pembrolizumab + amurubicin

Pembrolizumab + amurubicin is a combination therapy regimen being evaluated for the treatment of refractory small cell lung cancer (SCLC). This regimen combines **pembrolizumab** (Keytruda), a humanized IgG4 monoclonal antibody that acts as an immune checkpoint inhibitor by targeting the **programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)** receptor, with **amurubicin**, a synthetic 9-aminoanthracycline chemotherapy agent. Pembrolizumab works by blocking the interaction between PD-1 and its ligands (PD-L1 and PD-L2), thereby restoring the anti-tumor activity of T cells. Amurubicin is a potent **DNA topoisomerase II** inhibitor that is a standard treatment for relapsed SCLC in Japan. The combination is hypothesized to be synergistic, as amurubicin may induce immunogenic cell death, potentially enhancing the efficacy of the immune checkpoint blockade. This specific combination is being investigated in a multi-center, open-label, single-arm Phase II trial (NCT03253068) led by **Wakayama Medical University** for patients with refractory extensive-stage small cell lung cancer who have relapsed after platinum-containing chemotherapy.

Other names

pembrolizumab plus amurubicin