Value§ |
0.0718 |
| Objective Response Rate¶ |
| ORR (95% CI) |
44% (35.8, 52.0) |
33% (25.8, 41.1) |
| Complete response rate |
11% |
4% |
| Partial response rate |
33% |
29% |
| Duration of Response1# |
| Median in months (range) |
NR (2.3+, 41.4+) |
10.6 (2.8, 37.5+) |
| % with duration ≥12 monthsÞ |
75% |
37% |
| % with duration ≥24 monthsÞ |
43% |
18% |
* Based on Cox regression model
† Two-sided p-Value based on log-rank test (compared to a significance level of 0.0234)
‡ Final OS analysis
§ Two-sided p-Value based on log-rank test (compared to a significance level of 0.0492)
¶ Based on confirmed response by BICR review
# Based on n=67 patients with a response in the KEYTRUDA arm and n=51 patients with a response in the chemotherapy arm
Þ Based on observed duration of response
+ Denotes ongoing response
NR = not reached |
Figure 19: Kaplan-Meier Curve for PFS in KEYNOTE-177
Gastric Cancer
First-line Treatment Of Locally Advanced Unresectable Or Metastatic HER2-Positive Gastric Or Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma for Tumors Expressing PD-L1 (CPS≥1)
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA in combination with trastuzumab plus fluoropyrimidine and platinum chemotherapy was investigated in KEYNOTE-811 (NCT03615326), a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that enrolled 698 patients with HER2-positive advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma who had not previously received systemic therapy for metastatic disease. PD-L1 status was determined using the PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx™ kit. Patients with an autoimmune disease that required systemic therapy within 2 years of treatment or a medical condition that required immunosuppression were ineligible. Randomization was stratified by PD-L1 expression (CPS ≥1 or CPS <1), chemotherapy regimen (5-FU plus cisplatin [FP] or capecitabine plus oxaliplatin [CAPOX]), and geographic region (Europe/Israel/North America/Australia, Asia, or Rest of the World). Patients were randomized (1:1) to one of the following treatment arms:
- KEYTRUDA 200 mg, trastuzumab 8 mg/kg on first infusion and 6 mg/kg in subsequent cycles, followed by investigator’s choice of combination chemotherapy of cisplatin 80 mg/m² for up to 6 cycles and 5-FU 800 mg/m² /day for 5 days (FP) or oxaliplatin 130 mg/m² up to 6-8 cycles and capecitabine 1000 mg/m² bid for 14 days (CAPOX). KEYTRUDA was administered prior to trastuzumab and chemotherapy on Day 1 of each cycle.
- Placebo, trastuzumab 8 mg/kg on first infusion and 6 mg/kg in subsequent cycles, followed by investigator’s choice of combination chemotherapy of cisplatin 80 mg/m² for up to 6 cycles and 5-FU 800 mg/m² /day for 5 days (FP) or oxaliplatin 130 mg/m² up to 6-8 cycles and capecitabine 1000 mg/m² bid for 14 days (CAPOX).
All study medications, except oral capecitabine, were administered as an intravenous infusion every 3-week cycle. Treatment with KEYTRUDA continued until RECIST v1.1-defined progression of disease as determined by BICR, unacceptable toxicity, or a maximum of 24 months. The major outcome measures assessed were PFS by BICR using RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, and OS.
Additional outcome measures included ORR and DoR, based on BICR using RECIST 1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ.
Among the 698 patients, randomized, 594 (85%) had tumors that expressed PD-L1 with a CPS ≥1. PD-L1 status was determined using the PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx™ kit. The population characteristics of these 594 patients were: median age of 63 years (range: 19 to 85), 43% age 65 or older; 80% male; 63% White, 33% Asian, and 0.7% Black; 42% ECOGPS of0 and 58% ECOG PS of 1. Ninety-eight percent of patients had metastatic disease (Stage IV) and 2% had locally advanced unresectable disease. Ninety-five percent (n=562) had tumors that were not MSI-H, 1% (n=8) had tumors that were MSI-H, and in 4% (n=24) the status was not known. Eighty-five percent of patients received CAPOX.
A statistically significant improvement in OS and PFS was demonstrated in patients randomized to KEYTRUDA in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy compared with placebo in combination with trastuzumab and chemotherapy; however, an exploratory analysis of OS in the PD-L1 CPS <1 population showed a HR of 1.10 (95% CI: 0.72, 1.68), indicating that the improvement in the ITT population was primarily attributed to the results observed in the subgroup of patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥1.
Efficacy results at the final analysis for the subgroup of patients whose tumors expressed PD-L1 with a CPS ≥1 are summarized in Table 83 and Figure 20.
Table 83: Efficacy Results for KEYNOTE-811 with PD-L1 Expression CPS ≥1
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks Trastuzumab Fluoropyrimidine and Platinum Chemotherapy
n=298 |
Placebo Trastuzumab Fluoropyrimidine and Platinum Chemotherapy
n=296 |
| OS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
226 (76%) |
244 (82%) |
| Median in months‡ (95% CI) |
20.1 (17.9, 22.9) |
15.7 (13.5, 18.5) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.79 (0.66, 0.95) |
| PFS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
221 (74%) |
226 (76%) |
| Median in months‡ (95% CI) |
10.9 (8.5, 12.5) |
7.3 (6.8, 8.4) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.72 (0.60, 0.87) |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR†(95% CI) |
73% (68, 78) |
58% (53, 64) |
| Complete response rate |
17% |
10% |
| Partial response rate |
56% |
48% |
| Duration of Response |
n=218 |
n=173 |
| Median in months‡ (95% CI) |
11.3 (9.9, 13.7) |
9.6 (7.1, 11.2) |
| Range in months |
1.1+, 60.8+ |
1.4+, 60.5+ |
* Based on the unstratified Cox proportional hazard model
† Response: Best objective response as confirmed complete
‡ Based on Kaplan-Meier estimation
+ Denotes ongoing response |
Figure 20: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival by Treatment Arm in KEYNOTE-811 (CPS ≥1)
First-line Treatment Of Locally Unresectable Or Metastatic HER2-Negative Gastric Or Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma For Tumors Expressing PD-L1 (CPS≥ 1)
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA in combination with fluoropyrimidine-and platinum-containing chemotherapy was investigated in KEYNOTE-859 (NCT03675737), a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that enrolled 1579 patients with HER2-negative advanced gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma who had not previously received systemic therapy for metastatic disease. Patients with an autoimmune disease that required systemic therapy within 2 years of treatment or a medical condition that required immunosuppression were ineligible. Randomization was stratified by PD-L1 expression (CPS ≥1 or CPS <1), chemotherapy regimen (FP or CAPOX), and geographic region (Europe/Israel/North America/Australia, Asia, or Rest of the World). Patients were randomized (1:1) to one of the following treatment arms; treatment was administered prior to chemotherapy on Day 1 of each cycle:
- KEYTRUDA 200 mg, investigator’s choice of combination chemotherapy of cisplatin 80 mg/m² and 5ÂFU 800 mg/m² /day for 5 days (FP) or oxaliplatin 130 mg/m² and capecitabine 1000 mg/m² bid for 14 days (CAPOX).
- Placebo, investigator’s choice of combination chemotherapy of cisplatin 80 mg/m² and 5-FU 800 mg/m² /day for 5 days (FP) or oxaliplatin 130 mg/m² and capecitabine 1000 mg/m² bid for 14 days (CAPOX).
All study medications, except oral capecitabine, were administered as an intravenous infusion every 3-week cycle. Platinum agents could be administered for 6 or more cycles following local guidelines. Treatment with KEYTRUDA continued until RECIST v1.1-defined progression of disease as determined by BICR, unacceptable toxicity, or a maximum of 24 months. The major efficacy outcome measure was OS. Additional secondary efficacy outcome measures included PFS, ORR, and DoR as assessed by BICR using RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ.
Among 1,579 patients, 1,235 (78%) had tumors expressing PD-L1 CPS ≥ 1. The population characteristics in patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥ 1 expressing tumors were: median age of 62 years (range: 24 to 86), 40% age 65 or older; 70% male and 30% female; 55% White, 33% Asian, 4.6% Multiple, 4.3% American Indian or Alaskan Native, 1.3% Black, and 0.2% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; 76% Not Hispanic or Latino and 21% Hispanic or Latino; 37% ECOG PSof 0 and 63% ECOG PS of 1. Ninety-six percent of patients had metastatic disease (Stage IV) and 3% had locally advanced unresectable disease. Five percent (n=66) had tumors that were MSI-H. Eighty-six percent of patients received CAPOX.
A statistically significant improvement in OS, PFS, and ORR was demonstrated in patients randomized to KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy compared with placebo in combination with chemotherapy at the time of a pre-specified interim analysis of OS.; however, an exploratory analysis of OS in the PD-L1 CPS <1 population showed a HR of 0.92 (95% CI 0.73, 1.17) indicating that the improvement in the ITT population was primarily attributed to the results observed in the subgroup of patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥1. Efficacy results for patients whose tumors expressed PD-L1 CPS ≥1 and CPS ≥10 are summarized in Table 84 and Figures 21 and 22.
Table 84: Efficacy Results* for KEYNOTE-859
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks and FP or CAPOX
n=618 |
Placebo and FP or CAPOX
n=617 |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks and FP or CAPOX
n=279 |
Placebo and FP or CAPOX
n=272 |
| CPS ≥1 |
CPS ≥10 |
| OS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
464 (75) |
526 (85) |
188 (67) |
226 (83) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
13.0 (11.6, 14.2) |
11.4 (10.5, 12.0) |
15.7 (13.8, 19.3) |
11.8 (10.3, 12.7) |
| Hazard ratio†(95% CI) |
0.74 (0.65, 0.84) |
0.65 (0.53, 0.79) |
| p-Value (stratified log-rank)‡ |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
| PFS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
443 (72%) |
483 (78%) |
190 (68) |
210 (77) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
6.9 (6.0, 7.2) |
5.6 (5.4, 5.7) |
8.1 (6.8, 8.5) |
5.6 (5.4, 6.7) |
| Hazard ratio†(95% CI) |
0.72 (0.63, 0.82) |
0.62 (0.51, 0.76) |
| p-Value (stratified log-rank)‡ |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR§ (95% CI) |
52% (48, 56) |
43% (39, 47) |
61% (55, 66) |
43% (37, 49) |
| Complete response rate |
10% |
6% |
13% |
5% |
| Partial response rate |
42% |
37% |
48% |
38% |
| p-Value¶ |
0.0004 |
<0.0001 |
| Duration of Response |
n=322 |
n=263 |
n=169 |
n=117 |
| Median in months# (95% CI) |
8.3 (7.0, 10.9) |
5.6 (5.4, 6.9) |
10.9 (8.0, 13.8) |
5.8 (5.3, 7.0) |
| Range in months |
1.2+, 41.5+ |
1.3+, 34.2+ |
1.2+, 41.5+ |
1.4+, 31.2+ |
* Based on a pre-specified interim analysis
† Based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard model
‡ One-sided p-Value based on stratified log-rank test
§ Response: Best objective response as confirmed complete response or partial response
¶ One-sided p-Value based on stratified Miettinen
& Nurminen method # Based on Kaplan-Meier estimates
+ Denotes ongoing response |
Figure 21: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-859 (CPS ≥1)
Figure 22: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-859 (CPS≥10)
An exploratory analysis of OS in the 74 patients with MSI-H tumors irrespective of PD-L1 status showed a HR of 0.34 (95% CI: 0.18, 0.66).
Esophageal Cancer
First-Line Treatment Of Locally Advanced Unresectable Or Metastatic Esophageal/Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer For Tumors Expressing PD-L1 (CPS≥ 1)
KEYNOTE-590
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in KEYNOTE-590 (NCT03189719), a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial that enrolled 749 patients with metastatic or locally advanced esophageal or gastroesophageal junction (tumors with epicenter 1 to 5 centimeters above the GEJ) carcinoma who were not candidates for surgical resection or definitive chemoradiation. PD-L1 status was centrally determined in tumor specimens in all patients using the PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx kit. Patients with active autoimmune disease, a medical condition that required immunosuppression, or who received prior systemic therapy in the locally advanced or metastatic setting were ineligible. Randomization was stratified by tumor histology (squamous cell carcinoma vs. adenocarcinoma), geographic region (Asia vs. ex-Asia), and ECOG performance status (0 vs. 1).
Patients were randomized (1:1) to one of the following treatment arms; all study medications were administered via intravenous infusion:
- KEYTRUDA 200 mg on Day 1 of each three-week cycle in combination with cisplatin 80 mg/m² IV on Day 1 of each three-week cycle for up to six cycles and FU 800 mg/m² IV per day on Day 1 to Day 5 of each three-week cycle, or per local standard for FU administration, for up to 24 months.
- Placebo on Day 1 of each three-week cycle in combination with cisplatin 80 mg/m² IV on Day 1 of each three-week cycle for up to six cycles and FU 800 mg/m² IV per day on Day 1 to Day 5 of each three-week cycle, or per local standard for FU administration, for up to 24 months.
Treatment with KEYTRUDA or chemotherapy continued until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. Patients could be treated with KEYTRUDA for up to 24 months in the absence of disease progression. The major efficacy outcome measures were OS and PFS as assessed by the investigator according to RECIST v1.1 (modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ). The study pre-specified analyses of OS and PFS based on squamous cell histology, CPS ≥10, and in all patients. Additional efficacy outcome measures were ORR and DoR, according to modified RECIST v1.1, as assessed by the investigator. Additional analyses of efficacy outcome measures were also conducted based on PD-L1 CPS ≥1.
Among 749 patients, 647 (86%) had tumors expressing PD-L1 CPS ≥ 1. The study population characteristics in patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥ 1 expressing tumors were: median age of 63 years (range: 27 to 89), 41% age 65 or older; 83% male; 36% White, 54% Asian, and 1% Black; 40% had an ECOG PS of 0 and 59% had an ECOG PS of 1. Ninety-one percent had M1 disease and 9% had M0 disease. Seventy-four percent had a tumor histology of squamous cell carcinoma, and 26% had adenocarcinoma.
The trial demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in OS and PFS for patients randomized to KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy compared to chemotherapy; however, an exploratory analysis of OS in the PD-L1 CPS <1 population showed an HR of 0.96 (0.59, 1.55), indicating that the improvement in the ITT population was primarily attributed to the results observed in the subgroup of patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥1.
Table 85 and Figures 23 and 24 summarize the efficacy results for KEYNOTE-590 in patients whose tumors expressed PD-L1 CPS ≥1 and CPS ≥10.
Table 85: Efficacy Results in Patients with Locally Advanced Unresectable or Metastatic Esophageal Cancer in KEYNOTE-590
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks Cisplatin FU
n=320 |
Placebo Cisplatin FU
n=327 |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks Cisplatin FU
n=186 |
Placebo Cisplatin FU
n=197 |
| CPS ≥ 1 |
CPS ≥ 10 |
| OS |
|
| Number (%) of events |
222 (69) |
271 (83) |
124 (67) |
165 (84) |
| Median in months |
12.7 |
9.8 |
13.5 |
9.4 |
| (95% CI) |
(10.5, 14.4) |
(8.8, 10.8) |
(11.1, 15.6) |
(8.0, 10.7) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.71 (0.59, 0.84) |
0.62 (0.49, 0.78) |
| p-Value† |
|
<0.0001 |
| PFS |
| Number of events (%) |
252 (79) |
291 (89) |
140 (75) |
174 (88) |
| Median in months |
6.3 |
5.7 |
7.5 |
5.5 |
| (95% CI) |
(6.2, 7.1) |
(4.6, 6.0) |
(6.2, 8.2) |
(4.3, 6.0) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.62 (0.52, 0.73) |
0.51 (0.41, 0.65) |
| p-Value† |
|
<0.0001 |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR, %‡ |
45 |
29 |
51 |
27 |
| (95% CI) |
(40, 51) |
(24, 34) |
(44, 59) |
(21, 34) |
| Number (%) of complete responses |
19 (6) |
9 (2.8) |
11 (6) |
5 (2.5) |
| Number (%) of partial responses |
126 (39) |
85 (26) |
84 (45) |
48 (24) |
| Duration of Response |
| Median in months(range) |
8.6 |
5.8 |
10.4 |
5.6 |
| (1.2+, 31.0+) |
(1.5+, 25.0+) |
(1.9+, 28.9+) |
(1.5+, 25.0+) |
* Based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard model
† Based on a stratified log-rank test; p-Value for CPS ≥ 1 not included (not pre-specified subgroup)
‡ Confirmed complete response or partial response |
Figure 23: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-590 (CPS ≥1)
Figure 24: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-590 (CPS ≥10)
In a pre-specified formal test of OS in patients with PD-L1 CPS ≥ 10 (n=383), the median was 13.5 months (95% CI: 11.1, 15.6) for the KEYTRUDA arm and 9.4 months (95% CI: 8.0, 10.7) for the placebo arm, with a HR of 0.62 (95% CI: 0.49, 0.78; p-Value < 0.0001). In an exploratory analysis, in patients with PD-L1 CPS < 10 (n=347), the median OS was 10.5 months (95% CI: 9.7, 13.5) for the KEYTRUDA arm and 10.6 months (95% CI: 8.8, 12.0) for the placebo arm, with a HR of 0.86 (95% CI: 0.68, 1.10).
Previously Treated Recurrent Locally Advanced Or Metastatic Esophageal Cancer For Tumors Expressing PD-L1 (CPS≥ 10)
KEYNOTE-181
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in KEYNOTE-181 (NCT02564263), a multicenter, randomized, open-label, active-controlled trial that enrolled 628 patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic esophageal cancer who progressed on or after one prior line of systemic treatment for advanced disease. Patients with HER2/neu positive esophageal cancer were required to have received treatment with approved HER2/neu targeted therapy. All patients were required to have tumor specimens for PD-L1 testing at a central laboratory; PD-L1 status was determined using the PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx kit. Patients with a history of non-infectious pneumonitis that required steroids or current pneumonitis, active autoimmune disease, or a medical condition that required immunosuppression were ineligible.
Patients were randomized (1:1) to receive either KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks or investigator’s choice of any of the following chemotherapy regimens, all given intravenously: paclitaxel 80-100 mg/m² on Days 1, 8, and 15 of every 4-week cycle, docetaxel 75 mg/m² every 3 weeks, or irinotecan 180 mg/m² every 2 weeks. Randomization was stratified by tumor histology (esophageal squamous cell carcinoma [ESCC] vs. esophageal adenocarcinoma [EAC]/Siewert type I EAC of the gastroesophageal junction [GEJ]), and geographic region (Asia vs. ex-Asia). Treatment with KEYTRUDA or chemotherapy continued until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. Patients randomized to KEYTRUDA were permitted to continue beyond the first RECIST v1.1 (modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ)-defined disease progression if clinically stable until the first radiographic evidence of disease progression was confirmed at least 4 weeks later with repeat imaging. Patients treated with KEYTRUDA without disease progression could be treated for up to 24 months. Assessment of tumor status was performed every 9 weeks. The major efficacy outcome measure was OS evaluated in the following co-primary populations: patients with ESCC, patients with tumors expressing PD-L1 CPS ≥10, and all randomized patients. Additional efficacy outcome measures were PFS, ORR, and DoR, according to RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, as assessed by BICR.
A total of 628 patients were enrolled and randomized to KEYTRUDA (n=314) or investigator’s treatment of choice (n=314). Of these 628 patients, 167 (27%) had ESCC that expressed PD-L1 with a CPS ≥10. Of these 167 patients, 85 patients were randomized to KEYTRUDA and 82 patients to investigator’s treatment of choice [paclitaxel (n=50), docetaxel (n=19), or irinotecan (n=13)]. The baseline characteristics of these 167 patients were: median age of 65 years (range: 33 to 80), 51% age 65 or older; 84% male; 32% White and 68% Asian; 38% had an ECOG PS of 0 and 62% had an ECOG PS of 1. Ninety percent had M1 disease and 10% had M0 disease. Prior to enrollment, 99% of patients had received platinum-based treatment and 84% had also received treatment with a fluoropyrimidine. Thirty-three percent of patients received prior treatment with a taxane.
The observed OS hazard ratio was 0.77 (95% CI: 0.63, 0.96) in patients with ESCC, 0.70 (95% CI: 0.52, 0.94) in patients with tumors expressing PD-L1 CPS ≥10, and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.75, 1.05) in all randomized patients. On further examination in patients whose ESCC tumors expressed PD-L1 (CPS ≥10), an improvement in OS was observed among patients randomized to KEYTRUDA as compared with chemotherapy. Table 86 and Figure 24 summarize the key efficacy measures for KEYNOTE-181 for patients with ESCC CPS ≥10.
Table 86: Efficacy Results in Patients with Recurrent or Metastatic ESCC (CPS ≥10) in KEYNOTE-181
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks
n=85 |
Chemotherapy
n=82 |
| OS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
68 (80%) |
72 (88%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
10.3 (7.0, 13.5) |
6.7 (4.8, 8.6) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.64 (0.46, 0.90) |
| PFS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
76 (89%) |
76 (93%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
3.2 (2.1, 4.4) |
2.3 (2.1, 3.4) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.66 (0.48, 0.92) |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR (95% CI) |
22 (14, 33) |
7 (3, 15) |
| Number (%) of complete responses |
4 (5) |
1 (1) |
| Number (%) of partial responses |
15 (18) |
5 (6) |
| Median duration of response in months (range) |
9.3 (2.1+, 18.8+) |
7.7 (4.3, 16.8+) |
| * Based on the Cox regression model stratified by geographic region (Asia vs. ex-Asia) |
Figure 24: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-181 (ESCC CPS ≥10)
KEYNOTE-180
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in KEYNOTE-180 (NCT02559687), a multicenter, non-randomized, open-label trial that enrolled 121 patients with locally advanced or metastatic esophageal cancer who progressed on or after at least 2 prior systemic treatments for advanced disease. With the exception of the number of prior lines of treatment, the eligibility criteria were similar to and the dosage regimen identical to KEYNOTE-181.
The major efficacy outcome measures were ORR and DoR according to RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, as assessed by BICR.
Among the 121 patients enrolled, 29% (n=35) had ESCC that expressed PD-L1 CPS ≥10. The baseline characteristics of these 35 patients were: median age of 65 years (range: 47 to 81), 51% age 65 or older; 71% male; 26% White and 69% Asian; 40% had an ECOG PS of 0 and 60% had an ECOG PS of 1. One hundred percent had M1 disease.
The ORR in the 35 patients with ESCC expressing PD-L1 was 20% (95% CI: 8, 37). Among the 7 responding patients, the DoR ranged from 4.2 to 25.1+ months, with 5 patients (71%) having responses of 6 months or longer and 3 patients (57%) having responses of 12 months or longer.
Cervical Cancer
FIGO 2014 Stage III-IVA Cervical Cancer With Chemoradiotherapy
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA in combination with CRT (cisplatin and external beam radiation therapy [EBRT] followed by brachytherapy [BT]) was investigated in KEYNOTE-A18 (NCT04221945), a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that enrolled 1060 patients with cervical cancer who had not previously received any definitive surgery, radiation, or systemic therapy for cervical cancer. There were 596 patients with FIGO 2014 Stage III-IVA (tumor involvement of the lower vagina with or without extension onto pelvic sidewall or hydronephrosis/non-functioning kidney or has spread to adjacent pelvic organs) with either node-positive or node-negative disease, and 462 patients with FIGO 2014 Stage IB2-IIB (tumor lesions >4 cm or clinically visible lesions that have spread beyond the uterus but have not extended onto the pelvic wall or to the lower third of vagina) with node-positive disease; two patients had FIGO 2014 Stage IVB disease. Randomization was stratified by planned type of EBRT (Intensity-modulated radiation therapy [IMRT] or volumetric modulated arc therapy [VMAT] vs. non-IMRT and non-VMAT), stage at screening of cervical cancer (FIGO 2014 Stage IB2-IIB vs. FIGO 2014 Stage III-IVA), and planned total radiotherapy dose (EBRT + brachytherapy dose of <70 Gy vs. ≥70 Gy as per equivalent dose [EQD2]).
Patients were randomized (1:1) to one of two treatment arms:
- KEYTRUDA 200 mg IV every 3 weeks (5 cycles) concurrent with cisplatin 40 mg/m² IV weekly (5 cycles, an optional sixth infusion could be administered per local practice), and radiotherapy (EBRT followed by BT), followed by KEYTRUDA 400 mg IV every 6 weeks (15 cycles)
- Placebo IV every 3 weeks (5 cycles) concurrent with cisplatin 40 mg/m² IV weekly (5 cycles, an optional sixth infusion could be administered per local practice), and radiotherapy (EBRT followed by BT), followed by placebo IV every 6 weeks (15 cycles)
Treatment continued until RECIST v1.1-defined progression of disease as determined by investigator or unacceptable toxicity.
Assessment of tumor status was performed every 12 weeks from completion of CRT for the first two years, followed by every 24 weeks in year 3, and then annually. The major efficacy outcome measures were PFS as assessed by investigator according to RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, or histopathologic confirmation, and OS.
Among the 596 patients with FIGO 2014 Stage III-IVA disease, the baseline characteristics were: median age of 52 years (range: 22 to 87), 17% age 65 or older; 36% White, 34% Asian, 1% Black; 38% Hispanic or Latino; 68% ECOG PS 0 and 32% ECOG PS 1; 93% with CPS ≥1; 70% had positive pelvic and/or positive para-aortic lymph node(s) and 30% had neither positive pelvic nor para-aortic lymph node(s); 83% had squamous cell carcinoma and 17% had non-squamous histology. Regarding radiation, 85% of patients received IMRT or VMAT EBRT, and the median EQD2 dose was 87 Gy (range: 7 to 114).
The trial demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in PFS in the overall population. In an exploratory subgroup analysis for the 462 patients (44%) with FIGO 2014 Stage IB2-IIB disease, the PFS HR estimate was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.63, 1.31), indicating that the PFS improvement in the overall population was primarily attributed to the results seen in the subgroup of patients with FIGO 2014 Stage III-IVA disease. OS data were not mature at the time of PFS analysis, with 10% deaths in the overall population.
The efficacy results in the exploratory subgroup analysis of 596 patients with FIGO 2014 Stage III-IVA disease are summarized in Table 87 and Figure 25.
Table 87: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-A18 (Patients with FIGO 2014 Stage III-IVA CervicalCancer)
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks and 400 mg every 6 weeks with CRT
n=293 |
Placebo with CRT
n=303 |
| PFS by Investigator |
| Number of patients with event (%) |
61 (21%) |
94 (31 %) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
NR (NR, NR) |
NR (18.8, NR) |
| 12-month PFS rate (95% CI) |
81% (75, 85) |
70% (64, 76) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.59 (0.43, 0.82) |
* Based on the unstratified Cox proportional hazard model
CRT = Chemoradiotherapy
NR = not reached |
Figure 25: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Progression-Free Survival in KEYNOTE-A18 (Patients withFIGO 2014 Stage III-IVA Cervical Cancer)
Persistent, Recurrent, Or Metastatic Cervical Cancer For Tumors Expressing PD-L1 (CPS≥ 1)
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA in combination with paclitaxel and cisplatin or paclitaxel and carboplatin, with or without bevacizumab, was investigated in KEYNOTE-826 (NCT03635567), a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that enrolled 617 patients with persistent, recurrent, or first-line metastatic cervical cancer who had not been treated with chemotherapy except when used concurrently as a radio-sensitizing agent. Patients were enrolled regardless of tumor PD-L1 expression status. Patients with autoimmune disease that required systemic therapy within 2 years of treatment or a medical condition that required immunosuppression were ineligible. Randomization was stratified by metastatic status at initial diagnosis, investigator decision to use bevacizumab, and PD-L1 status (CPS <1 vs. CPS 1 to <10 vs. CPS ≥10). Patients were randomized (1:1) to one of the two treatment groups:
- Treatment Group 1: KEYTRUDA 200 mg plus chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab
- Treatment Group 2: Placebo plus chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab
The investigator selected one of the following four treatment regimens prior to randomization:
- Paclitaxel 175 mg/m² + cisplatin 50 mg/m²
- Paclitaxel 175 mg/m² + cisplatin 50 mg/m² + bevacizumab 15 mg/kg
- Paclitaxel 175 mg/m² + carboplatin AUC 5 mg/mL/min
- Paclitaxel 175 mg/m² + carboplatin AUC 5 mg/mL/min + bevacizumab 15 mg/kg
All study medications were administered as an intravenous infusion. All study treatments were administered on Day 1 of each 3-week treatment cycle. Cisplatin could be administered on Day 2 of each 3-week treatment cycle. Treatment with KEYTRUDA continued until RECIST v1.1-defined progression of disease, unacceptable toxicity, or a maximum of 24 months. Administration of KEYTRUDA was permitted beyond RECIST-defined disease progression if the patient was clinically stable and considered to be deriving clinical benefit by the investigator. Assessment of tumor status was performed every 9 weeks for the first year, followed by every 12 weeks thereafter. The main efficacy outcome measures were OS and PFS as assessed by investigator according to RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ. Additional efficacy outcome measures were ORR and DoR, according to RECIST v1.1, as assessed by investigator.
Of the 617 enrolled patients, 548 patients (89%) had tumors expressing PD-L1 with a CPS ≥1. Among these 548 enrolled patients with tumors expressing PD-L1, 273 patients were randomized to KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab, and 275 patients were randomized to placebo in combination with chemotherapy with or without bevacizumab. Sixty-three percent of the 548 patients received bevacizumab as part of study treatment. The baseline characteristics of the 548 patients were: median age of 51 years (range: 22 to 82), 16% age 65 or older; 59% White, 18% Asian, 6% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 1% Black; 37% Hispanic or Latino; 56% ECOG performance status 0 and 43% ECOG performance status 1. Seventy-five percent had squamous cell carcinoma, 21% adenocarcinoma, and 5% adenosquamous histology, and 32% of patients had metastatic disease at diagnosis. At study entry, 21% of patients had metastatic disease only and 79% had persistent or recurrent disease with or without distant metastases, of whom 39% had received prior chemoradiation only and 17% had received prior chemoradiation plus surgery.
A statistically significant improvement in OS and PFS was demonstrated in patients randomized to receive KEYTRUDA compared with patients randomized to receive placebo. An updated OS analysis was conducted at the time of final analysis when 354 deaths in the CPS ≥1 population were observed. Table 88 and Figure 26 summarize the key efficacy measures for KEYNOTE-826 for patients with tumors expressing PD-L1 (CPS ≥1).
Table 88: Efficacy Results in Patients with Persistent, Recurrent, or Metastatic Cervical Cancer(CPS ≥1) in KEYNOTE-826
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks and chemotherapy* with or without bevacizumab
n=273 |
Placebo and chemotherapy* with or without bevacizumab
n=275 |
| OS |
| Number of patients with event (%) |
118 (43.2) |
154 (56.0) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
NR (19.8, NR) |
16.3 (14.5, 19.4) |
| Hazard ratio† (95% CI) |
0.64 (0.50, 0.81) |
| p-Value‡ |
0.0001 |
| Updated OS |
| Number of patients with event (%) |
153 (56.0%) |
201 (73.1%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
28.6 (22.1, 38.0) |
16.5 (14.5, 20.0) |
| Hazard ratio† (95% CI) |
0.60 (0.49, 0.74) |
| PFS |
| Number of patients with event (%) |
157 (57.5) |
198 (72.0) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
10.4 (9.7, 12.3) |
8.2 (6.3, 8.5) |
| Hazard ratio† (95% CI) |
0.62 (0.50, 0.77) |
| p-Value§ |
< 0.0001 |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR¶ (95% CI) |
68% (62, 74) |
50% (44, 56) |
| Complete response rate |
23% |
13% |
| Partial response rate |
45% |
37% |
| Duration of Response |
| Median in months (range) |
18.0 (1.3+, 24.2+) |
10.4 (1.5+, 22.0+) |
* Chemotherapy (paclitaxel and cisplatin or paclitaxel and carboplatin)
† Based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard model
‡ p-Value (one-sided) is compared with the allocated alpha of 0.0055 for this interim analysis (with 72% of the planned number of events for final analysis)
§ p-Value (one-sided) is compared with the allocated alpha of 0.0014 for this interim analysis (with 82% of the planned number of events for final analysis)
¶ Response: Best objective response as confirmed complete response or partial response
+ Denotes ongoing response
NR = not reached |
Figure 26: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-826 (CPS ≥1)* ,†
Previously Treated Recurrent Or Metastatic Cervical Cancer For Tumors Expressing PD-L1 (CPS≥ 1)
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in 98 patients with recurrent or metastatic cervical cancer enrolled in a single cohort (Cohort E) in KEYNOTE-158 (NCT02628067), a multicenter, non-randomized, open-label, multi-cohort trial. The trial excluded patients with autoimmune disease or a medical condition that required immunosuppression. Patients received KEYTRUDA 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks until unacceptable toxicity or documented disease progression. Patients with initial radiographic disease progression could receive additional doses of treatment during confirmation of progression unless disease progression was symptomatic, was rapidly progressive, required urgent intervention, or occurred with a decline in performance status. Patients without disease progression could be treated for up to 24 months. Assessment of tumor status was performed every 9 weeks for the first 12 months, and every 12 weeks thereafter. The major efficacy outcome measures were ORR according to RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, as assessed by BICR, and DoR.
Among the 98 patients in Cohort E, 77 (79%) had tumors that expressed PD-L1 with a CPS ≥ 1 and received at least one line of chemotherapy in the metastatic setting. PD-L1 status was determined using the IHC 22C3 pharmDx kit. The baseline characteristics of these 77 patients were: median age of 45 years (range: 27 to 75); 81% White, 14% Asian, and 3% Black; 32% ECOG PS of 0 and 68% ECOG PS of 1; 92% had squamous cell carcinoma, 6% adenocarcinoma, and 1% adenosquamous histology; 95% had M1 disease and 5% had recurrent disease; and 35% had one and 65% had two or more prior lines of therapy in the recurrent or metastatic setting.
No responses were observed in patients whose tumors did not have PD-L1 expression (CPS <1). Efficacy results are summarized in Table 89 for patients with PD-L1 expression (CPS ≥1).
Table 89: Efficacy Results in Patients with Recurrent or Metastatic Cervical Cancer (CPS ≥1) in KEYNOTE-158
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks
n=77* |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR (95% CI) |
14.3% (7.4, 24.1) |
| Complete response rate |
2.6% |
| Partial response rate |
11.7% |
| Duration of Response |
| Median in months (range) |
NR (4.1, 18.6+)† |
| % with duration ≥6 months |
91% |
* Median follow-up time of 11.7 months (range 0.6 to 22.7 months)
† Based on patients (n=11) with a response by independent review
+ Denotes ongoing response NR = not reached |
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Previously Treated HCC
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in KEYNOTE-394 (NCT03062358), a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial conducted in Asia in patients with Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) Stage B or C HCC, who were previously treated with sorafenib or oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy and who were not amenable to or were refractory to local-regional therapy. Patients were also required to have Child-Pugh A liver function.
Patients with hepatitis B had treated controlled disease (HBV viral load <2000 IU/mL or <104 copies/mL). Patients with an autoimmune disease that required systemic therapy within 2 years of treatment or a medical condition that required immunosuppression were ineligible. Patients with hepatic encephalopathy, main branch portal venous invasion, clinically apparent ascites, or esophageal or gastric variceal bleeding within the last 6 months were also ineligible.
Randomization was stratified by prior treatment: sorafenib vs. oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy, macrovascular invasion, and etiology (active HBV vs. others (active HCV, non-infected)). Patients were randomized (2:1) to receive pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks or placebo.
Treatment with KEYTRUDA continued until RECIST v1.1-defined progression of disease as determined by BICR, unacceptable toxicity, or a maximum of 24 months. Assessment of tumor status was performed every 6 weeks. The main efficacy outcome measure was OS. Additional efficacy outcome measures were PFS, ORR, and DoR, as assessed by BICR using RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ.
The study enrolled 453 patients, and 360 (79%) had active hepatitis B. The population characteristics in patients with active hepatitis B were: median age of 52 years (range: 23 to 82), 16% age 65 or older; 86% male; 100% Asian; 42% ECOG PS of 0 and 58% ECOG PS of 1; 90% received prior sorafenib and 10% received prior oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy. Patient characteristics also included extrahepatic disease (77%), macrovascular invasion (10%), BCLC stage C (93%) and B (7%), and baseline AFP ≥200 ng/mL (57%).
KEYNOTE-394 demonstrated improved OS in patients with HCC secondary to hepatitis B randomized to KEYTRUDA compared with placebo. Efficacy results are summarized in Table 90 and Figure 27.
Table 90: Efficacy Results in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma in KEYNOTE-394
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks
n=236 |
Placebo
n=124 |
| OS* |
| Number (%) of patients with events |
172 (73) |
105 (85) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
13.9 (12.5, 17.9) |
13.0 (10.1, 15.6) |
| Hazard ratio† (95% CI) |
0.78 (0.61, 0.99) |
| PFS‡ |
| Number (%) of patients with events |
189 (80) |
108 (87) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
2 (1.4, 2.7) |
2.3 (1.4, 2.8) |
| Hazard ratio† (95% CI) |
0.78 (0.61, 1.00) |
| Objective Response Rate‡ |
| ORR§ (95% CI) |
11% (7, 16) |
1.6% (0.2, 5.7) |
| Number (%) of complete responses |
2 (0.9%) |
1 (0.8%) |
| Number (%) of partial responses |
24 (10%) |
1 (0.8%) |
| Duration of Response* |
n=28 |
n=2 |
| Median in months¶ (range) |
23.9 (2.6+, 44.4+) |
5.6 (3.0+, 5.6) |
* Results at the pre-specified final OS analysis
† Based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard model
‡ Results at pre-specified interim OS analysis
§ Confirmed complete response or partial response
¶ Based on Kaplan-Meier estimate
+ Denotes ongoing response |
Figure 27: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-394
Biliary Tract Cancer
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA in combination with gemcitabine and cisplatin chemotherapy was investigated in KEYNOTE-966 (NCT04003636), a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that enrolled 1069 patients with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic BTC, who had not received prior systemic therapy in the advanced disease setting. Patients with autoimmune disease that required systemic therapy within 2 years of treatment or a medical condition that required immunosuppression were ineligible. Randomization was stratified by region (Asia vs. non-Asia), locally advanced versus metastatic, and site of origin (gallbladder, intrahepatic or extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma).
Patients were randomized (1:1) to KEYTRUDA 200 mg on Day 1 plus gemcitabine 1000 mg/m² and cisplatin 25 mg/m² on Day 1 and Day 8 every 3 weeks, or placebo on Day 1 plus gemcitabine 1000 mg/m² and cisplatin 25 mg/m² on Day 1 and Day 8 every 3 weeks. Study medications were administered via intravenous infusion. Treatment continued until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. For pembrolizumab, treatment continued for a maximum of 35 cycles, or approximately 24 months. For gemcitabine, treatment could be continued beyond 8 cycles while for cisplatin, treatment could be administered for a maximum of 8 cycles.
Administration of KEYTRUDA with chemotherapy was permitted beyond RECIST-defined disease progression if the patient was clinically stable and considered by the investigator to be deriving clinical benefit. Assessment of tumor status was performed at baseline and then every 6 weeks through 54 weeks, followed by every 12 weeks thereafter.
Study population characteristics were median age of 64 years (range: 23 to 85), 47% age 65 or older; 52% male; 49% White, 46% Asian, 1.3% Black or African American; 10% Hispanic or Latino; 46% ECOG PS of 0 and 54% ECOG PS of 1; 31% of patients had a history of hepatitis B infection, and 3% had a history of hepatitis C infection.
The major efficacy outcome measure was OS. Additional efficacy outcome measures were PFS, ORR and DoR as assessed by BICR according to RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ.
Table 91 and Figure 28 summarize the efficacy results for KEYNOTE-966.
Table 91: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-966
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks with gemcitabine/cisplatin
n=533 |
Placebo with gemcitabine/cisplatin
n=536 |
| OS* |
| Number of patients with event (%) |
414 (78%) |
443 (83%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
12.7 (11.5, 13.6) |
10.9 (9.9, 11.6) |
| Hazard ratio† (95% CI) |
0.83 (0.72, 0.95) |
| p-Value‡ |
0.0034 |
| PFS§ |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
361 (68%) |
391 (73%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
6.5 (5.7, 6.9) |
5.6 (5.1, 6.6) |
| Hazard ratio† (95% CI) |
0.86 (0.75, 1.00) |
| p-Value‡ |
NS |
| Objective Response Rate§ |
| ORR¶ (95% CI) |
29% (25, 33) |
29% (25, 33) |
| Number (%) of complete responses |
11 (2.1%) |
7 (1.3%) |
| Number (%) of partial responses |
142 (27%) |
146 (27%) |
| p-Value # |
NS |
| Duration of Response* |
n=156 |
n=152 |
| Median in monthsÞ (95% CI) |
8.3 (6.9, 10.2) |
6.8 (5.7, 7.1) |
* Results at the pre-specified final OS analysis
† Based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard model
‡ One-sided p-Value based on a stratified log-rank test
§ Results at pre-specified final analysis of PFS and ORR
¶ Confirmed complete response or partial response
# One-sided p-Value based on the stratified Miettinen and Nurminen analysis
Þ Based on Kaplan-Meier estimate
NS = not significant |
Figure 28: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-966
Merkel Cell Carcinoma
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in KEYNOTE-017 (NCT02267603) and KEYNOTE-913 (NCT03783078), two multicenter, non-randomized, open-label trials that enrolled 105 patients with recurrent locally advanced or metastatic MCC who had not received prior systemic therapy for their advanced disease. Patients with active autoimmune disease or a medical condition that required immunosuppression were ineligible.
Patients received KEYTRUDA 2 mg/kg (KEYNOTE-017) or 200 mg (KEYNOTE-913) every 3 weeks until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression that was symptomatic, rapidly progressive, required urgent intervention, occurred with a decline in performance status, or was confirmed at least 4 weeks later with repeat imaging. Patients without disease progression were treated for up to 24 months.
The major efficacy outcome measures were ORR and DoR as assessed by BICR per RECIST v1.1.
Among the 105 patients enrolled, the median age was 73 years (range: 38 to 91), 79% were age 65 or older; 62% were male; 80% were White, race in 19% was unknown or missing, and 1% were Asian; 53% had ECOG PS of 0, and 47% had ECOG PS of 1. Thirteen percent had stage IIIB disease and 84% had stage IV. Seventy-six percent of patients had prior surgery and 51% had prior radiation therapy.
Efficacy results are summarized in Table 92.
Table 92: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-017 and KEYNOTE-913
| Endpoint |
KEYNOTE-017 KEYTRUDA 2 mg/kg every 3 weeks
n=50 |
KEYNOTE-913 KEYTRUDA 200 mg or 2 mg/kg every 3 weeks
n=55 |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR (95% CI) |
56% (41, 70) |
49% (35, 63) |
| Complete responses, n (%) |
12 (24%) |
9 (16%) |
| Partial responses, n (%) |
16 (32%) |
18 (33%) |
| Duration of Response |
n=28 |
n=27 |
| Median DoR in months (range) |
NR (5.9, 34.5+) |
NR (4.8, 25.4+) |
| Patients with duration ≥6 months, n (%) |
27 (96%) |
25 (93%) |
| Patients with duration ≥12 months, n (%) |
15 (54%) |
19 (70%) |
+ Denotes ongoing response
NR = not reached |
Renal Cell Carcinoma
First-Line Treatment With Axitinib
KEYNOTE-426
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA in combination with axitinib was investigated in KEYNOTE-426 (NCT02853331), a randomized, multicenter, open-label trial conducted in 861 patients who had not received systemic therapy for advanced RCC. Patients were enrolled regardless of PD-L1 tumor expression status. Patients with active autoimmune disease requiring systemic immunosuppression within the last 2 years were ineligible. Randomization was stratified by International Metastatic RCC Database Consortium (IMDC) risk categories (favorable versus intermediate versus poor) and geographic region (North America versus Western Europe versus “Rest of the World”).
Patients were randomized (1:1) to one of the following treatment arms:
- KEYTRUDA 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks up to 24 months in combination with axitinib 5 mg orally, twice daily. Patients who tolerated axitinib 5 mg twice daily for 2 consecutive cycles (6 weeks) could increase to 7 mg and then subsequently to 10 mg twice daily. Axitinib could be interrupted or reduced to 3 mg twice daily and subsequently to 2 mg twice daily to manage toxicity.
- Sunitinib 50 mg orally, once daily for 4 weeks and then off treatment for 2 weeks.
Treatment with KEYTRUDA and axitinib continued until RECIST v1.1-defined progression of disease or unacceptable toxicity. Administration of KEYTRUDA and axitinib was permitted beyond RECIST-defined disease progression if the patient was clinically stable and considered to be deriving clinical benefit by the investigator. Assessment of tumor status was performed at baseline, after randomization at Week 12, then every 6 weeks thereafter until Week 54, and then every 12 weeks thereafter.
The study population characteristics were: median age of 62 years (range: 26 to 90), 38% age 65 or older; 73% male; 79% White and 16% Asian; 20% and 80% of patients had a baseline KPS of 70 to 80 and 90 to 100, respectively; and patient distribution by IMDC risk categories was 31% favorable, 56% intermediate, and 13% poor.
The main efficacy outcome measures were OS and PFS as assessed by BICR according to RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ. Additional efficacy outcome measures included ORR, as assessed by BICR. A statistically significant improvement in OS was demonstrated at the first pre-specified interim analysis in patients randomized to KEYTRUDA in combination with axitinib compared with sunitinib. The trial also demonstrated statistically significant improvements in PFS and ORR. An updated OS analysis was conducted when 418 deaths were observed based on the planned number of deaths for the pre-specified final analysis. Table 93 and Figure 29 summarize the efficacy results for KEYNOTE-426.
Table 93: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-426
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks and Axitinib
n=432 |
Sunitinib
n=429 |
| OS |
| Number of patients with event (%) |
59 (14%) |
97 (23%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
NR (NR, NR) |
NR (NR, NR) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.53 (0.38, 0.74) |
| p-Value† |
<0.0001‡ |
| Updated OS |
| Number of patients with event (%) |
193 (45%) |
225 (52%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
45.7 (43.6, NR) |
40.1 (34.3, 44.2) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.73 (0.60, 0.88) |
| PFS |
| Number of patients with event (%) |
183 (42%) |
213 (50%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
15.1 (12.6, 17.7) |
11.0 (8.7, 12.5) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.69 (0.56, 0.84) |
| p-Value† |
0.0001§ |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR1 (95% CI) |
59% (54, 64) |
36% (31, 40) |
| Complete response rate |
6% |
2% |
| Partial response rate |
53% |
34% |
| p-Value# |
<0.0001 |
* Based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard model
† Based on stratified log-rank test
‡ p-Value (one-sided) is compared with the allocated alpha of 0.0001 for this interim analysis (with 39% of the planned number of events for final analysis).
§ p-Value (one-sided) is compared with the allocated alpha of 0.0013 for this interim analysis (with 81% of the planned number of events for final analysis).
¶ Response: Best objective response as confirmed complete response or partial response
# Based on Miettinen and Nurminen method stratified by IMDC risk group and geographic region
NR = not reached |
Figure 29: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Updated Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-426
In an exploratory analysis, the updated analysis of OS in patients with IMDC favorable, intermediate, intermediate/poor, and poor risk demonstrated a HR of 1.17 (95% CI: 0.76, 1.80), 0.67 (95% CI: 0.52, 0.86), 0.64 (95% CI: 0.52, 0.80), and 0.51 (95% CI: 0.32, 0.81), respectively.
First-Line Treatment With Lenvatinib
KEYNOTE-581
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA in combination with lenvatinib was investigated in KEYNOTE-581 (NCT02811861), a multicenter, open-label, randomized trial conducted in 1069 patients with advanced RCC in the first-line setting. Patients were enrolled regardless of PD-L1 tumor expression status. Patients with active autoimmune disease or a medical condition that required immunosuppression were ineligible. Randomization was stratified by geographic region (North America versus Western Europe versus “Rest of the World”) and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) prognostic groups (favorable versus intermediate versus poor risk).
Patients were randomized (1:1:1) to one of the following treatment arms:
- KEYTRUDA 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks up to 24 months in combination with lenvatinib 20 mg orally once daily.
- Lenvatinib 18 mg orally once daily in combination with everolimus 5 mg orally once daily.
- Sunitinib 50 mg orally once daily for 4 weeks then off treatment for 2 weeks.
Treatment continued until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. Administration of KEYTRUDA with lenvatinib was permitted beyond RECIST-defined disease progression if the patient was clinically stable and considered by the investigator to be deriving clinical benefit. KEYTRUDA was continued for a maximum of 24 months; however, treatment with lenvatinib could be continued beyond 24 months. Assessment of tumor status was performed at baseline and then every 8 weeks.
The study population characteristics were: median age of 62 years (range: 29 to 88 years), 42% age 65 or older; 75% male; 74% White, 21% Asian, 1% Black, and 2% other races; 18% and 82% of patients had a baseline KPS of 70 to 80 and 90 to 100, respectively; patient distribution by MSKCC risk categories was 27% favorable, 64% intermediate, and 9% poor. Common sites of metastases in patients were lung (68%), lymph node (45%), and bone (25%).
The major efficacy outcome measures were PFS, as assessed by independent radiologic review (IRC) according to RECIST v1.1, and OS. Additional efficacy outcome measures included confirmed ORR as assessed by IRC. KEYTRUDA in combination with lenvatinib demonstrated statistically significant improvements in PFS, OS, and ORR compared with sunitinib. An updated OS analysis was conducted when 304 deaths were observed based on the planned number of deaths for the pre-specified final analysis. Table 94 and Figures 30 and 31 summarize the efficacy results for KEYNOTE-581.
Table 94: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-581
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks and Lenvatinib
n=355 |
Sunitinib
n=357 |
| Progression-Free Survival (PFS) |
| Number of events, n (%) |
160 (45%) |
205 (57%) |
| Progressive disease |
145 (41%) |
196 (55%) |
| Death |
15 (4%) |
9 (3%) |
| Median PFS in months (95% CI) |
23.9 (20.8, 27.7) |
9.2 (6.0, 11.0) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.39 (0.32, 0.49) |
| p-Value† |
<0.0001 |
| Overall Survival (OS) |
| Number of deaths, n (%) |
80 (23%) |
101 (28%) |
| Median OS in months (95% CI) |
NR (33.6, NR) |
NR (NR, NR) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.66 (0.49, 0.88) |
| p-Value† |
0.0049 |
| Updated OS |
| Number of deaths, n (%) |
149 (42%) |
159 (45%) |
| Median OS in months (95% CI) |
53.7 (48.7, NR) |
54.3 (40.9, NR) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.79 (0.63, 0.99) |
| Objective Response Rate (Confirmed) |
| ORR, n (%) |
252 (71 %) |
129 (36%) |
| (95% CI) |
(66, 76) |
(31, 41) |
| Complete response rate |
16% |
4% |
| Partial response rate |
55% |
32% |
| p-Value‡ |
<0.0001 |
Tumor assessments were based on RECIST 1.1; only confirmed responses are included for ORR. Data cutoff date = 28 Aug 2020, Updated OS cutoff date = 31 July 2022 CI = confidence interval; NR= Not reached
* Hazard ratio is based on a Cox Proportional Hazards Model. Stratified by geographic region and MSKCC prognostic groups.
† Two-sided p-Value based on stratified log-rank test.
‡ Two-sided p-Value based upon CMH test. |
Figure 30: Kaplan-Meier Curve for PFS in KEYNOTE-581
Figure 31: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Updated Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-581
KEYNOTE-B61
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA in combination with lenvatinib was investigated in KEYNOTE-B61 (NCT04704219), a multicenter, single-arm trial that enrolled 160 patients with advanced or metastatic non-clear cell RCC in the first-line setting. Patients with active autoimmune disease or a medical condition that required immunosuppression were ineligible.
Patients received KEYTRUDA 400 mg every 6 weeks in combination with lenvatinib 20 mg orally once daily. KEYTRUDA was continued for a maximum of 24 months; however, lenvatinib could be continued beyond 24 months. Treatment continued until unacceptable toxicity or disease progression. Administration of KEYTRUDA with lenvatinib was permitted beyond RECIST-defined disease progression if the patient was considered by the investigator to be deriving clinical benefit.
Among the 158 treated patients, the baseline characteristics were: median age of 60 years (range: 24 to 87 years); 71% male; 86% White, 8% Asian, and 3% Black; <1% Hispanic or Latino; 22% and 78% of patients had a baseline KPS of 70 to 80 and 90 to 100, respectively; histologic subtypes were 59% papillary, 18% chromophobe, 4% translocation, <1% medullary, 13% unclassified, and 6% other; patient distribution by IMDC risk categories was 35% favorable, 54% intermediate, and 10% poor. Common sites of metastases in patients were lymph node (65%), lung (35%), bone (30%), and liver (21%).
The major efficacy outcome measure was ORR as assessed by BICR using RECIST 1.1. Additional efficacy outcome measures included DOR as assessed by BICR using RECIST 1.1. Efficacy results are summarized in Table 95.
Table 95: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-B61
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 400 mg every 6 weeks and Lenvatinib
n=158 |
| Objective Response Rate (Confirmed) |
| ORR (95% CI) |
51% (43, 59) |
| Complete response |
8% |
| Partial response |
42% |
| Duration of Response* |
| Median in months (range) |
19.5 (1.5+, 23.5+) |
CI = confidence interval
* Based on Kaplan-Meier estimates
+ Denotes ongoing response |
Adjuvant Treatment Of RCC (KEYNOTE-564)
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated as adjuvant therapy for RCC in KEYNOTE-564 (NCT03142334), a multicenter, randomized (1:1), double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 994 patients with intermediate-high or high risk of recurrence of RCC, or M1 no evidence of disease (NED). The intermediate-high risk category included: pT2 with Grade 4 or sarcomatoid features; pT3, any Grade without nodal involvement (N0) or distant metastases (M0). The high risk category included: pT4, any Grade N0 and M0; any pT, any Grade with nodal involvement and M0. The M1 NED category included patients with metastatic disease who had undergone complete resection of primary and metastatic lesions. Patients must have undergone a partial nephroprotective or radical complete nephrectomy (and complete resection of solid, isolated, soft tissue metastatic lesion(s) in M1 NED participants) with negative surgical margins ≥4 weeks prior to the time of screening. Patients were excluded from the trial if they had received prior systemic therapy for advanced RCC. Patients with active autoimmune disease or a medical condition that required immunosuppression were also ineligible. Patients were randomized to KEYTRUDA 200 mg administered intravenously every 3 weeks or placebo for up to 1 year until disease recurrence or unacceptable toxicity. Randomization was stratified by metastasis status (M0, M1 NED); M0 group was further stratified by ECOG PS (0,1) and geographic region (US, non-US).
The study population characteristics were: median age of 60 years (range: 25 to 84), 33% age 65 or older; 71% male; 75% White, 14% Asian, 9% Unknown, 1% Black or African American, 1% American Indian or Alaska Native, 1% Multiracial; 13% Hispanic or Latino, 78% Not Hispanic or Latino, 8% Unknown; and 85% ECOG PS of 0 and 15% ECOG PS of 1. Ninety-four percent of patients enrolled had N0 disease; 11% had sarcomatoid features; 86% were intermediate-high risk; 8% were high risk; and 6% were M1 NED. Ninety-two percent of patients had a radical nephrectomy, and 8% had a partial nephrectomy.
The major efficacy outcome measure was investigator-assessed disease-free survival (DFS), defined as time to recurrence, metastasis, or death. An additional outcome measure was OS. Statistically significant improvements in DFS and OS were demonstrated at pre-specified interim analyses in patients randomized to the KEYTRUDA arm compared with placebo. Efficacy results are summarized in Table 96 and Figures 32 and 33.
Table 96: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-564
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks
n=496 |
Placebo
n=498 |
| DFS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
109 (22%) |
151 (30%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
NR |
NR |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.68 (0.53, 0.87) |
| p-Value† |
0.0010‡ |
| 24-month DFS rate (95% CI) |
77% (73, 81) |
68% (64, 72) |
| OS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
55 (11 %) |
86 (17%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
NR (NR, NR) |
NR (NR, NR) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.62 (0.44, 0.87) |
| p-Value† |
0.0024§ |
| 48-month OS rate (95% CI) |
91% (88, 93) |
86% (83, 89) |
* Based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard model
† Based on stratified log-rank test
‡ p-Value (one-sided) is compared with a boundary of 0.0114.
§ p-Value (one-sided) is compared with a boundary of 0.0072.
NR = not reached |
Figure 32: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Disease-Free Survival in KEYNOTE-564
Figure 33: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-564
Endometrial Carcinoma
In Combination With Paclitaxel And Carboplatin For The Treatment Of Primary Advanced Or Recurrent Endometrial Carcinoma
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin was investigated in KEYNOTE-868/NRG-GY018 (NCT03914612), a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 810 patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma. The study design included two separate cohorts based on MMR status; 222 (27%) patients were in dMMR cohort, 588 (73%) patients were in pMMR cohort. The trial enrolled measurable Stage III, measurable Stage IVA, Stage IVB or recurrent endometrial cancer (with or without measurable disease). Patients who had not received prior systemic therapy or had received prior chemotherapy in the adjuvant setting were eligible. Patients who had received prior adjuvant chemotherapy were only eligible if their chemotherapy-free interval was at least 12 months. Patients with endometrial sarcoma, including carcinosarcoma, or patients with active autoimmune disease or a medical condition that required immunosuppression were ineligible. Randomization was stratified according to MMR status, ECOG PS (0 or 1 vs. 2), and prior adjuvant chemotherapy.
Patients were randomized (1:1) to one of the following treatment arms:
- KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks, paclitaxel 175 mg/m² and carboplatin AUC 5 mg/mL/min for 6 cycles, followed by KEYTRUDA 400 mg every 6 weeks for up to 14 cycles.
- Placebo every 3 weeks, paclitaxel 175 mg/m² and carboplatin AUC 5 mg/mL/min for 6 cycles, followed by placebo every 6 weeks for up to 14 cycles.
All study medications were administered as an intravenous infusion on Day 1 of each treatment cycle. Treatment continued until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or a maximum of 20 cycles (up to approximately 24 months). Patients with measurable disease who had RECIST-defined stable disease or partial response at the completion of cycle 6 were permitted to continue receiving paclitaxel and carboplatin with KEYTRUDA or placebo for up to 10 cycles as determined by the investigator. Assessment of tumor status was performed every 9 weeks for the first 9 months and then every 12 weeks thereafter. The major efficacy outcome measure was PFS as assessed by the investigator according to RECIST 1.1. An additional efficacy outcome measure was OS.
The dMMR population characteristics were: median age of 66 years (range: 37 to 86), 55% age 65 or older; 79% White, 9% Black, and 3% Asian; 5% Hispanic or Latino; 64% ECOG PS of 0, 33% ECOG PS of 1, and 3% ECOG PS of 2; 61% had recurrent disease and 39% had primary or persistent disease; 5% received prior adjuvant chemotherapy and 43% received prior radiotherapy. The histologic subtypes were endometrioid carcinoma (81%), adenocarcinoma NOS (11%), serous carcinoma (2%), and other (6%).
The pMMR population characteristics were: median age of 66 years (range: 29 to 94), 54% age 65 or older; 72% White, 16% Black, and 5% Asian; 6% Hispanic or Latino; 67% ECOG PS of 0, 30% ECOG PS of 1, and 3% ECOG PS of 2; 56% had recurrent disease and 44% had primary or persistent disease; 26% received prior adjuvant chemotherapy and 41% received prior radiotherapy. The histologic subtypes were endometrioid carcinoma (52%), serous carcinoma (26%), adenocarcinoma NOS (10%), clear cell carcinoma (7%), and other (5%).
The trial demonstrated statistically significant improvements in PFS for patients randomized to KEYTRUDA in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin compared to placebo in combination with paclitaxel and carboplatin in both the dMMR and pMMR populations. Table 97 and Figures 34 and 35 summarize the efficacy results for KEYNOTE-868 by MMR status. At the time of the PFS analysis, OS data were not mature with 12% deaths in the dMMR population and 17% deaths in the pMMR population.
Table 97: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-868
| Endpoint |
dMMR Population |
pMMR Population |
KEYTRUDA with paclitaxel and carboplatin
n=110 |
Placebo with paclitaxel and carboplatin
n=112 |
KEYTRUDA with paclitaxel and carboplatin
n=294 |
Placebo with paclitaxel and carboplatin
n=294 |
| PFS* |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
26 (24%) |
57 (51 %) |
91 (31%) |
124 (42%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
NR (30.7, NR) |
6.5 (6.4, 8.7) |
11.1 (8.7, 13.5) |
8.5 (7.2, 8.8) |
| Hazard ratio† (95% CI) |
0.30 (0.19, 0.48) |
0.60 (0.46, 0.78) |
| p-Value‡ |
<0.0001 |
<0.0001 |
* Based on interim PFS analysis; the information fractions for interim analyses were 49% for dMMR and 55% for pMMR.
† Based on the stratified Cox proportional hazard model
‡ Based on the stratified log-rank test NR = not reached |
Figure 34: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Progression-Free Survival in KEYNOTE-868 (dMMR Population)
Figure 35: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Progression-Free Survival in KEYNOTE-868 (pMMR Population)
In Combination With Lenvatinib For The Treatment Of Advanced Endometrial Carcinoma That Is pMMR Or Not MSI-H
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA in combination with lenvatinib was investigated in KEYNOTE-775 (NCT03517449), a multicenter, open-label, randomized, active-controlled trial that enrolled 827 patients with advanced endometrial carcinoma who had been previously treated with at least one prior platinum-based chemotherapy regimen in any setting, including in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings. Patients with endometrial sarcoma, including carcinosarcoma, or patients who had active autoimmune disease or a medical condition that required immunosuppression were ineligible. Patients with endometrial carcinoma that were pMMR (using the VENTANA MMR RxDx Panel test) or not MSI-H were stratified by ECOG performance status, geographic region, and history of pelvic radiation. Patients were randomized (1:1) to one of the following treatment arms:
- KEYTRUDA 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks in combination with lenvatinib 20 mg orally once daily.
- Investigator’s choice, consisting of either doxorubicin 60 mg/m² every 3 weeks or paclitaxel 80 mg/m² given weekly, 3 weeks on/1 week off.
Treatment with KEYTRUDA and lenvatinib continued until RECIST v1.1-defined progression of disease as verified by BICR, unacceptable toxicity, or for KEYTRUDA, a maximum of 24 months. Treatment was permitted beyond RECIST v1.1-defined disease progression if the treating investigator considered the patient to be deriving clinical benefit, and the treatment was tolerated. Assessment of tumor status was performed every 8 weeks. The major efficacy outcome measures were OS and PFS as assessed by BICR according to RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ. Additional efficacy outcome measures included ORR and DoR, as assessed by BICR.
Among the 697 pMMR patients, 346 patients were randomized to KEYTRUDA in combination with lenvatinib, and 351 patients were randomized to investigator’s choice of doxorubicin (n=254) or paclitaxel (n=97). The pMMR population characteristics were: median age of 65 years (range: 30 to 86), 52% age 65 or older; 62% White, 22% Asian, and 3% Black; 60% ECOG PS of 0 and 40% ECOG PS of 1. The histologic subtypes were endometrioid carcinoma (55%), serous (30%), clear cell carcinoma (7%), mixed (4%), and other (3%). All 697 of these patients received prior systemic therapy for endometrial carcinoma: 67% had one, 30% had two, and 3% had three or more prior systemic therapies. Thirty-seven percent of patients received only prior neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapy.
Efficacy results for the pMMR or not MSI-H patients are summarized in Table 98 and Figures 36 and 37.
Table 98: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-775
| Endpoint |
Endometrial Carcinoma (pMMR or not MSI-H) |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks and Lenvatinib
n=346 |
Doxorubicin or Paclitaxel
n=351 |
| OS |
| Number (%) of patients with event |
165 (48%) |
203 (58%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
17.4 (14.2, 19.9) |
12.0 (10.8, 13.3) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.68 (0.56, 0.84) |
| p-Value† |
0.0001 |
| PFSNumber (%) of patients with event247 (71 %)238 (68%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
6.6 (5.6, 7.4) |
3.8 (3.6, 5.0) |
| Hazard ratio* (95% CI) |
0.60 (0.50, 0.72) |
| p-Value† |
<0.0001 |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR‡ (95% CI) |
30% (26, 36) |
15% (12, 19) |
| Complete response rate |
5% |
3% |
| Partial response rate |
25% |
13% |
| p-Value§ |
<0.0001 |
| Duration of Response |
n=105 |
n=53 |
| Median in months (range) |
9.2 (1.6+, 23.7+) |
5.7 (0.0+, 24.2+) |
* Based on the stratified Cox regression model
† Based on stratified log-rank test
‡ Response: Best objective response as confirmed complete response or partial response
§ Based on Miettinen and Nurminen method stratified by ECOG performance status, geographic region, and history of pelvic radiation |
Figure 36: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-775 (pMMR or Not MSI-H)
Figure 37: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Progression-Free Survival in KEYNOTE-775(pMMR or Not MSI-H)
As A Single Agent For The Treatment Of Advanced MSI-H Or dMMR Endometrial Carcinoma
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in KEYNOTE-158 (NCT02628067), a multicenter, non-randomized, open-label, multi-cohort trial. The trial enrolled 90 patients with unresectable or metastatic MSI-H or dMMR endometrial carcinoma in Cohorts D and K. MSI or MMR tumor status was determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively. Patients with autoimmune disease or a medical condition that required immunosuppression were ineligible. Patients received KEYTRUDA 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks until unacceptable toxicity or documented disease progression. Patients treated with KEYTRUDA without disease progression could be treated for up to 24 months. Assessment of tumor status was performed every 9 weeks for the first 12 months, and every 12 weeks thereafter. The major efficacy outcome measures were ORR and DoR as assessed by BICR according to RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ.
Among the 90 patients evaluated, the baseline characteristics were: median age of 64 years (range: 42 to 86); 83% White, 8% Asian, and 3% Black; 12% Hispanic or Latino; 39% ECOG PS of 0 and 61% ECOG PS of 1; 96% had M1 disease and 4% had M0 disease at study entry; and 51% had one and 48% had two or more prior lines of therapy. Nine patients received only adjuvant therapy and one patient received only neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapy before participating in the study.
Efficacy results are summarized in Table 99.
Table 99: Efficacy Results in Patients with Advanced MSI-H or dMMR Endometrial Carcinoma in KEYNOTE-158
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA
n=90* |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR (95% CI) |
46% (35, 56) |
| Complete response rate |
12% |
| Partial response rate |
33% |
| Duration of Response |
n=41 |
| Median in months (range) |
NR (2.9, 55.7+) |
| % with duration ≥12 months |
68% |
| % with duration ≥24 months |
44% |
* Median follow-up time of 16.0 months (range 0.5 to 62.1 months)
+ Denotes ongoing response
NR = not reached |
Tumor Mutational Burden-High Cancer
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in a prospectively-planned retrospective analysis of 10 cohorts (A through J) of patients with various previously treated unresectable or metastatic solid tumors with high tumor mutation burden (TMB-H) who were enrolled in a multicenter, non-randomized, open-label trial, KEYNOTE-158 (NCT02628067). The trial excluded patients who previously received an anti-PD-1 or other immune-modulating monoclonal antibody, or who had an autoimmune disease, or a medical condition that required immunosuppression. Patients received KEYTRUDA 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks until unacceptable toxicity or documented disease progression. Assessment of tumor status was performed every 9 weeks for the first 12 months and every 12 weeks thereafter.
The statistical analysis plan pre-specified ≥10 and ≥13 mutations per megabase using the FoundationOne CDx assay as cutpoints to assess TMB. Testing of TMB was blinded with respect to clinical outcomes. The major efficacy outcome measures were ORR and DoR in patients who received at least one dose of KEYTRUDA as assessed by BICR according to RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ.
In KEYNOTE-158, 1050 patients were included in the efficacy analysis population. TMB was analyzed in the subset of 790 patients with sufficient tissue for testing based on protocol-specified testing requirements. Of the 790 patients, 102 (13%) had tumors identified as TMB-H, defined as TMB ≥10 mutations per megabase. Among the 102 patients with TMB-H advanced solid tumors, the study population characteristics were: median age of 61 years (range: 27 to 80), 34% age 65 or older; 34% male; 81% White; and 41% ECOG PS of 0 and 58% ECOG PS of 1. Fifty-six percent of patients had at least two prior lines of therapy.
Efficacy results are summarized in Tables 100 and 101.
Table 100: Efficacy Results for Patients with TMB-H Cancer in KEYNOTE-158
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks |
TMB ≥10 mut/Mb
n=102* |
TMB ≥13 mut/Mb
n=70 |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR (95% CI) |
29% (21, 39) |
37% (26, 50) |
| Complete response rate |
4% |
3% |
| Partial response rate |
25% |
34% |
| Duration of Response |
n=30 |
n=26 |
| Median in months (range)† |
NR (2.2+, 34.8+) |
NR (2.2+, 34.8+) |
| % with duration ≥12 months |
57% |
58% |
| % with duration ≥24 months |
50% |
50% |
* Median follow-up time of 11.1 months
† From product-limit (Kaplan-Meier) method for censored data
+ Denotes ongoing response
NR = not reached |
Table 101: Response by Tumor Type (TMB ≥10 mut/Mb)
|
N |
Objective Response Rate |
Duration of Response range (months) |
| n (%) |
95% CI |
| Overall* |
102 |
30 (29%) |
(21%, 39%) |
(2.2+, 34.8+) |
| Small cell lung cancer |
34 |
10 (29%) |
(15%, 47%) |
(4.1, 32.5+) |
| Cervical cancer |
16 |
5 (31%) |
(11%, 59%) |
(3.7+, 34.8+) |
| Endometrial cancer |
15 |
7 (47%) |
(21%, 73%) |
(8.4+, 33.9+) |
| Anal cancer |
14 |
1 (7%) |
(0.2%, 34%) |
18.8+ |
| Vulvar cancer |
12 |
2 (17%) |
(2%, 48%) |
(8.8, 11.0) |
| Neuroendocrine cancer |
5 |
2 (40%) |
(5%, 85%) |
(2.2+, 32.6+) |
| Salivary cancer |
3 |
PR, SD, PD |
31.3+ |
| Thyroid cancer |
2 |
CR, CR |
(8.2, 33.2+) |
| Mesothelioma cancer |
1 |
PD |
|
* No TMB-H patients were identified in the cholangiocarcinoma cohort
CR = complete response
PR = partial response
SD = stable disease
PD = progressive disease |
In an exploratory analysis in 32 patients enrolled in KEYNOTE-158 whose cancer had TMB ≥10 mut/Mb and <13 mut/Mb, the ORR was 13% (95% CI: 4%, 29%), including two complete responses and two partial responses.
Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA was investigated in patients with recurrent or metastatic cSCC or locally advanced cSCC enrolled in KEYNOTE-629 (NCT03284424), a multicenter, multi-cohort, non-randomized, open-label trial. The trial excluded patients with autoimmune disease or a medical condition that required immunosuppression.
Patients received KEYTRUDA 200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks until documented disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or a maximum of 24 months. Patients with initial radiographic disease progression could receive additional doses of KEYTRUDA during confirmation of progression unless disease progression was symptomatic, rapidly progressive, required urgent intervention, or occurred with a decline in performance status.
Assessment of tumor status was performed every 6 weeks during the first year, and every 9 weeks during the second year. The major efficacy outcome measures were ORR and DoR as assessed by BICR according to RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ.
Among the 105 patients with recurrent or metastatic cSCC treated, the study population characteristics were: median age of 72 years (range: 29 to 95), 71% age 65 or older; 76% male; 70% White, 25% race nknown; 34% ECOG PS of 0 and 66% ECOG PS of 1. Forty-five percent of patients had locally recurrent only cSCC, 24% had metastatic only cSCC, and 31% had both locally recurrent and metastatic cSCC. Eighty-seven percent received one or more prior lines of therapy; 73% received prior radiation therapy.
Among the 54 patients with locally advanced cSCC treated, the study population characteristics were: median age of 76 years (range: 35 to 95), 80% age 65 or older; 72% male; 83% White, 13% race unknown; 41% ECOG PS of 0 and 59% ECOG PS of 1. Twenty-two percent received one or more prior lines of therapy; 63% received prior radiation therapy.
Efficacy results are summarized in Table 102.
Table 102: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-629
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA Recurrent or Metastatic cSCC
n=105 |
KEYTRUDA Locally Advanced cSCC
n=54 |
| Objective Response Rate |
| ORR (95% CI) |
35% (26, 45) |
52% (38, 66) |
| Complete response rate |
12% |
22% |
| Partial response rate |
23% |
30% |
| Duration of Response* |
n=37 |
n=28 |
| Median in months (range) |
NR (2.7, 64.2+) |
47.2 (1.0+, 49.9+) |
| % with duration ≥6 months |
76% |
89% |
| % with duration ≥12 months |
68% |
75% |
* Median follow-up time: recurrent or metastatic cSCC: 23.8 months; locally advanced cSCC: 48.0 months
+ Denotes ongoing response |
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Neoadjuvant And Adjuvant Treatment Of High-Risk Early-Stage TNBC
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA in combination with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgery and continued adjuvant treatment with KEYTRUDA as a single agent was investigated in KEYNOTE-522 (NCT03036488), a randomized (2:1), multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial conducted in 1174 patients with newly diagnosed previously untreated high-risk early-stage TNBC (tumor size >1 cm but ≤2 cm in diameter with nodal involvement or tumor size >2 cm in diameter regardless of nodal involvement). Patients were enrolled regardless of tumor PD-L1 expression. Patients with active autoimmune disease that required systemic therapy within two years of treatment or a medical condition that required immunosuppression were ineligible. Randomization was stratified by nodal status (positive vs. negative), tumor size (T1/T2 vs. T3/T4), and choice of carboplatin (dosed every 3 weeks vs. weekly).
Patients were randomized (2:1) to one of the following two treatment arms; all study medications were administered intravenously:
- Arm 1:
- Four cycles of preoperative KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks on Day 1 of cycles 1-4 of treatment regimen in combination with:
- Carboplatin
- AUC 5 mg/mL/min every 3 weeks on Day 1 of cycles 1-4 of treatment regimen -orÂ
- AUC 1.5 mg/mL/min every week on Days 1, 8, and 15 of cycles 1-4 of treatment regimen -andÂ
- Paclitaxel 80 mg/m² every week on Days 1, 8, and 15 of cycles 1-4 of treatment regimen
- Followed by four additional cycles of preoperative KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks on Day 1 of cycles 5-8 of treatment regimen in combination with:
- Doxorubicin 60 mg/m² -or-epirubicin 90 mg/m² every 3 weeks on Day 1 of cycles 5-8 of treatment regimen -andÂ
- Cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m² every 3 weeks on Day 1 of cycles 5-8 of treatment regimen
- Following surgery, nine cycles of KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks were administered.
- Arm 2:
- Four cycles of preoperative placebo every 3 weeks on Day 1 of cycles 1-4 of treatment regimen in combination with:
- Carboplatin
- AUC 5 mg/mL/min every 3 weeks on Day 1 of cycles 1-4 of treatment regimen -orÂ
- AUC 1.5 mg/mL/min every week on Days 1, 8, and 15 of cycles 1-4 of treatment regimen -andÂ
- Paclitaxel 80 mg/m² every week on Days 1, 8, and 15 of cycles 1-4 of treatment regimen
- Followed by four cycles of preoperative placebo every 3 weeks on Day 1 of cycles 5-8 of treatment regimen in combination with:
- Doxorubicin 60 mg/m² -or-epirubicin 90 mg/m² every 3 weeks on Day 1 of cycles 5-8 of treatment regimen -andÂ
- Cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m² every 3 weeks on Day 1 of cycles 5-8 of treatment regimen
- Following surgery, nine cycles of placebo every 3 weeks were administered.
The trial was not designed to isolate the effect of KEYTRUDA in each phase (neoadjuvant or adjuvant) of treatment.
The main efficacy outcomes were pCR rate and EFS. pCR was defined as absence of invasive cancer in the breast and lymph nodes (ypT0/Tis ypN0) and was assessed by the blinded local pathologist at the time of definitive surgery. EFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first occurrence of any of the following events: progression of disease that precludes definitive surgery, local or distant recurrence, second primary malignancy, or death due to any cause. An additional efficacy outcome was overall survival (OS).
The study population characteristics were: median age of 49 years (range: 22 to 80), 11% age 65 or older; 99.9% female; 64% White, 20% Asian, 4.5% Black, and 1.8% American Indian or Alaska Native; 87% ECOG PS of 0 and 13% ECOG PS of 1; 56% were pre-menopausal status and 44% were post-menopausal status; 7% were primary Tumor 1 (T1), 68% T2, 19% T3, and 7% T4; 49% were nodal involvement 0 (N0), 40% N1, 11% N2, and 0.2% N3; 75% of patients were overall Stage II and 25% were Stage III.
Statistically significant improvements in pCR, EFS, and OS were demonstrated at pre-specified interim analyses for patients randomized to KEYTRUDA in combination with chemotherapy followed by KEYTRUDA as a single agent compared with patients randomized to placebo in combination with chemotherapy followed by placebo alone.
Table 103 and Figures 38 and 39 summarize the efficacy results for KEYNOTE-522.
Table 103: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-522
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks with chemotherapy/ KEYTRUDA
n=784 |
Placebo with chemotherapy /Placebo
n=390 |
| pCR (ypT0/Tis ypN0)* |
| Number of patients with pCR |
494 |
217 |
| pCR rate (%), (95% CI) |
63.0 (59.5, 66.4) |
55.6 (50.6, 60.6) |
| Treatment difference (%) estimate (95% CI)†,‡ |
7.5 (1.6, 13.4) |
| EFS |
| Number of patients with event (%) |
123 (16%) |
93 (24%) |
| Hazard ratio (95% CI)§ |
0.63 (0.48, 0.82) |
| p-Value¶,# |
0.00031 |
| OS |
| Number of patients with event (%) |
115 (15%) |
85 (22%) |
| Hazard ratio (95% CI)§ |
0.66 (0.50, 0.87) |
| p-Value#,Þ |
0.00150 |
* Based on the entire intention-to-treat population n=1174 patients
† Based on a pre-specified pCR interim analysis in n=602 patients, the pCR rate difference was statistically significant (p=0.00055 compared to a significance level of 0.003).
‡ Based on Miettinen and Nurminen method stratified by nodal status, tumor size, and choice of carboplatin
§ Based on stratified Cox regression model
¶ Based on a pre-specified EFS interim analysis (compared to a significance level of 0.0052)
# Based on log-rank test stratified by nodal status, tumor size, and choice of carboplatin
Þ Based on a pre-specified OS interim analysis (compared to a significance level of 0.0050) |
Figure 38: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Event-Free Survival in KEYNOTE-522
Figure 39: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-522
Locally Recurrent Unresectable Or Metastatic TNBC For Tumors Expressing PD-L1 (CPS≥ 10)
The efficacy of KEYTRUDA in combination with paclitaxel, paclitaxel protein-bound, or gemcitabine and carboplatin was investigated in KEYNOTE-355 (NCT02819518), a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted in 847 patients with locally recurrent unresectable or metastatic TNBC, regardless of tumor PD-L1 expression, who had not been previously treated with chemotherapy in the metastatic setting. Patients with active autoimmune disease that required systemic therapy within 2 years of treatment or a medical condition that required immunosuppression were ineligible. Randomization was stratified by chemotherapy treatment (paclitaxel or paclitaxel protein-bound vs. gemcitabine and carboplatin), tumor PD-L1 expression (CPS ≥1 vs. CPS <1) according to the PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx kit, and prior treatment with the same class of chemotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting (yes vs. no).
Patients were randomized (2:1) to one of the following treatment arms; all study medications were administered via intravenous infusion:
- KEYTRUDA 200 mg on Day 1 every 3 weeks in combination with paclitaxel protein-bound 100 mg/m² on Days 1, 8 and 15 every 28 days, paclitaxel 90 mg/m² on Days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days, or gemcitabine 1000 mg/m² and carboplatin AUC 2 mg/mL/min on Days 1 and 8 every 21 days.
- Placebo on Day 1 every 3 weeks in combination with paclitaxel protein-bound 100 mg/m² on Days 1, 8 and 15 every 28 days, paclitaxel 90 mg/m² on Days 1, 8, and 15 every 28 days, or gemcitabine 1000 mg/m² and carboplatin AUC 2 mg/mL/min on Days 1 and 8 every 21 days.
Assessment of tumor status was performed at Weeks 8, 16, and 24, then every 9 weeks for the first year, and every 12 weeks thereafter. The main efficacy outcome measures were OS and PFS as assessed by BICR according to RECIST v1.1, modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, tested in the subgroup of patients with CPS ≥10. Additional efficacy outcome measures were ORR and DoR as assessed by BICR.
The study population characteristics for patients were: median age of 53 years (range: 22 to 85), 21% age 65 or older; 100% female; 68% White, 21% Asian, and 4% Black; 60% ECOG PS of 0 and 40% ECOG PS of 1; and 68% were post-menopausal status. Seventy-five percent of patients had tumor PD-L1 expression CPS ≥1 and 38% had tumor PD-L1 expression CPS ≥10.
Table 104 and Figures 40 and 41 summarize the efficacy results for KEYNOTE-355.
Table 104: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-355 (CPS ≥10)
| Endpoint |
KEYTRUDA 200 mg every 3 weeks with chemotherapy
n=220 |
Placebo every 3 weeks with chemotherapy
n=103 |
| OS* |
| Number of patients with event (%) |
155 (70%) |
84 (82%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
23 (19.0, 26.3) |
16.1 (12.6, 18.8) |
| Hazard ratio† (95% CI) |
0.73 (0.55, 0.95) |
| p-Value‡ |
0.0093 |
| PFS§ |
| Number of patients with event (%) |
136 (62%) |
79 (77%) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
9.7 (7.6, 11.3) |
5.6 (5.3, 7.5) |
| Hazard ratio† (95% CI) |
0.65 (0.49, 0.86) |
| p-Value¶ |
0.0012 |
| Objective Response Rate (Confirmed)* |
| ORR (95% CI) |
53% (46, 59) |
41% (31, 51) |
| Complete response rate |
17% |
14% |
| Partial response rate |
35% |
27% |
| Duration of Response* |
n=116 |
n=42 |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
12.8 (9.9, 25.9) |
7.3 (5.5, 15.4) |
* Based on the pre-specified final analysis
† Based on stratified Cox regression model
‡ One-sided p-Value based on stratified log-rank test (compared to a significance level of 0.0113)
§ Based on a pre-specified interim analysis
¶ One-sided p-Value based on stratified log-rank test (compared to a significance level of 0.00411) |
Figure 40: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-355 (CPS ≥10)
Figure 41: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Progression-Free Survival in KEYNOTE-355 (CPS ≥10)
Ovarian Cancer
The efficacy of Keytruda in combination with paclitaxel, with or without bevacizumab, was evaluated in KEYNOTE-B96 (NCT05116189), a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial that enrolled 643 patients with platinum-resistant, epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal carcinoma who received one or two prior lines of systemic therapy for ovarian carcinoma. Patients must have received at least one line of platinum-based chemotherapy for ovarian cancer with radiographic evidence of disease progression within 6 months after the last dose. Prior therapy with an anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor, PARP inhibitor, or bevacizumab was permitted. Patients were enrolled regardless of tumor PD-L1 expression status. Patients with autoimmune disease that required systemic therapy within 2 years of treatment or a medical condition that required immunosuppression were ineligible. Randomization was stratified by investigator decision to use bevacizumab, geographic region (U.S. or European Union or Rest of World), and PD-L1 status according to the PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx assay (CPS <1 or CPS 1 to <10 or CPS ≥10). Patients were randomized (1:1) to one of the two treatment groups:
- Keytruda 400 mg every 6 weeks plus paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 with or without bevacizumab 10 mg/kg
- Placebo every 6 weeks plus paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 with or without bevacizumab 10 mg/kg
All study medications were administered as an intravenous infusion. Keytruda 400 mg or placebo were administered on Day 1 of each 6-week treatment cycle and paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 was administered on Days 1, 8, and 15 of each 3-week treatment cycle. The option to use bevacizumab was by investigator choice prior to randomization. Bevacizumab 10 mg/kg was administered on Day 1 of a 2-week treatment cycle. Treatment with Keytruda continued until RECIST v1.1-defined progression of disease, unacceptable toxicity, or a maximum of 24 months. Administration of Keytruda was permitted beyond RECIST-defined disease progression if the patient was clinically stable and considered to be deriving clinical benefit by the investigator. Assessment of tumor status was performed every 9 weeks for the first year, followed by every 12 weeks thereafter. The major efficacy outcome measure was PFS as assessed by investigator according to RECIST v1.1. An additional efficacy outcome measure was OS.
Among the 643 patients randomized, 466 patients (72%) had tumors expressing PD-L1 with a CPS ≥1. The population characteristics of these 466 patients were: median age of 62 years (range: 37 to 85), 38% age 65 or older; 67% White, 20% Asian, 8% Missing, 3% Multiple, 2% Black, 0.4% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander; 13% Hispanic or Latino; 55% and 44% ECOG performance status of 0 or 1, respectively; 73% received bevacizumab as study treatment; 36% of patients had received one prior line and 64% had received two prior lines of therapy; prior systemic therapy included: 46% with bevacizumab; 39% with a PARP inhibitor, or 3% with an anti-PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor. The platinum-free interval following the most recent line of therapy was <3 months in 47% of patients, and 3 to 6 months in 53% of patients.
The study demonstrated statistically significant improvement in PFS and OS for patients randomized to Keytruda in combination with paclitaxel with or without bevacizumab compared to placebo in combination with paclitaxel with or without bevacizumab in patients whose tumors expressed PD-L1 CPS ≥1. Efficacy results are summarized in Table 111 and Figures 47 and 48.
Table 111: Efficacy Results in KEYNOTE-B96 (CPS ≥1)
| Endpoint |
Keytruda 400 mg every 6 weeks plus paclitaxel with or without bevacizumab n=234 |
Placebo plus paclitaxel with or without bevacizumab n=232 |
| PFS |
| Number of patients with event (%) |
162 (69) |
180 (78) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
8.3 (7.0, 9.4) |
7.2 (6.2, 8.1) |
| Hazard ratio (95% CI) |
0.72 (0.58, 0.89) |
| p-Value |
0.0014* |
| OS |
| Number of patients with event (%) |
157 (67) |
175 (75) |
| Median in months (95% CI) |
18.2 (15.3, 21.0) |
14.0 (12.5, 16.1) |
| Hazard ratio (95% CI) |
0.76 (0.61, 0.94) |
| p-Value |
0.0053† |
* Based on stratified log-rank test (p-Value [one-sided] is compared to an alpha boundary of 0.0116) † Based on stratified log-rank test (p-Value [one sided] is compared to an alpha boundary of 0.0083)
Figure 47: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Progression-Free Survival in KEYNOTE-B96 (CPS ≥1)
*Chemotherapy (paclitaxel) with or without bevacizumab
Figure 48: Kaplan-Meier Curve for Overall Survival in KEYNOTE-B96 (CPS ≥1)
*Chemotherapy (paclitaxel) with or without bevacizumab
 |