pembrolizumab + platinum + etoposide

Pembrolizumab + platinum + etoposide is a combination chemo-immunotherapy regimen evaluated in the EORTC 1417 REACTION trial for the treatment of extensive-stage small cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC). Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) is a humanized monoclonal antibody that inhibits the programmed death 1 (PD-1) receptor, thereby enhancing the immune system's ability to detect and destroy tumor cells. In this regimen, it is combined with standard-of-care chemotherapy consisting of etoposide and a platinum agent (either cisplatin or carboplatin). The REACTION trial, sponsored by the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) with support from Merck Sharp & Dohme, investigated whether adding pembrolizumab to induction chemotherapy and continuing it as maintenance therapy would improve outcomes in patients who responded to initial cycles of chemotherapy. Although the trial did not meet its primary endpoint of progression-free survival, it showed a trend toward improved overall survival.

Brand names

Keytruda

Other names

pembrolizumab + cisplatin + etoposidepembrolizumab + carboplatin + etoposideREACTION trial regimenlambrolizumab