ClinicalTrials.gg
Active, not recruitingNCT03197506Updated Sep 22, 2026Results posted

Pembrolizumab and Standard Therapy in Treating Patients With Glioblastoma

A Phase 2 interventional study of External Beam Radiation Therapy and Laboratory Biomarker Analysis in Glioblastoma, Gliosarcoma and Supratentorial Glioblastoma, sponsored by Mayo Clinic. Active, not recruiting at 3 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-22.

Sponsored by Mayo Clinic · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
52
Allocation
Non-randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This phase II trial studies the side effects and how well pembrolizumab works in combination with standard therapy in treating patients with glioblastoma. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Drugs used in the chemotherapy, such as temozolomide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Radiation therapy uses high energy beams to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Giving pembrolizumab and standard therapy comprising of temozolomide and radiation therapy may kill tumor cells.

Read the detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To assess the safety and tolerability of pembrolizumab in combination with standard therapy (surgery, external beam radiation therapy and temozolomide [TMZ] chemotherapy) in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). (Neoadjuvant [Group 1]) II. To assess the 18 month overall survival rate of pembrolizumab in combination with standard therapy (surgery, external beam radiation therapy and TMZ chemotherapy) in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). (Adjuvant [Group 2])

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To assess adverse events (AE) and toxicity profile of pembrolizumab in combination with standard therapy in patients with newly diagnosed GBM.

II. To assess time to progression in patients treated with pembrolizumab in combination with standard therapy in patients with newly diagnosed GBM. (Adjuvant only) III. To assess progression-free survival in patients treated with pembrolizumab in combination with standard therapy in patients with newly diagnosed GBM. (Adjuvant only) IV. To assess time to treatment failure in patients treated with pembrolizumab in combination with standard therapy in patients with newly diagnosed GBM. (Adjuvant only)

CORRELATIVE RESEARCH OBJECTIVES:

I. To assess the tumor PD-1/PD-L1 expression and inflammatory microenvironment profile by comparing PD-1/PD-L1 expression and T lymphocyte/monocytic infiltrates before and after administration of pembrolizumab treatment. (Neoadjuvant only) II. To assess the peripheral immunophenotype profile and GBM-associated antigen-specific T cell responses before and after receiving pembrolizumab treatment in combination with standard therapy.

OUTLINE: Patients are assigned to 1 of 2 groups.

GROUP 1:

NEOADJUVANT (CYCLE 1): Patients receive pembrolizumab intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes on day 1.

SURGERY (CYCLE 2): Patients undergo standard of care surgery within days 4-7.

CONCURRENT (CYCLE 3): Starting 21-35 days after surgery, patients receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on days 1, 22, and 43 and temozolomide orally (PO) daily on days 8-54. Patients also undergo external beam radiation therapy every 5 days per week on days 8-54.

ADJUVANT (CYCLE 4-8): Within 3-5 weeks after completing radiation therapy, patients receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on days 1, 22, and 43 and temozolomide PO daily on days 1-5 every 28 days. Treatment repeats every 63 days for up to 5 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unexpected toxicity.

GROUP 2:

CONCURRENT (CYCLE 1): Starting 21-35 days after surgery, patients receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on days 1, 22, and 43 and temozolomide PO daily on days 8-54. Patients also undergo external beam radiation therapy every 5 days per week on days 8-54.

ADJUVANT (CYCLES 2-6): Within 3-5 weeks after completing radiation therapy, patients receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on days 1, 22, and 43 of cycles 2-5 and 1 and 22 of cycle 6 (up to a total of 17 doses). Patients also receive temozolomide PO daily on days 1-5, 29-33, and 57-61 of cycles 2 and 6, days 22-26 and 50-54 of cycle 3, days 15-19 and 43-47 of cycle 4, days 8-12 and 36-40 of cycle 5. Treatment repeats every 63 days for up to 5 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unexpected toxicity.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 30 days, every 3 months until progressive disease, then every 6 months for up to 5 years.

02

Conditions studied

  • Glioblastoma
  • Gliosarcoma
  • Supratentorial Glioblastoma
03

In context

Glioblastoma

2,132 studies on the registry are indexed under Glioblastoma; 464 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 52 is above the median of 36 across 1,753 interventional studies indexed under Glioblastoma.

Browse Glioblastoma studies →

Lead sponsor

Mayo Clinic is the lead sponsor of 3,269 studies on the registry; 672 are open to participants now.

Of its 452 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 321 (71%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Age >= 18 years
  • Histological confirmation of supratentorial glioblastoma (also known as astrocytoma grade IV, gliosarcoma)

    • NOTE: Grade IV IDH-mutant astrocytoma is also allowed
  • patients only: Have an enhancing mass on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) amenable to > 90% resection of contrast-enhancing tumor (as determined by the neurosurgeon pre-operatively) and histological diagnosis of glioblastoma or astrocytoma from a prior or surgery

    • NOTE: Biopsy or subtotal resection must have been =\< 43 days prior to registration
  • Neoadjuvant patients only: Willing to undergo craniotomy and resection of their brain tumor at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota (MN)
  • Adjuvant patients only: Must have undergone craniotomy and resection of their brain tumor =\< 6 weeks prior to registration
  • (ECOG) performance status (PS) of 0 or 1
  • (ANC) >= 1500/mm\^3 (obtained =\< 28 days prior to registration)
  • count >= 100,000/mm\^3 (obtained =\< 28 days prior to registration)
  • >= 9.0 g/dL without transfusion or erythropoietin (EPO) dependency (=\< 7 days prior to assessment) (obtained =\< 28 days prior to registration)
  • (PT) =\< 1.5 x (ULN) unless patient is receiving anticoagulant therapy and PT or partial prothrombin time (PTT) is within therapeutic range of intended use of coagulants (obtained =\< 28 days prior to registration)
  • Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) =\< 1.5 x ULN unless patient is receiving anticoagulant therapy and PT or PTT is within therapeutic range of intended use of coagulants (obtained =\< 28 days prior to registration)
  • Albumin >= 2.5 mg/dL (obtained =\< 28 days prior to registration)
  • Total =\< 1.5 x ULN OR direct bilirubin =\< ULN for patients with total bilirubin levels > 1.5 x ULN (obtained =\< 28 days prior to registration)
  • (AST) AND alanine transaminase (ALT) =\< 2.5 x ULN (obtained =\< 28 days prior to registration)
  • Creatinine =\< 1.0 x ULN OR measured or calculated (per institutional standard) must be >= 60 ml/min (obtained =\< 28 days prior to registration)
  • Negative pregnancy test done =\< 7 days prior to registration, for persons of only (POCBP)

    • NOTE: Serum or urine pregnancy test allowed; if urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required
  • POCBP must be willing to use adequate starting with first dose through 120 days after last dose
  • Provide written
  • Willing to return to enrolling institution for follow-up (during the active monitoring phase of the study)

    • Note: During the active monitoring phase of a study (i.e., active treatment and observation), participants must be willing to return to the consenting institution for follow-up
  • Willing to provide tissue and blood samples for correlative research purposes

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Any of the following because this study involves an agent whose genotoxic, mutagenic and teratogenic effects on the developing fetus and newborn are unknown:

    • Pregnant persons
    • Nursing persons
    • Persons of who are unwilling to employ adequate
  • patients only: Signs or symptoms of life-threatening raised intracranial pressure: as defined by the treating neurosurgeon, including severe headache, nausea, decreasing level of consciousness, precluding 4-7 day delay in scheduling neurosurgery
  • Co-morbid systemic illnesses or other severe concurrent disease which, in the judgment of the investigator, would make the patient inappropriate for entry into this study or interfere significantly with the proper assessment of safety and toxicity of the prescribed regimens
  • patients and patients known to be (HIV) positive and currently receiving antiretroviral therapy
  • Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
  • Receiving any other investigational agent which would be considered as a treatment for the primary neoplasm
  • Other active =\< 5 years prior to registration

    • EXCEPTIONS: Non-melanotic skin cancer or carcinoma-in-situ of the cervix
    • NOTE: If there is a history or prior malignancy, the patient must not be receiving other specific treatment for their cancer
  • History of myocardial infarction =\< 6 months prior to registration, or congestive heart failure requiring use of ongoing maintenance therapy for life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias
  • Active disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e., with use of disease modifying agents, or immunosuppressive drugs; NOTE: Replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment
  • Known active (e.g., hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] reactive) or (e.g., hepatitis C virus [HCV] ribonucleic acid [RNA] [qualitative] is detected)
  • Known history of active TB (Bacillus tuberculosis)
  • Received a =\< 30 days prior to registration
  • History of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or current pneumonitis
  • to pembrolizumab or any of its
  • Received prior therapy with an , anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 agent
  • Received or planning to receive Optune device
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(26)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Adjuvant and neoadjuvant

Neoadjuvant treatment is given before the main treatment (usually surgery), often to shrink a tumour. Adjuvant treatment is given after it, to lower the chance of the cancer coming back.

Biopsy and archival tissue

A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.

Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.

ECOG performance status

A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.

0
Fully active, no restrictions.
1
Limited in strenuous activity, but walking and able to do light work, such as housework or office work.
2
Walking and able to look after yourself, but unable to work; up and about more than half of waking hours.
3
Able to look after yourself only in part; in bed or a chair more than half of waking hours.
4
Unable to look after yourself at all; in bed or a chair all day.

Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.

Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)

The number of neutrophils, white blood cells that help fight infection, in a given amount of blood. Too few raises the risk of infection.

It is a count, not a percentage of the white cells. Limits are written in units that mean the same: ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L is ≥ 1,500 per mm³ (µL). Each lab has its own reference range.

Platelets

Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.

Hemoglobin (Hb)

The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low level is anaemia, which can cause tiredness and breathlessness. Measured in g/dL or g/L (9 g/dL is 90 g/L).

INR, PT and aPTT (clotting tests)

Blood tests of how long blood takes to clot. The INR is the prothrombin time (PT) put on a common scale; about 1 is usual for someone not taking a blood thinner.

Criteria often make an exception for people on a blood thinner such as warfarin, whose INR is raised on purpose.

ULN (upper limit of normal)

The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.

“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.

Bilirubin

A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.

Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.

ALT and AST (liver enzymes)

Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.

Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.

Creatinine clearance (CrCl)

How quickly the kidneys clear creatinine, a waste product, from the blood. A study may estimate it from a blood test with age, weight and sex (often by the Cockcroft–Gault formula), or measure it using blood and urine collected over a set time. Given in mL/min; higher is better.

Childbearing potential

Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).

Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.

Contraception

Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.

Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Investigational drug or device

A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.

It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.

Immunosuppression

A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.

Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

Cancer (malignancy)

Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.

Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.

Autoimmune disease

A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.

Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

Hepatitis B tests

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.

Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.

Hepatitis C tests

Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver. An HCV antibody test can stay positive after an infection has cleared (and is occasionally positive without one); an HCV RNA test shows whether the virus is there now.

After treatment, hepatitis C counts as cured when HCV RNA is still undetectable 12 weeks or more after the treatment ended. Studies often accept people cured this way.

Live vaccines

Vaccines made with a weakened form of the germ, such as measles–mumps–rubella (MMR), chickenpox and yellow fever. They can be risky when the immune system is weakened. Flu injections are not live; the nasal flu spray is.

Hypersensitivity

An allergy, or another reaction of the immune system, to a substance. “Hypersensitivity to the study drug” means a known allergic reaction to it — not every side effect a medicine can have.

Excipients

The other ingredients in a medicine besides the active drug, such as fillers, colours or preservatives.

PD-1, PD-L1 and checkpoint inhibitors

PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4 are proteins that act as brakes on the immune system. Checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab or nivolumab, block them so the immune system can attack a cancer.

PD-L1 can also be measured in a tumour sample. Some scores count stained tumour cells only (TPS); others also count certain immune cells (CPS). The study names the score and the minimum it uses.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Non-randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
52 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Group 1 (pembrolizumab, surgery, temozolomide, radiation)

    NEOADJUVANT (CYCLE 1): Patients receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1. SURGERY (CYCLE 2): Patients undergo standard of care surgery within days 4-7. CONCURRENT (CYCLE 3): Starting 21-35 days after surgery, patients receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on days 1, 22, and 43 and temozolomide PO daily on days 8-54. Patients also undergo external beam radiation therapy every 5 days per week on days 8-54. ADJUVANT (CYCLE 4-8): Within 3-5 weeks after completing radiation therapy, patients receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on days 1, 22, and 43 and temozolomide PO daily on days 1-5 every 28 days. Treatment repeats every 63 days for up to 5 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unexpected toxicity.

    Radiation: External Beam Radiation Therapy · Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis · Biological: Pembrolizumab · Radiation: Radiation Therapy · Drug: Temozolomide · Procedure: Therapeutic Conventional Surgery

  • Experimental
    Group 2 (pembrolizumab, temozolomide, radiation therapy )

    CONCURRENT (CYCLE 1): Starting 21-35 days after surgery, patients receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on days 1, 22, and 43 and temozolomide PO daily on days 8-54. Patients also undergo external beam radiation therapy every 5 days per week on days 8-54. ADJUVANT (CYCLES 2-6): Within 3-5 weeks after completing radiation therapy, patients receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on days 1, 22, and 43 of cycles 2-5 and 1 and 22 of cycle 6 (up to a total of 17 doses). Patients also receive temozolomide PO daily on days 1-5, 29-33, and 57-61 of cycles 2 and 6, days 22-26 and 50-54 of cycle 3, days 15-19 and 43-47 of cycle 4, days 8-12 and 36-40 of cycle 5. Treatment repeats every 63 days for up to 5 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unexpected toxicity.

    Radiation: External Beam Radiation Therapy · Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis · Biological: Pembrolizumab · Radiation: Radiation Therapy · Drug: Temozolomide

Interventions

  • RadiationExternal Beam Radiation Therapy

    Undergo external beam radiation therapy

    Also known as: Definitive Radiation Therapy, EBRT, External Beam Radiation, External Beam Radiotherapy, External Beam RT, external radiation, External Radiation Therapy, external-beam radiation, Radiation, External Beam, Teleradiotherapy, Teletherapy, Teletherapy Radiation

  • OtherLaboratory Biomarker Analysis

    Correlative studies

  • BiologicalPembrolizumab

    Given IV

    Also known as: Keytruda, Lambrolizumab, MK-3475, SCH 900475

  • RadiationRadiation Therapy

    Undergo radiation therapy

    Also known as: Cancer Radiotherapy, ENERGY_TYPE, Irradiate, Irradiated, Irradiation, Radiation, Radiation Therapy, NOS, Radiotherapeutics, Radiotherapy, RT, Therapy, Radiation

  • Given PO

    Also known as: CCRG-81045, Imidazo[5,1-d]-1,2,3,5-tetrazine-8-carboxamide, 3, 4-dihydro-3-methyl-4-oxo-, M & B 39831, M and B 39831, Methazolastone, RP-46161, SCH 52365, Temcad, Temodal, Temodar, Temomedac, TMZ

  • ProcedureTherapeutic Conventional Surgery

    Undergo surgery

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Incidence of Dose Limiting Toxicities

    A dose limiting toxicity DLT will be defined as an adverse event attributed (definitely, probably, or possibly) to pembrolizumab per National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0. Criteria: Grade 4 or higher neutropenia last at least 7 days. Grade 3 electrolyte alteration, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea lasting at least 3 days. Grade 3 or higher neurologic toxicity. Toxicities leading to delayed treatment of at least 14 days. Inability to proceed to planned surgical resection. Inability to receive at least 75 percent of cumulative radiation dose.

    Time frame: 189 days

  2. Group 2 Overall Survival (OS) at 18 Months

    Defined as the number of patients who are alive up to 18 months after beginning study therapy.

    Time frame: 18 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Incidence of Adverse Events

    The overall count of participants that reported Grade 3 or higher adverse events considered at least possibly related to treatment will be calculated and reported in this section. The number of all adverse events will be tabulated and summarized in the adverse events section of this report. Group 1 dose levels are combined due to scientific interest being in the comparison of group 1, the neoadjuvant group, to group 2, the adjuvant group. Per protocol this exploratory and hypothesis generating endpoint may be analyzed by group. All patients that received the same dose level of treatment are combined to better show the adverse events encountered by the treatment population.

    Time frame: 14 months

  2. Time Until Treatment Related Grade 3+ Adverse Event

    Defined as the time from treatment start date to the date of the patients first grade 3 or higher event deemed related to treatment. Group 1 dose levels are combined due to scientific interest being in the comparison of group 1, the neoadjuvant group, to group 2, the adjuvant group. Per protocol this exploratory and hypothesis generating endpoint may be analyzed by group. All patients that received the same dose level of treatment are combined to better show the adverse events encountered by the treatment population.

    Time frame: 14 months

  3. Time to Progression (Group 2)

    Defined as the time from start of study treatment to disease progression. Will be assessed using the immunotherapy response assessment for neuro-oncology (iRANO) criteria.

    Time frame: 36 months

  4. Progression-free Survival (Group 2)

    Defined as the time from starting study treatment to the date of disease progression or death resulting from any cause, whichever comes first. Will be assessed according to iRANO criteria.

    Time frame: 36 months

  5. Time to Treatment Failure (Group 2)

    Defined as the time from beginning study therapy to documentation of disease progression, unacceptable adverse event(s), or refusal to continue participation by the patient.

    Time frame: 13 months

07

Results

Posted Mar 25, 2026

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneGroup 1 Dose Level 1 Cohort 1Group 1 Dose Level 1 Cohort 2Group 1 Dose Level 1 Cohort 3Group 1 Dose Level 1 Cohort 4Group 2
Started344437
Completed333335
Not completed01112
Withdrew: Adverse event01110
Withdrew: Withdrawal by subject00002

Outcome measures

PrimaryIncidence of Dose Limiting Toxicities

A dose limiting toxicity DLT will be defined as an adverse event attributed (definitely, probably, or possibly) to pembrolizumab per National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0. Criteria: Grade 4 or higher neutropenia last at least 7 days. Grade 3 electrolyte alteration, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea lasting at least 3 days. Grade 3 or higher neurologic toxicity. Toxicities leading to delayed treatment of at least 14 days. Inability to proceed to planned surgical resection. Inability to receive at least 75 percent of cumulative radiation dose.

Time frame:
189 days
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Incidence of Dose Limiting Toxicities
ParticipantsGroup 1 Dose Level 1 Cohort 1Group 1 Dose Level 1 Cohort 2Group 1 Dose Level 1 Cohort 3Group 1 Dose Level 1 Cohort 4
Incidence of Dose Limiting Toxicities1101
PrimaryGroup 2 Overall Survival (OS) at 18 Months

Defined as the number of patients who are alive up to 18 months after beginning study therapy.

Time frame:
18 months
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Group 2 Overall Survival (OS) at 18 Months
ParticipantsGroup 2
Group 2 Overall Survival (OS) at 18 Months19
SecondaryIncidence of Adverse Events

The overall count of participants that reported Grade 3 or higher adverse events considered at least possibly related to treatment will be calculated and reported in this section. The number of all adverse events will be tabulated and summarized in the adverse events section of this report. Group 1 dose levels are combined due to scientific interest being in the comparison of group 1, the neoadjuvant group, to group 2, the adjuvant group. Per protocol this exploratory and hypothesis generating endpoint may be analyzed by group. All patients that received the same dose level of treatment are combined to better show the adverse events encountered by the treatment population.

Time frame:
14 months
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Incidence of Adverse Events
ParticipantsGroup 1Group 2
Incidence of Adverse Events618
SecondaryTime Until Treatment Related Grade 3+ Adverse Event

Defined as the time from treatment start date to the date of the patients first grade 3 or higher event deemed related to treatment. Group 1 dose levels are combined due to scientific interest being in the comparison of group 1, the neoadjuvant group, to group 2, the adjuvant group. Per protocol this exploratory and hypothesis generating endpoint may be analyzed by group. All patients that received the same dose level of treatment are combined to better show the adverse events encountered by the treatment population.

Time frame:
14 months
Reported as:
Median · Months
Time Until Treatment Related Grade 3+ Adverse Event
MonthsGroup 1Group 2
Time Until Treatment Related Grade 3+ Adverse EventNA (3.7 to NA)6.9 (4.7 to NA)
SecondaryTime to Progression (Group 2)

Defined as the time from start of study treatment to disease progression. Will be assessed using the immunotherapy response assessment for neuro-oncology (iRANO) criteria.

Time frame:
36 months
Reported as:
Median · Months
Time to Progression (Group 2)
MonthsGroup 2
Time to Progression (Group 2)10.7 (8.0 to 12.2)
SecondaryProgression-free Survival (Group 2)

Defined as the time from starting study treatment to the date of disease progression or death resulting from any cause, whichever comes first. Will be assessed according to iRANO criteria.

Time frame:
36 months
Reported as:
Median · Months
Progression-free Survival (Group 2)
MonthsGroup 2
Progression-free Survival (Group 2)10.7 (8.0 to 12.2)
SecondaryTime to Treatment Failure (Group 2)

Defined as the time from beginning study therapy to documentation of disease progression, unacceptable adverse event(s), or refusal to continue participation by the patient.

Time frame:
13 months
Reported as:
Median · Months
Time to Treatment Failure (Group 2)
MonthsGroup 2
Time to Treatment Failure (Group 2)8.3 (6.1 to 10.9)

Adverse events

Collected over Adverse events were folllowed for 14 months and mortality was followed for 60 months. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Group 1 Dose Level 1 Cohort 13/3 (100%)3/3 (100%)3/3 (100%)
Group 1 Dose Level 1 Cohort 24/4 (100%)2/4 (50%)4/4 (100%)
Group 1 Dose Level 1 Cohort 33/4 (75%)2/4 (50%)4/4 (100%)
Group 1 Dose Level 1 Cohort 41/4 (25%)2/4 (50%)4/4 (100%)
Group 228/36 (77.8%)18/36 (50%)34/36 (94.4%)
Most frequent serious events
Showing 10 of 28
Most frequent serious events
EventGroup 1 Dose Level 1 Cohort 1Group 1 Dose Level 1 Cohort 2Group 1 Dose Level 1 Cohort 3Group 1 Dose Level 1 Cohort 4Group 2
Thromboembolic eventVascular disorders2/30/40/40/43/36
FatigueGeneral disorders1/30/40/40/41/36
Lung infectionInfections and infestations1/30/40/40/40/36
Generalized muscle weaknessMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders1/30/40/40/40/36
DizzinessNervous system disorders1/30/40/40/40/36
PainGeneral disorders0/30/41/40/40/36
MeningitisInfections and infestations0/30/40/41/40/36
Alanine aminotransferase increasedInvestigations0/31/41/41/43/36
Aspartate aminotransferase increasedInvestigations0/31/40/41/43/36
Blood bilirubin increasedInvestigations0/30/41/40/42/36
Most frequent other events
Showing 10 of 61
Most frequent other events
EventGroup 1 Dose Level 1 Cohort 1Group 1 Dose Level 1 Cohort 2Group 1 Dose Level 1 Cohort 3Group 1 Dose Level 1 Cohort 4Group 2
NauseaGastrointestinal disorders1/33/44/41/417/36
FatigueGeneral disorders3/33/44/44/430/36
Lymphocyte count decreasedInvestigations1/32/44/42/423/36
Nervous system disorders - Oth specNervous system disorders3/32/40/40/41/36
Rash maculo-papularSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders3/32/42/43/411/36
ConstipationGastrointestinal disorders2/30/43/41/424/36
Cognitive disturbanceNervous system disorders2/30/43/42/418/36
HeadacheNervous system disorders1/32/43/42/420/36
VomitingGastrointestinal disorders2/31/41/41/49/36
Alanine aminotransferase increasedInvestigations2/30/40/41/41/36

Baseline characteristics

Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Group 1 Dose Level 1Group 1 Dose Level 2Group 1 Dose Level 3Group 1 Dose Level 4Group 2 (Pembrolizumab, Temozolomide, Radiation Therapy )Total
Mean58.0 ± 7.837.5 ± 7.550.3 ± 19.248.8 ± 18.757.2 ± 10.054.5 ± 12.3
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Group 1 Dose Level 1Group 1 Dose Level 2Group 1 Dose Level 3Group 1 Dose Level 4Group 2 (Pembrolizumab, Temozolomide, Radiation Therapy )Total
Female2133918
Male13112733
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Group 1 Dose Level 1Group 1 Dose Level 2Group 1 Dose Level 3Group 1 Dose Level 4Group 2 (Pembrolizumab, Temozolomide, Radiation Therapy )Total
Hispanic or Latino000022
Not Hispanic or Latino34443449
Unknown or Not Reported000000
Race (NIH/OMB)
Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Group 1 Dose Level 1Group 1 Dose Level 2Group 1 Dose Level 3Group 1 Dose Level 4Group 2 (Pembrolizumab, Temozolomide, Radiation Therapy )Total
American Indian or Alaska Native000000
Asian000011
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander000000
Black or African American000022
White34443247
More than one race000000
Unknown or Not Reported000011
08

Study locations

3 sites
09

References and documents

Study documents

PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.

10

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 22, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03197506
Lead sponsor
Mayo Clinic
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jun 23, 2017
Start date
Jan 15, 2018
Primary completion
Jul 16, 2024
Completion
Jun 6, 2028 (estimated)
Results posted
Mar 25, 2026
Last update
Sep 22, 2026

Study contacts

Ian F. Parney, MD, PhD
principal investigator · Mayo Clinic in Rochester

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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Studies of the drug tested here: Pembrolizumab

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