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CompletedNCT03290079Updated Dec 22, 2025Results posted

Phase II Study of Pembrolizumab and Lenvatinib in Advanced Well-differentiated Neuroendocrine Tumors

A Phase 2 interventional study of Pembrolizumab and Lenvatinib in Neuroendocrine Tumors, Neuroendocrine Carcinoma and Neuroendocrine Cancer, sponsored by H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-12-22.

Sponsored by H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
20
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this study is to:

  • Assess overall radiographic response rate (ORR)
  • Assess progression-free survival (PFS)
  • Test the safety and tolerability of Pembrolizumab in combination with lenvatinib
02

Conditions studied

  • Neuroendocrine Tumors
  • Neuroendocrine Carcinoma
  • Neuroendocrine Cancer

Keywords

  • well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors
03

Who can participate

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Diagnosis/Condition for entry into the trial: Metastatic well differentiated neuroendocrine tumors of primary lung, thymic, small bowel and colorectal origin (including unknown primary)
  • Evidence of radiographic disease progression with scan documenting progression occurring within 8 months of signing informed consent
  • At least two prior lines of systemic treatment. If the only prior line of treatment was adjuvant or neoadjuvant, patient must have completed treatment within 12 months. There is no limit to number of prior therapies.
  • Willing and able to provide written informed consent/assent for the trial.
  • ≥ 18 years of age on day of signing informed consent.
  • Have measurable disease based on Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1.
  • Have a performance status of 0 or 1 on the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Scale.
  • Demonstrate adequate organ function and laboratory values. All screening labs should be performed within 14 days of treatment initiation.
  • Females of childbearing potential (FOCBP) should have a negative serum pregnancy within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study medication.
  • FOCBP must agree to use adequate contraception as outlined in study documentation for the course of the through 120 days after the last dose of study medication.
  • Male participants of childbearing potential must agree to use an adequate method of contraception as outlined in study documentation, starting with the first dose of study therapy through 120 days after the last dose of study therapy.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma
  • Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor
  • Currently participating and receiving study therapy or has participated in a study of an investigational agent and received study therapy or used an investigational device within 4 weeks of the first dose of treatment.
  • A diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of trial treatment.
  • Known history of active TB (Bacillus Tuberculosis)
  • Hypersensitivity to pembrolizumab or any of its excipients.
  • Has had a prior anti-cancer monoclonal antibody (mAb) within 4 weeks prior to study Day 1 or who has not recovered (i.e., ≤ Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier.
  • Has had prior chemotherapy, targeted small molecule therapy, or radiation therapy within 2 weeks prior to study Day 1 or who has not recovered (i.e., ≤ Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to a previously administered agent. - Note: Potential participants with ≤ Grade 2 neuropathy are an exception to this criterion and may qualify for the study. Note: If have received major surgery within 3 weeks, must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting therapy. Adequate wound healing after major surgery must be assessed clinically, independent of time elapsed for eligibility.
  • Serious non-healing wound, ulcer or bone fracture
  • Has pre-existing >/= Grade 3 gastrointestinal (GI) or non-GI fistula
  • Has significant cardiovascular impairment within 12 months of the first dose of study drug
  • Known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment. Exceptions include basal cell carcinoma of the skin or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer.
  • Known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis. Potential participants with previously treated brain metastases may participate provided they are stable (without evidence of progression by imaging for at least four weeks prior to the first dose of trial treatment and any neurologic symptoms have returned to baseline), have no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases, and are not using steroids for at least 7 days prior to trial treatment. This exception does not include carcinomatous meningitis which is excluded regardless of clinical stability.
  • Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years. Replacement therapy is not considered a form of systemic treatment.
  • History of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids, or current pneumonitis.
  • An active infection requiring systemic therapy.
  • History or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the trial, interfere with the subject's participation for the full duration of the trial, or is not in the best interest of the subject to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.
  • Known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial, starting with the pre-screening or screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of trial treatment.
  • Has received prior therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 agent.
  • Has received prior therapy with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) (e.g.; sunitinib, pazopanib, cabozantinib)
  • Known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (HIV 1/2 antibodies).
  • Known active Hepatitis B (e.g., HBsAg reactive) or Hepatitis C (e.g., HCV RNA [qualitative] is detected).
  • Has received a live vaccine within 30 days of planned start of study therapy. Note: Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally inactivated flu vaccines and are allowed; however intranasal influenza vaccines (e.g., Flu-Mist®) are live attenuated vaccines, and are not allowed.
  • Uncontrolled hypertension defined as systolic blood pressure >150 mmHg or diastolic pressure >90 mmHg, despite optimal medical management
  • Thrombotic or embolic events such as a cerebrovascular accident including transient ischemic, attacks, DVT within the past 6 months
  • Bleeding or thrombotic disorders or use of anticoagulants, such as warfarin, or similar agents requiring therapeutic international normalized ration (INR) monitoring.(Treatment with low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is allowed)
  • Marked baseline prolongation of QT/QTc interval (QTc interval ≥ 480 msec) using the Fridericia method (QTc = QT/RR0.33) for QTc analysis
  • Clinically significant bleeding within 4 weeks
  • Medical need for the continued use of potent inhibitors/inducers of CYP3A4
  • Creatinine clearance \<30 mL/min
  • Any condition that impairs patient's ability to swallow whole pills or gastrointestinal malabsorption that, in the investigator's opinion, might affect absorption of lenvatinib
04

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
20 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Pembrolizumab & Lenvatinib treatment

    Pembrolizumab 200 mg will be administered as a 30 minute intravenous (IV) infusion every 3 weeks, in addition to 20 mg Lenvatinib by mouth every day of each 3 week cycle. Estimated average length of treatment per participant: 4 months.

    Drug: Pembrolizumab · Drug: Lenvatinib

Interventions

  • DrugPembrolizumab

    200 mg Pembrolizumab by IV on Day 1 of each 3 week cycle.

    Also known as: Keytruda®

  • DrugLenvatinib

    20 mg Lenvatinib by mouth every day of each 3 week cycle

    Also known as: Lenvima®

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Objective Radiographic Response Rate (ORR)

    Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) based response rate. Complete Response (CR): Disappearance of all extranodal target lesions. All pathological lymph nodes must have decreased to \<10 mm in short axis. Partial Response (PR): At least a 30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameter (SLD) of target lesions, taking as reference the baseline sum diameters. Progressive Disease (PD): SLD increased by at least 20% from the smallest value on study (including baseline, if that is the smallest). The SLD must also demonstrate an absolute increase of at least 5mm. (Two lesions increasing from 2 mm to 3 mm, for example, does not qualify). Stable Disease (SD): Neither sufficient shrinkage to qualify for PR nor sufficient increase to qualify for PD.

    Time frame: Up to 12 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Duration of Response (DOR)

    DOR, defined as the time from first documented evidence of Complete Response (CR) or Partial Response (PR) until disease progression or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first.

    Time frame: Up to 12 months

  2. Progression Free Survival (PFS)

    PFS, defined as the time from initial treatment to the first documented disease progression according to RECIST 1.1, or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first.

    Time frame: Up to 12 months

  3. Overall Survival (OS)

    OS defined as the time from initial treatment until death from any cause.

    Time frame: At 12 months

06

Results

Posted Mar 26, 2024

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestonePembrolizumab & Lenvatinib Treatment
Started20
Completed18
Not completed2
Withdrew: Death2

Outcome measures

PrimaryObjective Radiographic Response Rate (ORR)

Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) based response rate. Complete Response (CR): Disappearance of all extranodal target lesions. All pathological lymph nodes must have decreased to \<10 mm in short axis. Partial Response (PR): At least a 30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameter (SLD) of target lesions, taking as reference the baseline sum diameters. Progressive Disease (PD): SLD increased by at least 20% from the smallest value on study (including baseline, if that is the smallest). The SLD must also demonstrate an absolute increase of at least 5mm. (Two lesions increasing from 2 mm to 3 mm, for example, does not qualify). Stable Disease (SD): Neither sufficient shrinkage to qualify for PR nor sufficient increase to qualify for PD.

Time frame:
Up to 12 months
Reported as:
Number · proportion of participants
Objective Radiographic Response Rate (ORR)
proportion of participantsPembrolizumab & Lenvatinib Treatment
Objective Radiographic Response Rate (ORR).1 (.03 to .30)
SecondaryDuration of Response (DOR)

DOR, defined as the time from first documented evidence of Complete Response (CR) or Partial Response (PR) until disease progression or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first.

Time frame:
Up to 12 months
Reported as:
Mean · months
Duration of Response (DOR)
monthsPembrolizumab & Lenvatinib Treatment
Duration of Response (DOR)6.5 (4.8 to 7.4)
SecondaryProgression Free Survival (PFS)

PFS, defined as the time from initial treatment to the first documented disease progression according to RECIST 1.1, or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first.

Time frame:
Up to 12 months
Reported as:
Median · months
Progression Free Survival (PFS)
monthsPembrolizumab & Lenvatinib Treatment
Progression Free Survival (PFS)8 (5.8 to 10.2)
SecondaryOverall Survival (OS)

OS defined as the time from initial treatment until death from any cause.

Time frame:
At 12 months
Reported as:
Number · percentage of participants
Overall Survival (OS)
percentage of participantsPembrolizumab & Lenvatinib Treatment
Overall Survival (OS)70 (48.1 to 84.4)

Adverse events

Collected over Adverse events were collected from start of treatment to 30 days after cessation of treatment, an average of 8.5 months. Patients were followed for survival only for 12 months.. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Pembrolizumab & Lenvatinib Treatment6/20 (30%)12/20 (60%)20/20 (100%)
Most frequent serious events
Showing 10 of 22
Most frequent serious events
EventPembrolizumab & Lenvatinib Treatment
Disease ProgressionGeneral disorders3/20
FeverGeneral disorders2/20
Death, NOSGeneral disorders2/20
Pericardial effusionCardiac disorders2/20
Sinus tachycardiaCardiac disorders2/20
Kidney InfectionInfections and infestations1/20
Lower gastrointestinal hemorrhageGastrointestinal disorders1/20
Abdominal PainGastrointestinal disorders1/20
ConstipationGastrointestinal disorders1/20
Alanine aminotransferase increasedInvestigations1/20
Most frequent other events
Showing 10 of 114
Most frequent other events
EventPembrolizumab & Lenvatinib Treatment
HypertensionVascular disorders15/20
FatigueGeneral disorders12/20
Abdominal PainGastrointestinal disorders11/20
DiarrheaGastrointestinal disorders11/20
HeadacheNervous system disorders9/20
Weight lossInvestigations8/20
ProteinuriaRenal and urinary disorders8/20
ConstipationGastrointestinal disorders7/20
Back painMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders7/20
ArthralgiaMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders6/20

Baseline characteristics

Age, Categorical
Age, Categorical(Participants)Pembrolizumab & Lenvatinib Treatment
<=18 years0
Between 18 and 65 years9
>=65 years11
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Pembrolizumab & Lenvatinib Treatment
Female8
Male12
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Pembrolizumab & Lenvatinib Treatment
Hispanic or Latino4
Not Hispanic or Latino15
Unknown or Not Reported1
Race (NIH/OMB)
Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Pembrolizumab & Lenvatinib Treatment
American Indian or Alaska Native0
Asian0
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander0
Black or African American1
White18
More than one race0
Unknown or Not Reported1
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)Pembrolizumab & Lenvatinib Treatment
United States20
07

Study locations

1 site
  • H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
    Tampa, Florida 33612, United States
08

References and documents

Study documents

  • Protocol and statistical analysis plan · Dec 10, 2018

Documents are hosted by the registry — open the source record to download them.

09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03290079
Lead sponsor
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
Collaborators
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Sep 21, 2017
Start date
Dec 15, 2017
Primary completion
Jan 10, 2023
Completion
May 13, 2024
Results posted
Mar 26, 2024
Last update
Dec 22, 2025

Study contacts

Jonathan Strosberg, M.D.
principal investigator · H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute

Oversight

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

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