ClinicalTrials.gg
Active, not recruitingNCT03793179Updated Oct 26, 2026

Testing the Timing of Pembrolizumab Alone or With Chemotherapy as First Line Treatment and Maintenance in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

A Phase 3 interventional study of Biospecimen Collection and Carboplatin in Lung Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Carcinoma, Stage IIIB Lung Cancer AJCC v8 and Stage IIIC Lung Cancer AJCC v8, sponsored by National Cancer Institute (NCI). Active, not recruiting at 1,094 sites in 3 countries. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-10-26.

Sponsored by National Cancer Institute (NCI) · Phase 3, Interventional, and Treatment

Updated Oct 26, 20263 sites added3 sites removedGo to Updates ↓
Phase
Phase 3
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
600
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

This phase III trial studies whether pembrolizumab alone as a first-line treatment, followed by pemetrexed and carboplatin with or without pembrolizumab after disease progression is superior to induction with pembrolizumab, pemetrexed and carboplatin followed by pembrolizumab and pemetrexed maintenance in treating patients with stage IV non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer. 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. Chemotherapy drugs, such as pemetrexed, 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. Carboplatin is in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works in a way similar to the anticancer drug cisplatin, but may be better tolerated than cisplatin. Carboplatin works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells. It is not yet known whether giving first-line pembrolizumab followed by pemetrexed and carboplatin with or without pembrolizumab works better in treating patients with non-squamous non-small cell cancer.

Read the detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To evaluate overall survival (OS) in each of the 2 experimental arms (Arms A and B) to control (Arm C).

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To evaluate progression-free survival (PFS) per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 for Arm C versus each of Arms A and B.

II. To evaluate best objective response rates per RECIST 1.1 for Arm C versus each of Arms A and B.

III. To estimate toxicity within each of the treatment arms via the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) criteria.

IV. To compare outcomes between Arms A and B. V. To compare outcomes by treatment arm within subgroups defined by a cutpoint of PD-L1 expression at >= 50%.

BIOMARKER OBJECTIVE:

I. To collect and bank tissue and blood for future research studies, including potential development of a prognostic and predictive signature for pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in combination with chemotherapy versus pembrolizumab (MK-3475) alone.

EXPLORATORY IMAGING OBJECTIVES:

I. To collect and bank standard of care computed tomography (CT) imaging at baseline and first three follow-up post-treatment scans on first line treatment for validating the radiomic risk score with the following exploratory objectives:

Ia. To determine the negative predictive value (NPV) by validating the Radiomic Risk score on pre-treatment scans as well as compute differences between pre- and post- treatment scans (delta features) in determining which patients will benefit from first line pembrolizumab in the metastatic setting in both low (\< 50%) and high (> 50%) PD-L1 cohorts using patients in Arm 1 and Arm 2 of the trial where pembrolizumab is used as first line treatment.

Ib. To determine the positive predictive value (PPV) by validating the Radiomic Risk score in order to predict which patients would benefit from combination pembrolizumab and subsequent chemotherapy versus (vs.) immunotherapy alone in both low (\< 50%) and high (> 50%) PD-L1 cohorts using patients who went on to receive chemotherapy as second line and stratifying the patients based on those who received benefit from pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy vs.pembrolizumab alone.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 3 arms.

ARM A: Patients receive pembrolizumab intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes on day 1. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Within 6 weeks of disease progression, patients receive pemetrexed IV over 10 minutes and carboplatin IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then may receive pemetrexed IV over 10 minutes on day 1. Cycles repeat every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

ARM B: Patients receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Within 6 weeks of disease progression, patients receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes, pemetrexed IV over 10 minutes, and carboplatin IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes and pemetrexed IV over 10 minutes on day 1. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 2 years for pembrolizumab in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity and until to disease progression for pemetrexed.

ARM C: Patients receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes, pemetrexed IV over 10 minutes, and carboplatin IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes and pemetrexed IV over 10 minutes on day 1. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 2 years for pembrolizumab in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity and until to disease progression for pemetrexed.

Patients undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during screening, CT scan and blood sample collection throughout the study, and may undergo position emission tomography (PET) scan throughout the study.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up for 5 years.

02

Conditions studied

  • Lung Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Carcinoma
  • Stage IIIB Lung Cancer AJCC v8
  • Stage IIIC Lung Cancer AJCC v8
  • Stage IV Lung Cancer AJCC v8

Browse trials for

03

In context

Lung Neoplasms

5,422 studies on the registry are indexed under Lung Neoplasms; 1,346 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 600 is above the median of 60 across 3,656 interventional studies indexed under Lung Neoplasms.

Browse Lung Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

National Cancer Institute (NCI) is the lead sponsor of 3,556 studies on the registry; 336 are open to participants now.

Of its 411 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 373 (91%) 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

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients must have or cytologically confirmed stage IV non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (includes M1a, M1b, and M1c stage disease, American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC] 8th edition). Patients with stage IIIB and IIIC disease are eligible if they are not candidates for combined chemotherapy and radiation. Prior chemo-radiation therapy (RT) for stage III with recurrence is allowed
  • Patients must have expression Tumor Proportion Score (TPS) >= 1% in tumor cells. If PD-L1 expression TPS is unevaluable or the testing could not be completed, the patients are not eligible. The assay must have been performed by a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (CLIA) (or equivalent) certified laboratory
  • Patients must have measurable or non-. The presence of malignant pleural fluid alone is sufficient to satisfy this eligibility criterion. Baseline imaging assessments and measurements used to evaluate all measurable or non-measurable sites of disease must be done within 4 weeks prior to study registration

    • NOTE: If patient receives pemetrexed, follow institutional guidelines to drain fluids
    • NOTE: An additional 15 days is allowed to account for any infection/exposure related logistical delays
  • Patients must be >= 18 years of age
  • Patients must have an (ECOG) performance status of 0 to 1
  • Patients must NOT have received the following:

    • Prior systemic chemotherapy or immunotherapy for advanced NSCLC. Patients treated with any prior checkpoint inhibitors for metastatic lung cancer are ineligible. Chemotherapy for non-metastatic disease (e.g. therapy) or immunotherapy for locally advanced stage III disease, or treated with neoadjuvant IO is allowed if at least 6 months have elapsed between the last dose of the prior therapy and study registration. Local therapy, e.g. palliative radiation, is allowed as long as a period of 14 days has passed between completion of local therapy and the start of protocol treatment. Registration during the 14 days is allowed. Palliative radiation must be to non-target lesions. Palliative radiation to pre-existing lesions while on protocol treatment is allowed as long as these areas have not grown to defined progression. Development of any new metastasis is considered progression. Concurrent radiation and protocol treatment is not allowed; protocol treatment may resume after completion of radiation as long as patient does not have greater than grade 2 side effects from radiation per physician discretion.
    • Methotrexate (MTX) given in low doses for non-malignant conditions with last dose at least 14 days prior to date of registration will be allowed. Other low dose chemotherapeutics for non-malignant conditions will be considered, but review by the study chair is required
    • Palliative radiation to non-target lesions (bone metastasis) is allowed if patient develops symptoms
  • Patients with known EGFR mutations (except exon 20 insertion), BRAF mutations (V600) or ALK or ROS1 translocations or other driver mutations that can be treated with oral tyrosine kinase inhibitors are excluded
  • Patients with treated are eligible if follow-up brain imaging obtained at least 14 days after central nervous system (CNS)-directed therapy shows no evidence of progression. CNS progression counts as progression and patients must move on to the next phase after CNS treatment. Patients with asymptomatic new (at screening) or progressive brain metastases (active brain metastases at screening) are eligible if the treating physician determines that immediate CNS specific treatment is not required and is unlikely to be required during the first cycle of therapy

    • Patients are eligible if off for at least 14 days prior to protocol treatment
    • Anticonvulsants are allowed
    • Patients with asymptomatic, sub-centimeter brain metastasis who at the discretion of investigators do not need immediate CNS directed therapies are eligible
  • Patients with prior or concurrent whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the regimen are eligible for this trial
  • Patients must not have known pre-existing and clinically active interstitial lung disease, or a known history of (non infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids, or current pneumonitis
  • Patients must not have significant gastrointestinal disorders with diarrhea as a major symptom (e.g., Crohn's disease, malabsorption, etc.)
  • Patients must not have history of auto-immune condition (including Guillain-Barre Syndrome or Multiple Sclerosis) requiring ongoing or intermittent systemic treatment in the past 2 years prior to registration (i.e., with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or 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
  • Patients with known history or current symptoms of cardiac disease, or history of treatment with cardiotoxic agents, should have a clinical risk assessment of cardiac function using the Functional Classification. To be eligible for this trial, patients should be class 2B or better
  • Patients must not have any other concomitant serious illness or organ system dysfunction that in the opinion of the investigator would either compromise patient safety or interfere with the evaluation of the safety of the study drug
  • Patients must not receive any other investigational agents during the course of therapy
  • Patients must not be pregnant or breast-feeding due to potential harm to the fetus or infant from cytotoxic chemotherapy and the unknown risk of pembrolizumab (MK-3475). All patients of must have a blood test or urine study within 72 hours prior to registration to rule out pregnancy. A patient of childbearing potential is someone, regardless of whether they have undergone tubal ligation, who meets the following criteria: 1) has achieved menarche at some point; 2) has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; or 3) has not been naturally (amenorrhea following cancer therapy does not rule out childbearing potential) for at least 24 consecutive months (i.e., has had menses at any time in the preceding 24 consecutive months)
  • Patients must use accepted and effective method(s) of or by abstaining from sexual intercourse from time of registration, while on study treatment, and continue for 120 days after the last dose of study treatment
  • (ANC) >= 1500/mm\^3 (within 14 days prior to randomization)
  • >= 100,000/mm\^3 (within 14 days prior to randomization)
  • (PT)/international normalized ratio (INR) (only if on active anticoagulation with warfarin or any formulations of heparin) =\< 3.0 (within 14 day prior to randomization)
  • Total =\< 1.5 mg/dL (obtained within 14 days prior to randomization)
  • Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase () (aspartate aminotransferase [AST]) \< 5 x (ULN) (obtained within 14 days prior to randomization)
  • Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) (alanine aminotransferase [ALT]) \< 5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) (obtained within 14 days prior to randomization)
  • Calculated >= 45 ml/min to be eligible to receive pemetrexed (obtained within 14 days prior to randomization)
  • Serum creatinine =\< 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) (obtained within 14 days prior to randomization)
  • Patients must not have a known history of active tuberculosis (TB)
  • Patients must not have a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or receive systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of protocol treatment
  • Patients must not have received a within 30 days prior to randomization. Patients are permitted to receive inactivated vaccines and any non-live vaccines including those for the seasonal influenza and COVID-19 (Note: intranasal influenza vaccines, such as Flu-Mist [registered trademark] are live attenuated vaccines and are not allowed). If possible, it is recommended to separate study drug administration from vaccine administration by about a week (primarily, in order to minimize an overlap of adverse events)
  • (HIV)-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months are eligible for this trial
  • For patients with evidence of chronic virus (HBV) infection, the HBV viral load must be undetectable or on suppressive therapy, if indicated. Patients with a history of virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. For patients with HCV infection who are currently on treatment, they are eligible if they have an undetectable HCV viral load
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(27)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Metastases

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

NYHA class (heart failure)

The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.

I
No limits: ordinary activity causes no undue tiredness or breathlessness.
II
Slight limits: comfortable at rest, ordinary activity causes symptoms.
III
Marked limits: comfortable at rest, less than ordinary activity causes symptoms.
IV
Symptoms even at rest; any activity makes them worse.

Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.

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.

Postmenopausal

Periods have stopped for good: usually no period for 12 months in a row without another medical reason, sometimes confirmed by a blood test (FSH).

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
600 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Arm A (pembrolizumab, pemetrexed, carboplatin)

    Patients receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Within 6 weeks of disease progression, patients receive pemetrexed IV over 10 minutes and carboplatin IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then may receive pemetrexed IV over 10 minutes on day 1. Cycles repeat every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients undergo MRI during screening, CT scan and blood sample collection throughout the study, and may undergo PET scan throughout the study.

    Procedure: Biospecimen Collection · Drug: Carboplatin · Procedure: Computed Tomography · Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging · Biological: Pembrolizumab · Drug: Pemetrexed · Procedure: Positron Emission Tomography

  • Experimental
    Arm B (pembrolizumab, pemetrexed, carboplatin)

    Patients receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 2 years in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Within 6 weeks of disease progression, patients receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes, pemetrexed IV over 10 minutes, and carboplatin IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes and pemetrexed IV over 10 minutes on day 1. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 2 years for pembrolizumab in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity and until to disease progression for pemetrexed. Patients undergo MRI during screening, CT scan and blood sample collection throughout the study, and may undergo PET scan throughout the study.

    Procedure: Biospecimen Collection · Drug: Carboplatin · Procedure: Computed Tomography · Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging · Biological: Pembrolizumab · Drug: Pemetrexed · Procedure: Positron Emission Tomography

  • Active comparator
    Arm C (pembrolizumab, pembrolizumab, carboplatin)

    Patients receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes, pemetrexed IV over 10 minutes, and carboplatin IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 4 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients then receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes and pemetrexed IV over 10 minutes on day 1. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 2 years for pembrolizumab in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity and until to disease progression for pemetrexed. Patients undergo MRI during screening, CT scan and blood sample collection throughout the study, and may undergo PET scan throughout the study.

    Procedure: Biospecimen Collection · Drug: Carboplatin · Procedure: Computed Tomography · Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging · Biological: Pembrolizumab · Drug: Pemetrexed · Procedure: Positron Emission Tomography

Interventions

  • ProcedureBiospecimen Collection

    Undergo blood sample collection

    Also known as: Biological Sample Collection, Biospecimen Collected, Sample Collection, Specimen Collection

  • Given IV

    Also known as: Blastocarb, Carboplat, Carboplatin Hexal, Carboplatino, Carboplatinum, Carbosin, Carbosol, Carbotec, CBDCA, Displata, Ercar, JM-8, JM8, Nealorin, Novoplatinum, Paraplatin, Paraplatin AQ, Paraplatine, Platinwas, Ribocarbo

  • ProcedureComputed Tomography

    Undergo CT scan

    Also known as: CAT, CAT Scan, Computed Axial Tomography, Computerized Axial Tomography, Computerized axial tomography (procedure), Computerized Tomography, Computerized Tomography (CT) scan, CT, CT Scan, Diagnostic CAT Scan, Diagnostic CAT Scan Service Type, tomography

  • ProcedureMagnetic Resonance Imaging

    Undergo MRI

    Also known as: Magnetic Resonance, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Magnetic resonance imaging (procedure), Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan, Medical Imaging, Magnetic Resonance / Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, MR, MR Imaging, MRI, MRI Scan, MRIs, NMR Imaging, NMRI, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging, sMRI, Structural MRI

  • BiologicalPembrolizumab

    Given IV

    Also known as: BCD-201, GME 751, GME751, Keytruda, Lambrolizumab, MK 3475, MK-3475, MK3475, Pembrolizumab Biosimilar BCD-201, Pembrolizumab Biosimilar GME751, Pembrolizumab Biosimilar QL2107, Pembrolizumab Biosimilar RPH-075, Pembrolizumab Biosimilar SB27, QL2107, RPH 075, RPH-075, RPH075, SB 27, SB-27, SB27, SCH 900475, SCH-900475, SCH900475

  • Given IV

    Also known as: MTA, Multitargeted Antifolate, Pemfexy

  • ProcedurePositron Emission Tomography

    Undergo PET scan

    Also known as: Medical Imaging, Positron Emission Tomography, PET, PET Scan, Positron emission tomography (procedure), Positron Emission Tomography Scan, Positron-Emission Tomography, PT

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Overall survival (OS)

    OS distributions will be estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

    Time frame: From randomization to death from any cause, assessed up to 5 years post treatment

Secondary outcomes

  1. Progression-free survival (PFS)

    PFS distributions will be estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

    Time frame: From randomization to documented disease progression or death from any cause, assessed up to 5 years post treatment

  2. Best objective response

    Best objective response will be evaluated via Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors 1.1 criteria.

    Time frame: Up to 5 years post treatment

  3. Incidence of adverse events

    Toxicities will be reported via the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events criteria version 5.0. Toxicity rates between arms in the overall population will be compared using Fisher's exact tests with a one-sided type I error rate of 1.25%; multivariable logistic regression modeling will be used to adjust for the effect of any covariates that are associated with these categorical outcomes.

    Time frame: Up to 30 days post treatment

  4. PD-L1 positivity

    PD-L1 positivity will be defined as \>= 1% Tumor Proportion Score (TPS) for the purpose of enrollment onto the trial. Strongly PD-L1 positive is defined as \>= 50% TPS; weakly positive is defined as 1% - 49% TPS.

    Time frame: At baseline

07

Study locations

1,094 sites

Showing the first 100 of 1,094 sites across 3 countries. Choose a country and city above to see the rest.

08

References and documents

Study documents

PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — NCI is committed to sharing data in accordance with NIH policy. For more details on how clinical trial data is shared, access the link to the NIH data sharing policy page

Data sharing details ↗ · grants.nih.gov

09

Updates

4 registry updates since Sep 25, 2026
Sites
3 sites added, 3 sites removed
Show 3 added (3 United States)
  • Vandalia Health/CAMC Institute for Academic Medicine · Charleston, United States
  • Saint Anne Hospital · Burien, United States
  • Trinity Health IHA Medical Group-Alice Gustafson Center · Pontiac, United States
Show 3 removed
  • West Virginia University Charleston Division · Charleston, United States
  • Highline Medical Center-Main Campus · Burien, United States
  • Newland Medical Associates-Pontiac · Pontiac, United States
across 3 updates, Oct 1, 2026 – Oct 26, 2026
Show all 4 updates
  1. Oct 26, 2026
    1 site added, 1 site removed
    Show site
    • Trinity Health IHA Medical Group-Alice Gustafson Center · Pontiac, United States
    Show 1 removed
    • Newland Medical Associates-Pontiac · Pontiac, United States
  2. Oct 22, 2026
    1 site added, 1 site removed
    Show site
    • Saint Anne Hospital · Burien, United States
    Show 1 removed
    • Highline Medical Center-Main Campus · Burien, United States
  3. Oct 1, 2026
    1 site added, 1 site removed
    Show site
    • Vandalia Health/CAMC Institute for Academic Medicine · Charleston, United States
    Show 1 removed
    • West Virginia University Charleston Division · Charleston, United States
  4. Sep 29, 2026
    Minor edits only
    + 1 other change: verification date

From the registry record's own update history. This site started tracking changes on Sep 25, 2026; for anything earlier, see the record history on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03793179
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Jan 4, 2019
Start date
Apr 5, 2019
Primary completion
Sep 30, 2027 (estimated)
Completion
Sep 30, 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Oct 26, 2026

Study contacts

Hossein Borghaei
principal investigator · ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group

Oversight

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

Not currently enrolling

This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Sep 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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Discussion

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Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Studies of the drugs tested here: Carboplatin · Pembrolizumab · Pemetrexed

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