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CompletedNCT03526887ReplayUpdated Mar 24, 2025Results posted

Re-challenge Pembrolizumab Study as a Second or Further Line in Patients With Advanced NSCLC

A Phase 2 interventional study of Pembrolizumab and Pembrolizumab in Lung Cancer, sponsored by Spanish Lung Cancer Group. Completed at 19 sites in Spain. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-03-24.

Sponsored by Spanish Lung Cancer Group · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
73
Allocation
Non-randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

Exploratory phase II trial of intravenous (IV) Pembrolizumab MK-3475 as second or further line with advanced Non-small cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) who have failed to a prior treatment with anti-PDL1 drug.

Pembrolizumab 200 mg ,Q3W, IV infusion, Day 1 of each 3 week cycle will be administered until disease progression.

Read the detailed description

This is a multi-center exploratory phase II trial of intravenous (IV) Pembrolizumab MK-3475 as second or further line with advanced Non-small cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) who have failed to a prior treatment with anti-PDL1 drug.

110 patients will be enrolled in this trial to examine the efficacy and outcomes of these patients.

In addition to the usual procedures in a phase II study (evaluation of response, toxicity, etc.) special attention will be paid in this trial to the molecular assessment in biological samples.

Subjects will receive Pembrolizumab at a fixed dose of 200 mg every 3 weeks (Q3W). Subjects will be evaluated with radiographic imaging to assess response to treatment. Investigators will make all treatment-based decisions using the Immune-Related Response Criteria (irRC). However, for determination of overall response rate (ORR) and progression-free survival (PFS), the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 will be used.

Adverse events will be monitored throughout the trial and graded in severity according to the guidelines outlined in the NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0. Treatment with Pembrolizumab will continue until documented disease progression, unacceptable adverse event(s), intercurrent illness that prevents further administration of treatment, investigator's decision to withdraw the subject, subject withdraws consent, noncompliance with trial treatment or procedure requirements, or administrative reasons.

After the end of treatment, each subject will be followed for a minimum of 30 days for adverse event monitoring (serious adverse events will be collected for up to 90 days after the end of treatment unless the subject starts a new anticancer therapy between days 31 and 90). Subjects will have post-treatment follow-up for disease status, including initiating a non-study cancer treatment and experiencing disease progression, until death, withdrawing consent, or becoming lost to follow-up.

Participation in this trial will be dependent upon supplying tumor tissue from a newly obtained formalin-fixed specimen from locations not radiated prior to biopsy. The specimen will be evaluated at a central laboratory facility for expression status of PD-L1 in a prospective manner. Only subjects whose tumors express PD-L1 as determined by the central laboratory facility will be eligible for inclusion in this study. Also it is highly recommend to send archival tumor tissue from the patient.

02

Conditions studied

  • Lung Cancer

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03

In context

Lung Neoplasms

7,243 studies on the registry are indexed under Lung Neoplasms; 1,557 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 73 is above the median of 60 across 5,295 interventional studies indexed under Lung Neoplasms.

Browse Lung Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

Spanish Lung Cancer Group is the lead sponsor of 22 studies on the registry; 1 is 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
No

Inclusion criteria

  1. Patients with histologically or cythological confirmed NSCLC advanced or locally advanced disease (according to 8th version of the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Staging Manual in Thoracic Oncology) not amenable to radical treatment (IIIA, IIIB, IIIC, IV), squamous or non-squamous, recurrent after at least one prior line.
  2. The subject must be willing and able to provide written informed consent/assent for the trial.
  3. Patient must be aged ≥ 18 years of age on day of signing informed consent.
  4. Measurable disease (at least 1 lesion) based on RECIST 1.1. Patients will not be eligible if this lesion was irradiated before inclusion.
  5. Documented prior benefit (Stable Disease, Partial Response, Complete Response) to check point PD1/PDL1 inhibitor (Nivolumab, Pembrolizumab, Durvalumab, Atezolizumab, Avelumab or others) for at least 16 weeks (Stable Disease, Partial Response, Complete Response) and progression while on treatment (or \<12 weeks after stopping) with the same PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. These patients should have received subsequent treatment with Chemotherapy for at least 4 courses (Cohort 1) OR Documented prior benefit (Stable Disease, Partial Response, Complete Response) to check point PD1/PDL1 inhibitor (Nivolumab, Pembrolizumab, Durvalumab, Atezolizumab, Avelumab or others) for at least 16 weeks (Stable Disease, Partial Response, Complete Response) and progression >12 weeks after stopping treatment (Cohort 2). No subsequent treatment before rechallenge is allowed in this cohort
  6. Patient must be willing to provide tissue from a newly obtained core or excisional biopsy of a tumor lesion. PDL1 must be evaluable and at least 1% positive in tumor tissue. Newly-obtained is defined as a specimen obtained up to 6 weeks (42 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 specimen only upon agreement from the Sponsor. Note: If a new sample core or excisional biopsy cannot be obtained but the patient can be included in the study and start the treatment and the archival tumor tissue could be sent afterwards for the central laboratory confirmation. If no previous PDL1 result is available from the archival tissue, the patient cannot be included in the trial until central laboratory PDL1 result is available. Other cases could be consulted with the trail chair.
  7. Have a performance status of 0-1 on the ECOG Performance Scale.
  8. Demonstrate adequate organ function, all screening labs should be performed within 7 days of treatment initiation.
  9. Female subject of childbearing potential should have a negative urine or serum pregnancy within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study medication. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required.
  10. Female subjects of childbearing potential must be willing to use an adequate method of contraception (for the course of the study through 120 days after the last dose of study medication).

    Note: Abstinence is acceptable if this is the usual lifestyle and preferred contraception for the subject.

  11. Male subjects of childbearing potential must agree to use an adequate method of contraception (starting with the first dose of study therapy through 120 days after the last dose of study therapy).

    Note: Abstinence is acceptable if this is the usual lifestyle and preferred contraception for the subject.

  12. All patients will be required to submit a tumor sample for PD-L1 IHC expression. If the sample is inadequate for analysis, another sample could be provided. If a new sample cannot be obtained due to technical or clinical reasons, archival tissue can be sent. Other cases could be consulted with the trial chair.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Is 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.
  2. Has 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.
  3. Has a known history of active TB (Bacillus Tuberculosis)
  4. Hypersensitivity to pembrolizumab or any of its excipients.
  5. 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.
  6. 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: Subjects with ≤ Grade 2 neuropathy are an exception to this criterion and may qualify for the study.

    Note: If subject received major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting therapy.

  7. Has a 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.
  8. Has known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis. Subjects 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 at a dose over 10 mg of prednisone or equivalent, for at least 7 days prior to trial treatment. This exception does not include carcinomatous meningitis which is excluded regardless of clinical stability.
  9. Has active autoimmune 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 (eg., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment.
  10. Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or current pneumonitis.
  11. Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy.
  12. Documented EGFR sensitizing mutation.
  13. Documented ALK translocation.
  14. 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.
  15. Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.
  16. Is 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.
  17. Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (HIV 1/2 antibodies).
  18. Has known active Hepatitis B (e.g., HBsAg reactive) or Hepatitis C (e.g., HCV RNA [qualitative] is detected).
  19. 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.
  20. Received radiation therapy to the lung of >30Gy within 6 months of the first dose of trial treatment.
  21. Evidence of interstitial lung disease.
  22. Has had previously serious adverse reactions (grade 3-4) related to previous PD1/PDL1 inhibitors that preclude their treatment according to the principal investigator' s criteria.
05

Study design

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

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Cohort 1

    Patients who experienced progression disease while on treatment progression disease \< 12 weeks after stopping treatment. After that the patients took chemotherapy ≥ 4 cycles and progressed again. After the last progression the patient is included in the study to be retreated with Pembrolizumab 200mg

    Drug: Pembrolizumab

  • Experimental
    Cohort 2

    Stop treatment and progression \> 12 weeks after stopping treatment. After the last progression the patient is included in the study to be retreated with Pembrolizumab 200mg

    Drug: Pembrolizumab

Interventions

  • DrugPembrolizumab

    200 mg, Q3W

    Also known as: KEYTRUDA

  • DrugPembrolizumab

    200 mg, Q3W

    Also known as: KEYTRUDA

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Efficacy of Pembrolizumab Re-challenge Measured by Overall Survival

    Overall survival: Defined as the length of time from either the date of diagnosis or the start of the treatment that patients diagnosed with the disease are still alive.

    Time frame: From date of randomization until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 48 months.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Efficacy of Pembrolizumab Re-challenge Measured by Progression Free Survival (PFS) Per RECIST v1.1.

    PFS: Defined as the length of time from the date of randomization to the date of the first documented progression of disease. "Progression is defined using Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Criteria (RECIST v1.0), as a 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions, or a measurable increase in a non-target lesion, or the appearance of new lesions"

    Time frame: From date of randomization until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 36 months.

  2. Best Global Response

    To evaluate the best global response of the treatment as measured by investigator-assessed overall response rate (ORR) according to RECIST v1.1. Per Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Criteria (RECIST v1.0) for target lesions and assessed by MRI: Complete Response (CR), Disappearance of all target lesions; Partial Response (PR), \>=30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions; Progression is defined as a 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions, or a measurable increase in a non-target lesion, or the appearance of new lesions.

    Time frame: From the date of randomization until end of follow up, up to 36 months

07

Results

Posted Mar 24, 2025

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneCohort 1Cohort 2
Started5518
Completed5518
Not completed00

Outcome measures

PrimaryEfficacy of Pembrolizumab Re-challenge Measured by Overall Survival

Overall survival: Defined as the length of time from either the date of diagnosis or the start of the treatment that patients diagnosed with the disease are still alive.

Time frame:
From date of randomization until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 48 months.
Reported as:
Median · months
Efficacy of Pembrolizumab Re-challenge Measured by Overall Survival
monthsCohort 1Cohort 2
Efficacy of Pembrolizumab Re-challenge Measured by Overall Survival9.4 (1 to 18)19.1 (3 to 48)
Statistical analysis
  • Cohort 1 vs Cohort 2 · Log Rank · p = 0.016 · Median difference (net): 9.7 · 95% CI 9.4 to 19.1
SecondaryEfficacy of Pembrolizumab Re-challenge Measured by Progression Free Survival (PFS) Per RECIST v1.1.

PFS: Defined as the length of time from the date of randomization to the date of the first documented progression of disease. "Progression is defined using Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Criteria (RECIST v1.0), as a 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions, or a measurable increase in a non-target lesion, or the appearance of new lesions"

Time frame:
From date of randomization until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 36 months.
Reported as:
Median · months
Efficacy of Pembrolizumab Re-challenge Measured by Progression Free Survival (PFS) Per RECIST v1.1.
monthsCohort 1Cohort 2
Efficacy of Pembrolizumab Re-challenge Measured by Progression Free Survival (PFS) Per RECIST v1.1.1.6 (0 to 11)4.1 (0.2 to 18)
SecondaryBest Global Response

To evaluate the best global response of the treatment as measured by investigator-assessed overall response rate (ORR) according to RECIST v1.1. Per Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Criteria (RECIST v1.0) for target lesions and assessed by MRI: Complete Response (CR), Disappearance of all target lesions; Partial Response (PR), \>=30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions; Progression is defined as a 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions, or a measurable increase in a non-target lesion, or the appearance of new lesions.

Time frame:
From the date of randomization until end of follow up, up to 36 months
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Best Global Response
ParticipantsCohort 1Cohort 2
Complete response00
Partial response13
Stable disease2411
Progression disease253
Not evaluable51

Adverse events

Collected over Adverse Events were assessed an average of 30 months. Deaths were assessed up to 48 months.. Non-serious events are listed at a 5% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Cohort 144/55 (80%)2/55 (3.6%)29/55 (52.7%)
Cohort 25/18 (27.8%)1/18 (5.6%)11/18 (61.1%)
Most frequent serious events
Most frequent serious events
EventCohort 1Cohort 2
Gastrointestinal disorderGastrointestinal disorders0/551/18
Alkaline phosphatase increasedBlood and lymphatic system disorders1/550/18
Blood bilirubin increasedBlood and lymphatic system disorders1/550/18
Most frequent other events
Showing 10 of 12
Most frequent other events
EventCohort 1Cohort 2
FatigueGeneral disorders7/554/18
PruritusSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders5/553/18
DiarrheaGastrointestinal disorders8/551/18
Aspartate aminotransferase increasedInvestigations3/552/18
NauseaGastrointestinal disorders4/551/18
Alanine aminotransferase increasedBlood and lymphatic system disorders3/551/18
Blood bilirubin increasedInvestigations3/551/18
ArthralgiaMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders3/551/18
RashSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders3/551/18
Stomach painGastrointestinal disorders3/550/18

Baseline characteristics

Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Cohort 1Cohort 2Total
Median63.5 (41 to 80)69.8 (55 to 83)65 (41 to 83)
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Cohort 1Cohort 2Total
Female391554
Male16319
Race (NIH/OMB)
Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Cohort 1Cohort 2Total
American Indian or Alaska Native000
Asian000
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander000
Black or African American000
White531871
More than one race000
Unknown or Not Reported202
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)Cohort 1Cohort 2Total
Spain551873
Performance Status
Performance Status(Participants)Cohort 1Cohort 2Total
ECOG 015823
ECOG 1391049
ECOG 2000
ECOG 3000
ECOG4000
Not recorded101
Cigarette Smoking History
Cigarette Smoking History(Participants)Cohort 1Cohort 2Total
Never smoker718
Former smoker391554
Smoker8210
Not recorded101
Body Mass Index
Body Mass Index(kg/m^2)Cohort 1Cohort 2Total
Median26 (17.1 to 35.3)28 (20.2 to 34.8)26.5 (17.1 to 35.3)
Histology
Histology(Participants)Cohort 1Cohort 2Total
Adenocarcinoma32840
Squamous19827
Adeno-squamous202
Large Cell Carcinoma112
NOS/Undifferentiated101
Other011

1 further baseline measures are reported on the registry.

08

Study locations

19 sites
  • Hospital General Universitario de Elche
    Elche, Alicante 03203, Spain
  • H. Germans Trias i Pujol
    Badalona, Barcelona 08916, Spain
  • Hospital Parc Taulí
    Sabadell, Barcelona 08208, Spain
  • Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa
    Terrassa, Barcelona 08227, Spain
  • Complejo Hospitalario de la Coruña
    La Coruña, Coruña 15006, Spain
  • Clínica Universidad de Navarra
    Pamplona, Navarra 31008, Spain
  • Hospital de Basurto
    Bilbao, Vizcaya 48013, Spain
  • Hospital de Santa Creu i Sant Pau
    Barcelona, 08025, Spain
  • H.U.Vall D´Hebrón
    Barcelona, 08035, Spain
  • Hospital Dr. Josep Trueta
    Girona, 17007, Spain
  • Complejo Hospitalario de Jaén
    Jaén, 23007, Spain
  • Complejo Asistencial Universitario de León
    León, 24071, Spain
  • Fundación Jiménez Díaz
    Madrid, 28040, Spain
  • H. 12 de Octubre
    Madrid, 28041, Spain
  • Puerta de Hierro
    Madrid, Spain
  • H. Son Llàtzer
    Palma de Mallorca, 07198, Spain
  • Hospital General Universitario de Valencia
    Valencia, 46014, Spain
  • Hospital La Fe
    Valencia, 46026, Spain
  • Hospital Miguel Servet
    Zaragoza, 50009, Spain
09

References and documents

Study documents

  • Protocol and statistical analysis plan · Jan 14, 2019

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

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

10

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Mar 24, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03526887
Lead sponsor
Spanish Lung Cancer Group
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
May 16, 2018
Start date
Jul 15, 2018
Primary completion
Dec 30, 2022
Completion
Mar 9, 2023
Results posted
Mar 24, 2025
Last update
Mar 24, 2025

Study contacts

Luís Paz Ares, MD
principal investigator · Hospital 12 de Octubre

Oversight

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

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This study is completed, as verified in Mar 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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