interleukin-2 + pembrolizumab + radiotherapy

This combination therapy regimen is a multi-modal immunotherapy approach being evaluated in the Phase I/II clinical trial UCDCC#272. It consists of intralesional interleukin-2 (IL-2), the anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab, and hypofractionated radiotherapy. The regimen is specifically designed for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), melanoma, renal cell carcinoma (RCC), or head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) who have failed prior PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint blockade therapy. The mechanism involves using radiotherapy to induce local tumor cell death and release antigens, while intralesional IL-2 directly activates cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells within the tumor microenvironment. Pembrolizumab is administered systemically to maintain the activation of these immune cells by blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitory pathway. The goal of this combinatorial strategy is to overcome resistance to checkpoint inhibitors and stimulate a systemic anti-tumor immune response, potentially leading to the regression of both treated and distant (abscopal) lesions.

Brand names

Keytruda

Other names

Intralesional IL-2 + Pembrolizumab + RadiotherapyIntralesional IL-2 + Pembrolizumab + RT