pembrolizumab + chemotherapy (Merck & Co.)

pembrolizumab + chemotherapy is a combination treatment regimen evaluated in the NCT03656094 clinical trial sponsored by Samsung Medical Center. The regimen consists of the immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and standard-of-care cytotoxic chemotherapy (typically platinum-doublet regimens). Pembrolizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) receptor on T cells, preventing its interaction with ligands PD-L1 and PD-L2 to restore anti-tumor immune activity. The chemotherapy component provides direct cytotoxic effects, often through DNA damage or inhibition of cell division. This specific combination was studied for its efficacy in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who had previously progressed on PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor therapy.

Brand names

Keytruda

Other names

pembrolizumab plus chemotherapypembrolizumab and chemotherapypembrolizumabcytotoxic chemotherapy