ClinicalTrials.gg
TerminatedNCT03486197Updated Nov 20, 2024Results posted

Neutron Radiation Therapy and Pembrolizumab in Treating Participants With Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma

A Phase 2 interventional study of Laboratory Biomarker Analysis and Pembrolizumab in Urothelial Carcinoma, sponsored by University of Washington. Terminated at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-11-20.

Sponsored by University of Washington · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Why this study was terminated
Closed per SRC Low Accrual Policy

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Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
12
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Where this study stands

Counted across the records on this site · 2026-11-14

Among 28 studies testing pembrolizumab in Carcinoma, Transitional Cell — 9 open to participants now, 13 under way, 3 of them phase 3. pembrolizumab · Carcinoma, Transitional Cell.

Enrollment
20th of 28
12 · median 31
Started
2019
with 2 others
Phase 2
19 of 28
6 open now
Registered
10th of 28
by date

Among the 28 studies testing pembrolizumab in Carcinoma, Transitional Cell, this one is the 20th largest by enrollment, is one of 3 that started in 2019, is one of 19 in phase 2, and was the 10th registered.

Carcinoma, Transitional Cell

633 studies on the registry are indexed under Carcinoma, Transitional Cell; 180 are open to participants now.

Browse Carcinoma, Transitional Cell studies →

Open to participants now

9 of the 28 studies testing pembrolizumab in Carcinoma, Transitional Cell are open now, in 4 countries. Recruiting first, the newest first:

4 more — sign in →

By country, each count listing its studies:

All 9 open studies →

About pembrolizumab

pembrolizumab: first FDA approval 2014 (KEYTRUDA), first EMA approval 2015. What it is approved for, and how studies give it, is on its page →

Who these studies take

Of the 147 Carcinoma, Transitional Cell studies recruiting now, 121 (82%) set no upper age limit and 11 (7%) stop at 75 or younger; 4 take children under 18; 8 take healthy volunteers.

This study: 18 Years and older · all sexes · no healthy volunteers.

The full table on the hub →

This tab as a report to print or save as PDF → With an account.

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Watch this landscapeDownload CSVNarrow it in search →With an account: a weekly mail of what changed among 28 studies testing pembrolizumab in Carcinoma, Transitional Cell, or all of them as a file.
02

Study summary

This phase II trial studies how well neutron radiation therapy and pembrolizumab work in treating participants with urothelial carcinoma that has spread to other places in the body. Neutron radiation therapy uses high energy neutrons to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. 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. Giving radiation therapy and pembrolizumab may work better than radiation alone in treating participants with urothelial carcinoma that has spread to other places in the body.

Read the detailed description

OUTLINE:

Participants receive pembrolizumab intravenously (IV) on days 1 and 22. On day 23, participants may undergo an optional tumor biopsy and receive 3-5 treatments of neutron radiation therapy over 2 weeks on days 23-42. Participants receive pembrolizumab IV on day 43 and continue per standard of care in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

After completion of study treatment, participants are followed up every 3 months.

03

Conditions studied

  • Urothelial Carcinoma
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

  • proven (either histologic or cytologic) diagnosis of urothelial carcinoma
  • At least two sites of disease that are measurable by (RECIST) 1.1 criteria
  • Eligible for immunotherapy (pembrolizumab) per standard of care
  • No history of disease requiring systemic therapy (e.g. or biologic agents)
  • (ANC) ≥ 1500 /mcL
  • ≥ 100,000/mcL
  • > 9 g/dL
  • Creatinine ≤ 1.5 x (ULN) OR ≥ 60 mL/min
  • Total ≤ 1.5 ULN OR direct bilirubin ≤ ULN if total bilirubin > 1.5 x ULN
  • (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 x ULN OR \< 5 x ULN if patient has liver
  • Albumin >= 2.5 g/dL
  • (INR) or PT ≤ 1.5 x ULN unless on anticoagulation therapy, in which case prothrombin time (PT) or partial thromboplastin time (PTT) should be in the therapeutic range
  • PTT ≤ 1.5 x ULN unless on anticoagulation therapy, in which case PT or PTT should be in the therapeutic range
  • Eligible for neutron radiation treatment to 1-3 sites of metastatic disease (lesions do not have to be symptomatic)
  • No steroids for at least 2 weeks prior to enrollment, and patient must not be expected to require steroids during the study period
  • Zubrod performance status 0-2
  • Patient must sign study specific prior to study entry
  • Patients who are sexually active must use medically acceptable forms of
  • must be > 3 months

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Has a known history of active TB (Bacillus tuberculosis)
  • to pembrolizumab or any of its
  • Has a known additional that is progressing or requires active treatment
  • Has received prior therapy with an , anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 agent
  • Has a known history of (HIV) (HIV 1/2 antibodies)
  • Has known active (e.g., hepatitis B virus surface antigen [HBsAg] reactive) or (e.g., hepatitis C virus [HCV] ribonucleic acid [RNA] [qualitative] is detected)
  • Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial
  • 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 investigator
  • Has known history of, or any evidence of active, non-infectious pneumonitis
  • Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy
  • Has received a within 30 days of planned start of study therapy
  • Has known active central nervous system (CNS) and/or carcinomatous meningitis; subjects with previously treated may participate provided there is no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases, and are not using for at least 7 days prior to trial treatment; this exception does not include carcinomatous meningitis which is excluded regardless of clinical stability
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(24)

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.

Histologically or cytologically confirmed

The diagnosis was confirmed by looking at a sample under a microscope: tissue from a biopsy or surgery (histology), or cells from a fluid or needle sample (cytology).

Your pathology report is the document that shows this.

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

Metastases

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

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.

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.

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.

Life expectancy

The study doctor’s estimate of how long someone is likely to live. Criteria use it so that people can stay in the study long enough for it to answer its question.

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.

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.

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.

05

Study design

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

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Treatment (Pembrolizumab, neutron radiation therapy)

    Participants receive pembrolizumab IV on days 1 and 22. On day 23, participants may undergo an optional tumor biopsy and receive 3-5 treatments of neutron radiation therapy over 2 weeks on days 23-42. Participants receive pembrolizumab IV on day 43 and continue per standard of care in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

    Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis · Biological: Pembrolizumab · Radiation: Radiation Therapy

Interventions

  • OtherLaboratory Biomarker Analysis

    Correlative studies

  • BiologicalPembrolizumab

    Given IV

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

  • RadiationRadiation Therapy

    Undergo neutron radiation therapy

    Also known as: Cancer Radiotherapy, Irradiate, Irradiated, irradiation, RADIATION, Radiotherapeutics, radiotherapy, RT, Therapy, Radiation

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Overall Response Rate Per Immune-modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors

    Overall response rate will be calculated as the percentage of patients achieving a partial response or complete response.

    Time frame: Up to 1 year

Secondary outcomes

  1. Overall Survival

    Final statistical analyses of OS will consist of Kaplan-Meier estimation.

    Time frame: At 1 year

  2. Progression-free Survival

    Final statistical analyses of PFS will consist of Kaplan-Meier estimation.

    Time frame: At 1 year

07

Results

Posted Nov 20, 2024

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneTreatment (Pembrolizumab, Neutron Radiation Therapy)
Started12
Completed12
Not completed0

Outcome measures

PrimaryOverall Response Rate Per Immune-modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors

Overall response rate will be calculated as the percentage of patients achieving a partial response or complete response.

Time frame:
Up to 1 year
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Overall Response Rate Per Immune-modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors
ParticipantsTreatment (Pembrolizumab, Neutron Radiation Therapy)
Overall Response Rate Per Immune-modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors6
SecondaryOverall Survival

Final statistical analyses of OS will consist of Kaplan-Meier estimation.

Time frame:
At 1 year
Reported as:
Number · percentage of participants
Overall Survival
percentage of participantsTreatment (Pembrolizumab, Neutron Radiation Therapy)
Overall Survival62 (51 to 74)
SecondaryProgression-free Survival

Final statistical analyses of PFS will consist of Kaplan-Meier estimation.

Time frame:
At 1 year
Reported as:
Number · percentage of participants
Progression-free Survival
percentage of participantsTreatment (Pembrolizumab, Neutron Radiation Therapy)
Progression-free Survival55 (41 to 68)

Adverse events

Collected over Adverse events were collected during radiation treatment weekly during physician visits, and during each pembrolizumab infusion with a physician visit for up to 1 year.. Non-serious events are listed at a 5% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Treatment (Pembrolizumab, Neutron Radiation Therapy)6/12 (50%)2/12 (16.7%)9/12 (75%)
Most frequent serious events
Most frequent serious events
EventTreatment (Pembrolizumab, Neutron Radiation Therapy)
Myositis Grade 3Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders1/12
Acute Kidney Injury Grade 3Renal and urinary disorders1/12
Most frequent other events
Most frequent other events
EventTreatment (Pembrolizumab, Neutron Radiation Therapy)
Fatigue Grade 2General disorders5/12
Gastritis Grade 2Gastrointestinal disorders2/12
Pancreatitis Grade 2Gastrointestinal disorders1/12
Acute Kidney Injury Grade 2Renal and urinary disorders1/12

Baseline characteristics

Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Treatment (Pembrolizumab, Neutron Radiation Therapy)
Mean71 ± 9
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Treatment (Pembrolizumab, Neutron Radiation Therapy)
Female3
Male9
Race (NIH/OMB)
Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Treatment (Pembrolizumab, Neutron Radiation Therapy)
American Indian or Alaska Native0
Asian3
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander0
Black or African American0
White9
More than one race0
Unknown or Not Reported0
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)Treatment (Pembrolizumab, Neutron Radiation Therapy)
United States12
08

Study locations

1 site
  • Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium
    Seattle, Washington 98109, United States
09

References and documents

Study documents

PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

10

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Ran from Jan 2019 to primary completion in Nov 2023, 57 months.

Results were first posted in Nov 2024, 1 year after primary completion.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Mar 27, 2018
First posted
Apr 3, 2018
StartActual
Jan 17, 2019
Primary completionActual
Nov 1, 2023
CompletionActual
May 1, 2024
Results first posted
Nov 20, 2024
Last update
Nov 20, 2024
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 20, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03486197
Responsible party
Jing Zeng (Professor, University of Washington) — Principal investigator
First posted
Apr 3, 2018
Start date
Jan 17, 2019
Primary completion
Nov 1, 2023
Completion
May 1, 2024
Results posted
Nov 20, 2024
Last update
Nov 20, 2024

Study contacts

Jing Zeng
principal investigator · Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium

Oversight

FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is terminated, as verified in Oct 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

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Studies of the drug tested here: Pembrolizumab

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