ClinicalTrials.gg
CompletedNCT03391973CUPUpdated Jul 2, 2026Results posted

Pembrolizumab in Patients With Poor-Prognosis Carcinoma of Unknown Primary Site (CUP)

A Phase 2 interventional study of Pembrolizumab Injection in Carcinoma of Unknown Primary, sponsored by AHS Cancer Control Alberta. Completed at 3 sites in Canada. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-02.

Sponsored by AHS Cancer Control Alberta · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
33
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Abbreviated Title: Pembrolizumab in Patients with Poor-Prognosis Carcinoma of Unknown Primary Site (CUP) Trial Phase: 2 Clinical Indication: Treatment naïve patients with poor prognosis carcinoma of unknown primary site Trial Type: Single arm phase 2 Type of control: Not applicable Route of administration: Intravenous Trial Blinding: Not applicable Treatment Groups: 1) Pembrolizumab 200 mg IV every 3 weeks for up to 24 months. Total Number of trial subjects:25 Estimated enrollment period: 24 months Estimated duration of trial: 48 months Duration of Participation: 24 months

Read the detailed description

This is a multi-centre, single arm phase 2 study of Pembrolizumab (Keytruda™ or MK-3475) in treatment naïve patients with poor prognosis carcinoma of unknown primary site (CUP). Participants will receive Pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously (IV) on Day 1 of each 3-week cycle for up to 24 months. Patients will be evaluated for response every 9 weeks. Patients with objective response to treatment and those with stable disease will continue to receive Pembrolizumab. Patients with tumor progression will be discontinued from the study. Patients with progressive disease (PD), but showing a clinical benefit, may continue on Pembrolizumab, as per the discretion of the responsible Qualified Investigator. Response will be evaluated as per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1

02

Conditions studied

  • Carcinoma of Unknown Primary

Keywords

  • CUP
  • Pembrolizumab
  • KEYTRUDA
03

In context

Neoplasms, Unknown Primary

101 studies on the registry are indexed under Neoplasms, Unknown Primary; 19 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 33 is below the median of 52 across 63 interventional studies indexed under Neoplasms, Unknown Primary.

Browse Neoplasms, Unknown Primary studies →

Lead sponsor

AHS Cancer Control Alberta is the lead sponsor of 187 studies on the registry; 24 are open to participants now.

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
Yes

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

  1. Have histologically (or cytologically) documented, carcinoma with no primary site identified. The following tests are required to exclude a primary site of disease: complete history and physical examination, blood chemistry (including serum tumor marker for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in men, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG)) and mammography in women, urinalysis, thoracic and abdominopelvic computed tomography scans, bone scan, and symptom or sign-oriented imaging or endoscopic studies).
  2. Have adenocarcinoma, a poorly differentiated carcinoma, or any squamous cell carcinomas.
  3. Be willing and able to provide written for this trial.
  4. Be ≥ 18 years of age on day of signing informed consent.
  5. Have documented based on 1.1. via Computerized Tomography (CT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
  6. Be willing to provide tissue from a newly obtained core or excisional of a tumor lesion. Newly-obtained is defined as a specimen obtained up to 6 weeks (42 calendar days) prior to initiation of treatment on Day 1. Subjects for whom newly-obtained samples cannot be provided (e.g. inaccessible or subject safety concern) may submit an archived Formalin-Fixed, Paraffin-Embedded (FFPE) Block(s).
  7. Have an (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1.
  8. Must have a documented negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 7 days prior to receiving the first dose of study medication if female and of . If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test is required.
  9. Female subjects of childbearing potential must be willing to use 2 methods of or be surgically sterile or abstain from heterosexual activity from the time they sign the informed consent form prior to start of therapy through 120 calendar days after the last dose of study medication. Subjects of childbearing potential are defined as those who have not been surgically sterilized or have not been free from menses for > 1 year.
  10. Male subjects must agree to use 2 adequate methods of contraception from the time they sign the informed consent form prior to start of therapy through 120 calendar days after the last dose of study therapy. Examples include: condoms, spermicidal jelly, and abstinence.
  11. Demonstrate adequate organ function as defined in Table 1 below. All screening labs must be performed within 7 calendar days of treatment initiation.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. CUP suspected to be lymphomas (e.g. staining for leukocyte common antigen), malignant melanoma (e.g. staining for both S100 and HMB45), extragonadal germ cell neoplasms (e.g. staining for both AFP and β-hCG), sarcomas (e.g. staining for cytokeratins and vimentin), neuroendocrine tumors (e.g. staining for chromogranin and synaptophysin), and prostatic adenocarcinomas in men (e.g. staining for PSA).
  2. Patient subgroups that are suitable for well-defined treatments: (e.g. women with adenocarcinoma involving axillary lymph nodes as the only site of disease, women with papillary serous carcinoma of the peritoneum, patients with squamous cell carcinoma that involved either cervical or inguinal lymph nodes only, patients with poorly differentiated carcinomas that suggested germinal tumors and with elevated levels of β-hCG and/or AFP, and patients with carcinoma that involved a single, potentially resectable site) also are excluded from enrollment.
  3. Is currently participating and receiving study therapy or has participated in a study of an agent and received study therapy or used an investigational device within 4 weeks of the first dose of treatment.
  4. Has a confirmed diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving documented systemic therapy or any other form of therapy within 7 calendar days prior to the first dose of Pembrolizumab.
  5. Has a known history of active Tuberculosis Bacillus (TB).
  6. to Pembrolizumab or any of its (L-histidine, L-histidine hydrochloride monohydrate, Sucrose or Polysorbate 80).
  7. Has had radiation therapy within 14 calendar days prior to the first dose of treatment. If subject undergone radiation, they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting therapy as per the discretion of the Qualified Investigator.
  8. Has had prior chemotherapy, targeted small molecule therapy, or prior anti-cancer mAb.
  9. If subject has undergone major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from the complications from the surgery prior to starting therapy as per the discretion of the Qualified Investigator.
  10. Has a known additional 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.
  11. Has known active central nervous system (CNS) and/or carcinomatous meningitis. Subjects with previously treated may participate provided they are stable (without evidence of progression by CT brain or MRI brain 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 calendar days prior to trial treatment. This exception does not include carcinomatous meningitis, which is excluded regardless of clinical stability.
  12. Has active disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). 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.
  13. Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis or current pneumonitis.
  14. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy.
  15. Has a 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 Qualified Investigator.
  16. Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with compliance with the requirements of the trial.
  17. Is pregnant or breastfeeding, or planning to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial, starting with the pre-screening or screening visit through 120 calendar days after the last dose of trial treatment.
  18. Has received prior therapy with an , anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 agent.
  19. Has a known history of (HIV).
  20. Has known active (e.g., HBsAg reactive) or (e.g., HCV RNA is detected).
  21. Has received a within 30 calendar days of planned start of study therapy.
  22. Has previous organ and/or bone marrow transplant.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(21)

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.

Metastases

Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.

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.

Measurable disease

The amount of disease can be tracked with a defined measurement, so the study can see whether it shrinks or grows. It might be a tumour measured on a scan or, in some blood cancers such as myeloma, a marker measured in blood or urine.

The criteria or the study team say which measurement counts — having no tumour visible on a scan does not by itself rule you out.

RECIST

The standard rules for measuring tumours on CT or MRI scans, to tell whether a cancer is shrinking, stable or growing during treatment.

“Measurable disease per RECIST 1.1” usually means at least one tumour 10 mm or more at its longest on a CT scan, or a lymph node 15 mm or more across its short axis.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Brain metastases

Cancer deposits in the brain from a cancer that started elsewhere in the body (CNS metastases include the spinal cord).

Studies differ: some leave out any brain metastases, some accept ones treated and stable for some weeks. Check what this study allows.

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.

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.

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.

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.

05

Study design

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

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Arm 1 - Pembrolizumab

    Arm 1 - Pembrolizumab injection dosed at 200 mg given Q3 weeks by IV infusion on Day 1 of each 3 week cycle.

    Drug: Pembrolizumab Injection

Interventions

  • Pembrolizumab 200 mg will be administered as a 30 minute IV infusion Q3W.

    Also known as: Keytruda

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants That Develop an Objective Response to Treatment (Objective Response Rate, ORR).

    The objective response rate will be assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1). Per RECIST v1.1, tumor response was assessed using MRI or CT imaging. Complete Response (CR) was defined as disappearance of all target lesions; Partial Response (PR) as a ≥30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions from baseline; Stable Disease (SD) as neither sufficient tumor shrinkage to qualify for PR nor sufficient increase to qualify for Progressive Disease (PD); and PD as a ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions or the appearance of new lesions. Disease Control Rate (DCR) was defined as the proportion of participants who achieved CR, PR, or SD as their best overall response during the assessment period, reflecting the ability of treatment to prevent disease progression. The RECIST median duration of response is the time, measured from the first date of CR or PR to PD or death.

    Time frame: Within 3 years

  2. Duration of Response and Disease Control

    The duration of response and disease control will be assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1). Per RECIST v1.1, tumor response was assessed using MRI or CT imaging. Complete Response (CR) was defined as disappearance of all target lesions; Partial Response (PR) as a ≥30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions from baseline; Stable Disease (SD) as neither sufficient tumor shrinkage to qualify for PR nor sufficient increase to qualify for Progressive Disease; and Progressive Disease (PD) as a ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions (with an absolute increase of at least 5 mm) or the appearance of new lesions. Disease Control Rate (DCR) was defined as the proportion of participants who achieved CR, PR, or SD as their best overall response during the assessment period, reflecting the ability of treatment to prevent disease progression. The Duration of Response is the time, measured from the first date of CR or PR to PD or death.

    Time frame: Within 3 years

  3. Incidence of Treatment-related Adverse Events (TRAEs)

    Treatment related adverse events will be assessed using CTCAE v4.0.

    Time frame: Within 3 years

Secondary outcomes

  1. The Overall Survival (OS) of Participants.

    OS is the time from treatment initiation to death due to any cause

    Time frame: Within 4 years

  2. The Progression Free Survival (PFS) of Participants.

    Progression is assessed according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1. Progressive disease is defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the smallest sum recorded since treatment started (nadir), with an absolute increase of at least 5 mm, or unequivocal progression of non-target lesions, or the appearance of one or more new lesions.

    Time frame: Within 4 years

07

Results

Posted Jul 2, 2026

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneArm 1 - Pembrolizumab
Started33
Completed27
Not completed6
Withdrew: Lack of efficacy2
Withdrew: Physician decision2
Withdrew: Adverse event1
Withdrew: Development intercurrent illness preventing ongoing treatment1

Outcome measures

PrimaryNumber of Participants That Develop an Objective Response to Treatment (Objective Response Rate, ORR).

The objective response rate will be assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1). Per RECIST v1.1, tumor response was assessed using MRI or CT imaging. Complete Response (CR) was defined as disappearance of all target lesions; Partial Response (PR) as a ≥30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions from baseline; Stable Disease (SD) as neither sufficient tumor shrinkage to qualify for PR nor sufficient increase to qualify for Progressive Disease (PD); and PD as a ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions or the appearance of new lesions. Disease Control Rate (DCR) was defined as the proportion of participants who achieved CR, PR, or SD as their best overall response during the assessment period, reflecting the ability of treatment to prevent disease progression. The RECIST median duration of response is the time, measured from the first date of CR or PR to PD or death.

Time frame:
Within 3 years
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Participants That Develop an Objective Response to Treatment (Objective Response Rate, ORR).
ParticipantsArm 1 - Pembrolizumab
Objective Response Rate3
Complete Response1
Partial Response2
Stable Disease11
Progressive Disease13
Disease Control Rate14
PrimaryDuration of Response and Disease Control

The duration of response and disease control will be assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1). Per RECIST v1.1, tumor response was assessed using MRI or CT imaging. Complete Response (CR) was defined as disappearance of all target lesions; Partial Response (PR) as a ≥30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions from baseline; Stable Disease (SD) as neither sufficient tumor shrinkage to qualify for PR nor sufficient increase to qualify for Progressive Disease; and Progressive Disease (PD) as a ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions (with an absolute increase of at least 5 mm) or the appearance of new lesions. Disease Control Rate (DCR) was defined as the proportion of participants who achieved CR, PR, or SD as their best overall response during the assessment period, reflecting the ability of treatment to prevent disease progression. The Duration of Response is the time, measured from the first date of CR or PR to PD or death.

Time frame:
Within 3 years
Reported as:
Median · Months
Duration of Response and Disease Control
MonthsArm 1 - Pembrolizumab
Median Duration of Response22.12 (16.33 to NA)
Median Duration of Disease Control6.39 (3.09 to 8.44)
PrimaryIncidence of Treatment-related Adverse Events (TRAEs)

Treatment related adverse events will be assessed using CTCAE v4.0.

Time frame:
Within 3 years
Reported as:
Number · Number of Events
Incidence of Treatment-related Adverse Events (TRAEs)
Number of EventsArm 1 - Pembrolizumab
Serious Adverse Events (possibly related)2
Adverse Events (possibly related)55
SecondaryThe Overall Survival (OS) of Participants.

OS is the time from treatment initiation to death due to any cause

Time frame:
Within 4 years
Reported as:
Median · months
The Overall Survival (OS) of Participants.
monthsArm 1 - Pembrolizumab
The Overall Survival (OS) of Participants.9.49 (3.84 to 14.72)
SecondaryThe Progression Free Survival (PFS) of Participants.

Progression is assessed according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version 1.1. Progressive disease is defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the smallest sum recorded since treatment started (nadir), with an absolute increase of at least 5 mm, or unequivocal progression of non-target lesions, or the appearance of one or more new lesions.

Time frame:
Within 4 years
Reported as:
Median · months
The Progression Free Survival (PFS) of Participants.
monthsArm 1 - Pembrolizumab
The Progression Free Survival (PFS) of Participants.2.98 (2.07 to 4.63)

Adverse events

Collected over Serious and Other Adverse Events were monitored/assessed from the time that informed consent is signed until cessation of treatment or until the beginning of a new anti-neoplastic therapy, whichever occurs first, up to 3 years. All-cause Mortality was assessed for up to 4 years.. Non-serious events are listed at a 0% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Arm 1 - Pembrolizumab26/27 (96.3%)2/27 (7.4%)27/27 (100%)
Most frequent serious events
Most frequent serious events
EventArm 1 - Pembrolizumab
Fatigue, generalized weaknessGeneral disorders1/27
Fever, nausea, vomitingGastrointestinal disorders1/27
Most frequent other events
Showing 10 of 22
Most frequent other events
EventArm 1 - Pembrolizumab
Fatigue/malaise/weaknessGeneral disorders7/27
Joint PainMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders6/27
NauseaGeneral disorders5/27
RashSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders4/27
PruritisSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders4/27
Cough/DyspneaRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders4/27
VomitingGastrointestinal disorders3/27
Anorexia/Decreased food intakeGeneral disorders2/27
DiarrheaGastrointestinal disorders2/27
FeverGeneral disorders2/27

Baseline characteristics

Eligible patients were identified and treated at 3 academic cancer centers in Canada, (Tom Baker Cancer Centre now the Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Calgary, Alberta; Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, Alberta; Ottawa Cancer Centre, Ottawa, Ontario). Eligible patients were 18 years of age or older, and have histologically documented, metastatic carcinoma with no primary site identified.

Age, Customized
Age, Customized(years)Arm 1 - Pembrolizumab
Age64 (21 to 80)
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Arm 1 - Pembrolizumab
Female14
Male19
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected
Race and Ethnicity Not Collected(Participants)Arm 1 - Pembrolizumab
ECOG
ECOG(Participants)Arm 1 - Pembrolizumab
05
128
Histology
Histology(Participants)Arm 1 - Pembrolizumab
Adenocarcinoma22
Squamous Cell Carcinoma2
Poorly Differentiated8
Other1
Sites of Metastatic Disease
Sites of Metastatic Disease(Participants)Arm 1 - Pembrolizumab
Lung14
Liver23
Bone8
Lymph Nodes20
Skin/soft tissues1
Genitourinary1
Other8
Number of Metastatic Sites
Number of Metastatic Sites(Participants)Arm 1 - Pembrolizumab
15
212
3 or more16
Baseline Endoscopy
Baseline Endoscopy(Participants)Arm 1 - Pembrolizumab
Baseline upper and lower endoscopy22
Baseline upper and no lower endoscopy2
Baseline lower and no upper endoscopy2
No endoscopy7

3 further baseline measures are reported on the registry.

08

Study locations

3 sites
  • Tom Baker Cancer Centre
    Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N2, Canada
  • Cross Cancer Institute
    Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
  • Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre
    Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
09

References and documents

Publications

  • Monzon JG, Karachiwala H, Walker J, Goel R, Wheatley-Price P, Asmis TR, Navani V, Tang PA, Vickers MM. A non-randomized phase 2 trial of pembrolizumab in untreated patients with carcinoma of unknown primary site. Eur J Cancer. 2026 May 15;239:116709. doi: 10.1016/j.ejca.2026.116709. Epub 2026 Mar 31. PubMed 41935492 ↗

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 Jul 2, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03391973
Collaborators
Tom Baker Cancer Centre
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jan 5, 2018
Start date
Aug 24, 2018
Primary completion
Jun 16, 2023
Completion
Feb 12, 2026
Results posted
Jul 2, 2026
Last update
Jul 2, 2026

Study contacts

Jose Monzon, MD
principal investigator · Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre

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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