A Phase 2 interventional study of Pembrolizumab and Ramucirumab in Metastatic Lung Non-Small Cell Carcinoma, Recurrent Lung Non-Small Cell Carcinoma and Stage IV Lung Cancer AJCC v8, sponsored by Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-07-11.
Sponsored by Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment
This phase II trial studies how well ramucirumab and pembrolizumab work in treating EGFR mutant non-small cell lung cancer that has come back (recurrent) or spread to other places in the body (metastatic) while on systemic therapy. 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. Ramucirumab, a drug which has anti-angiogenic and pleotropic immunomodulatory effects and may synergize with the effect of an anti-PD-1 agent. The study investigates the effect of targeted anti-antitumor activity of immune checkpoint inhibitor pembrolizumab and immune-suppressive activity of VEGF-inhibitor ramicirumab to evaluate the efficacy and the tolerability of the combination.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:
I. To evaluate response rate of the combination of ramucirumab and pembrolizumab in EGFR mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:
I. To evaluate safety, tolerability, and survival for patients receiving pembrolizumab and ramucirumab.
EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:
I. To characterize predictive immunologic biomarkers of response in tissue and peripheral blood of patients receiving ramucirumab and pembrolizumab combination therapy.
OUTLINE:
Patients receive ramucirumab intravenously (IV) over 60 minutes and pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 35 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 30 days, every 3 months for 1 year, and then every 6 months for 1 year.
6,488 studies on the registry are indexed under Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung; 1,632 are open to participants now.
This study's enrollment of 6 is below the median of 62 across 5,213 interventional studies indexed under Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung.
Browse Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung studies →Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center is the lead sponsor of 369 studies on the registry; 81 are open to participants now.
Of its 38 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 19 (50%) have results posted.
Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.
Exclusion Criteria
Patients receive ramucirumab IV over 60 minutes and pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Treatment repeats every 21 days for up to 35 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Biological: Pembrolizumab · Biological: Ramucirumab
Given IV
Also known as: Keytruda, Lambrolizumab, MK-3475, SCH 900475
Given IV
Also known as: anti-VEGFR-2 fully human monoclonal antibody IMC-1121B, Cyramza, IMC-1121B, LY3009806, Monoclonal Antibody HGS-ETR2
Overall Response Rate
Response rate will be evaluated with computed tomography (CT) scans every 2 cycles and tumor measurements using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 criteria. Immune RECIST (iRECIST) will also be assessed.
Time frame: Up to 2 years
Number of Adverse Events
Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0 will be used for adverse event grading. Attributions of causality will be assessed by the primary treating physician. Frequency and severity of adverse events and tolerability of the regimen will be collected and summarized by descriptive statistics for each of the disease cohorts.
Time frame: Up to 2 years
Clinical Benefit Rate (Complete Response + Partial Response + Stable Disease)
Clinical benefit rate will be evaluated with CT scans every 2 cycles and tumor measurements using RECIST 1.1 criteria. iRECIST will also be assessed.
Time frame: Up to 2 years
Progression-free Survival
Kaplan-Meier curves will be calculated to estimate progression-free survival.
Time frame: From the date of study registration to the date of progressive disease, assessed up to 2 years
Overall Survival
Kaplan-Meier curves will be calculated to estimate overall survival.
Time frame: From the date of study registration to the date of death, assessed up to 2 years
Tumor Immunoprofile
Measured by immunohistochemistry, including tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and T cell receptor (TCR) immunosequencing (immunoSEQ) and relationship to clinical outcomes, including response rate. TCR immunoSEQ data will be summarized for each patient for T-cell clonality difference, descriptive statistics and confidence interval will be obtained across patients.
Time frame: Baseline
Circulating Immune Cell Profiles in Response to Treatment and in Relation to Clinical Response
Measured using 10-color 65 marker multiplex Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act-certified IMMUNOME flow cytometry profile on peripheral blood samples. For immune cell subpopulation data by flow cytometry, will identify differences between the paired peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples from the same patients.
Time frame: Up to 2 years
Change in Circulating VEGF Levels
Will evaluate correlation with clinical response. A bivariate plot will be used to describe the relationship between response rate and peak VEGF via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay over time.
Time frame: Baseline up to 2 years
| Milestone | Treatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab) |
|---|---|
| Started | 6 |
| Completed | 6 |
| Not completed | 0 |
Response rate will be evaluated with computed tomography (CT) scans every 2 cycles and tumor measurements using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1 criteria. Immune RECIST (iRECIST) will also be assessed.
| percentage of participants | Treatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab) |
|---|---|
| Overall Response Rate | 0 |
Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0 will be used for adverse event grading. Attributions of causality will be assessed by the primary treating physician. Frequency and severity of adverse events and tolerability of the regimen will be collected and summarized by descriptive statistics for each of the disease cohorts.
| Number of Events | Treatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab) |
|---|---|
| Lymphocyte count decreased | 4 |
| Activated partial thromboplastin time prolonged | 4 |
| Alanine aminotransferase increased | 3 |
| Alkaline phosphatase increased | 2 |
| Anemia | 3 |
| Anorexia | 2 |
| Arthralgia | 1 |
| Aspartate aminotransferase increased | 4 |
| Cognitive impairment | 1 |
| Constipation | 2 |
| Diarrhea | 1 |
| Dysgeusia | 3 |
| Dysphagia | 1 |
| Dyspnea | 2 |
| Edema limbs | 3 |
| Encephalopathy | 2 |
| Epistaxis | 1 |
| Fall | 1 |
| Fatigue | 7 |
| Generalized muscle weakness | 1 |
| Headache | 2 |
| Hematuria | 2 |
| Hypercalcemia | 1 |
| Hyperglycemia | 3 |
| Hypernatremia | 1 |
| Hypertension | 4 |
| Hyperthyroidism | 1 |
| Hypoalbuminemia | 5 |
| Hypocalcemia | 1 |
| Hypokalemia | 1 |
| Hyponatremia | 9 |
| Hypoxia | 1 |
| Imbalance | 1 |
| Infusion related reaction | 1 |
| INR increased | 4 |
| Bacteriuria | 1 |
| Localized Edema | 1 |
| Mucositis | 1 |
| Myalgia | 1 |
| Nausea | 1 |
| Neuralgia | 2 |
| Osteoporosis | 1 |
| Pericardial effusion | 1 |
| Pleural effusion | 1 |
| Pneumothorax | 1 |
| Productive cough | 2 |
| Proteinuria | 2 |
| Thromboembolic event | 1 |
| Rash maculo-papular | 2 |
| Nephrotic syndrome | 1 |
| Hemoptysis | 2 |
| Sinus tachycardia | 1 |
| Urinary incontinence | 1 |
| Vomiting | 3 |
| Weight gain | 3 |
| Weight loss | 2 |
| Confusion | 1 |
Clinical benefit rate will be evaluated with CT scans every 2 cycles and tumor measurements using RECIST 1.1 criteria. iRECIST will also be assessed.
| percentage of participants | Treatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab) |
|---|---|
| Clinical Benefit Rate (Complete Response + Partial Response + Stable Disease) | 50 |
Kaplan-Meier curves will be calculated to estimate progression-free survival.
| months | Treatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab) |
|---|---|
| Progression-free Survival | 1.4 (1.13 to NA) |
Kaplan-Meier curves will be calculated to estimate overall survival.
| months | Treatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab) |
|---|---|
| Overall Survival | 7.03 (5.57 to NA) |
Measured by immunohistochemistry, including tumor infiltrating lymphocytes and T cell receptor (TCR) immunosequencing (immunoSEQ) and relationship to clinical outcomes, including response rate. TCR immunoSEQ data will be summarized for each patient for T-cell clonality difference, descriptive statistics and confidence interval will be obtained across patients.
Results for this outcome have not been posted.
Measured using 10-color 65 marker multiplex Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act-certified IMMUNOME flow cytometry profile on peripheral blood samples. For immune cell subpopulation data by flow cytometry, will identify differences between the paired peripheral blood mononuclear cell samples from the same patients.
Results for this outcome have not been posted.
Will evaluate correlation with clinical response. A bivariate plot will be used to describe the relationship between response rate and peak VEGF via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay over time.
Results for this outcome have not been posted.
Collected over Adverse event data was collected for up to 2 years. Non-serious events are listed at a 5% frequency threshold.
| Group | Deaths | Serious | Other |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab) | 6/6 (100%) | 4/6 (66.7%) | 6/6 (100%) |
| Event | Treatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab) |
|---|---|
| EncephalopathyNervous system disorders | 2/6 |
| Aspartate aminotransferase increaseInvestigations | 1/6 |
| HypertensionVascular disorders | 1/6 |
| Pericardial EffusionCardiac disorders | 1/6 |
| Pleural effusionRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | 1/6 |
| Pulmonary embolismVascular disorders | 1/6 |
| Nephrotic syndromeRenal and urinary disorders | 1/6 |
| PneumothoraxRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | 1/6 |
| Event | Treatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab) |
|---|---|
| Lymphocyte count decreasedInvestigations | 4/6 |
| FatigueGeneral disorders | 4/6 |
| HyponatremiaMetabolism and nutrition disorders | 4/6 |
| AnemiaBlood and lymphatic system disorders | 3/6 |
| Edema limbsGeneral disorders | 3/6 |
| HyperglycemiaMetabolism and nutrition disorders | 3/6 |
| HypoalbuminemiaMetabolism and nutrition disorders | 3/6 |
| Alkaline phosphatase increasedInvestigations | 2/6 |
| Aspartate aminotransferase increasedInvestigations | 2/6 |
| ConstipationGastrointestinal disorders | 2/6 |
| Age, Categorical(Participants) | Treatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab) |
|---|---|
| <=18 years | 0 |
| Between 18 and 65 years | 2 |
| >=65 years | 4 |
| Sex: Female, Male(Participants) | Treatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab) |
|---|---|
| Female | 3 |
| Male | 3 |
| Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)(Participants) | Treatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab) |
|---|---|
| Hispanic or Latino | 0 |
| Not Hispanic or Latino | 6 |
| Unknown or Not Reported | 0 |
| Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants) | Treatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab) |
|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | 0 |
| Asian | 1 |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0 |
| Black or African American | 0 |
| White | 5 |
| More than one race | 0 |
| Unknown or Not Reported | 0 |
| Region of Enrollment(participants) | Treatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab) |
|---|---|
| United States | 6 |
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Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung→
Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center