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CompletedNCT04120454Updated Jul 11, 2025Results posted

Ramucirumab and Pembrolizumab for the Treatment of EGFR Mutant Recurrent or Metastatic Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

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

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
6
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

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.

Read the detailed description

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.

02

Conditions studied

  • Metastatic Lung Non-Small Cell Carcinoma
  • Recurrent Lung Non-Small Cell Carcinoma
  • Stage IV Lung Cancer AJCC v8
  • Stage IVA Lung Cancer AJCC v8
  • Stage IVB Lung Cancer AJCC v8
03

In context

Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung

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 →

Lead sponsor

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.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  1. Adult patients aged ≥18 years
  2. Histologically confirmed recurrent or metastatic non-small cell carcinoma of the lung with sensitizing EGFR mutations. Exon 20 resistance mutations will not be permitted but uncommon sensitizing mutations are allowed.
  3. Prior Systemic Anticancer Therapy: Neo/adjuvant therapy or prior therapy for locally advanced disease will be permitted. Patients with prior exposure to PD/PD-L1 inhibitors will be excluded. No limit on prior EGFR TKIs (erlotinib, gefitinib, afatinib, dacomitinib or osimertinib). Prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease is permitted only. A 7 day washout period or four half-lives after the last treatment dose, whichever is longer, is required for TKI. A 4 week washout is required for cytotoxic chemotherapy.
  4. Measurable disease per RECIST criteria
  5. ECOG performance status of 0-1
  6. Adequate organ function, hematologic, hepatic, renal and coagulation parameters as defined in the protocol.
  7. Because the teratogenicity of ramucirumab is not known, the patient, if sexually active, must be postmenopausal, surgically sterile, or using effective contraception (hormonal or barrier methods).
  8. Female patients of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to first dose of protocol therapy.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria

  1. 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.
  2. Known active chronic infections - HIV/AIDS, known active Hepatitis B or C. Known history of Hepatitis B (defined as Hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] reactive) or known active Hepatitis C virus (defined as HCV RNA [qualitative] is detected) infection. Note: no testing for Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C is required unless mandated by local health authority.
  3. Cirrhosis (Child-Pugh B or worse) or cirrhosis with history of hepatic encephalopathy or clinically meaningful ascites resulting from cirrhosis.
  4. Prior exposure to ramucirumab.
  5. Has received prior therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 agent or with an agent directed to another stimulatory or co-inhibitory T-cell receptor (eg, CTLA-4, OX-40, CD137).
  6. Any Grade 3-4 GI bleeding within 3 months prior to first dose of protocol therapy.
  7. History of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), or any other significant thromboembolism (venous port or catheter thrombosis or superficial venous thrombosis are not considered "significant") during the 3 months prior to first dose of protocol therapy.
  8. Patients receiving dipyridamole, clopidogrel, or similar agents. Once-daily aspirin use (maximum dose 325 mg/day) is permitted.
  9. Uncontrolled CNS metastases. Patients with treated brain metastases are eligible if they were clinically stable with regard to neurologic function, off steroids after cranial irradiation (whole brain radiation therapy, focal radiation therapy, and stereotactic radiosurgery) ending at least 2 weeks prior to first dose of study treatment, or after surgical resection performed at least 28 days prior to first dose of study treatment. The patient must have no evidence of Grade ≥1 CNS hemorrhage based on pretreatment MRI or IV contrast CT scan (performed within 28 days before first dose of study treatment). Note: Patients who received systemic therapy that adequately and appropriately treated CNS metastases, including tyrosine kinase inhibitors, are eligible provided that CNS disease control is confirmed by pretreatment MRI within 28 days of receiving first dose of study treatment.
  10. Hemoptysis (defined as bright red blood or ≥ 1/2 teaspoon) within 2 months prior to first dose of protocol therapy or with radiographic evidence of intratumor cavitation or has radiologically documented evidence of major blood vessel invasion or encasement by cancer.
  11. Uncontrolled or poorly-controlled hypertension (>160 mmHg systolic or > 100 mmHg diastolic for >4 weeks) despite standard medical management.
  12. Any arterial thromboembolic events, including but not limited to myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack, cerebrovascular accident, or unstable angina, within 6 months prior to first dose of protocol therapy.
  13. Major surgery within 28 days or device placement within 7 days prior to the first dose of protocol therapy. Patient has elective or planned major surgery to be performed during the course of the clinical trial.
  14. Serious or non-healing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture within 28 days of study treatment.
  15. Prior history of GI perforation/fistula (within 6 months of first dose of protocol therapy) or risk factors for perforation.
  16. Small cell or mixed (small cell/non-small cell) lung cancer
  17. Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
  18. Has received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study drug. Examples of live vaccines include, but are not limited to, the following: measles, mumps, rubella, varicella/zoster (chicken pox), yellow fever, rabies, Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG), and typhoid vaccine. Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally killed virus vaccines and are allowed; however, intranasal influenza vaccines (eg, FluMist®) are live attenuated vaccines and are not allowed.
  19. History of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or has current pneumonitis.
  20. History or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the subject's participation for the full duration of the study, or is not in the best interest of the subject to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.
  21. Known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.
  22. Severe hypersensitivity (≥Grade 3) to pembrolizumab and/or any of its excipients.
  23. Active infection requiring systemic therapy.
  24. Known history of active TB (Bacillus Tuberculosis).
05

Study design

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

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Treatment (ramucirumab, pembrolizumab)

    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

Interventions

  • BiologicalPembrolizumab

    Given IV

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

  • BiologicalRamucirumab

    Given IV

    Also known as: anti-VEGFR-2 fully human monoclonal antibody IMC-1121B, Cyramza, IMC-1121B, LY3009806, Monoclonal Antibody HGS-ETR2

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. 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

Secondary outcomes

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

Other outcomes

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

07

Results

Posted Jul 11, 2025

Participant flow

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestoneTreatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab)
Started6
Completed6
Not completed0

Outcome measures

PrimaryOverall 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
Reported as:
Number · percentage of participants
Overall Response Rate
percentage of participantsTreatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab)
Overall Response Rate0
SecondaryNumber 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
Reported as:
Number · Number of Events
Number of Adverse Events
Number of EventsTreatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab)
Lymphocyte count decreased4
Activated partial thromboplastin time prolonged4
Alanine aminotransferase increased3
Alkaline phosphatase increased2
Anemia3
Anorexia2
Arthralgia1
Aspartate aminotransferase increased4
Cognitive impairment1
Constipation2
Diarrhea1
Dysgeusia3
Dysphagia1
Dyspnea2
Edema limbs3
Encephalopathy2
Epistaxis1
Fall1
Fatigue7
Generalized muscle weakness1
Headache2
Hematuria2
Hypercalcemia1
Hyperglycemia3
Hypernatremia1
Hypertension4
Hyperthyroidism1
Hypoalbuminemia5
Hypocalcemia1
Hypokalemia1
Hyponatremia9
Hypoxia1
Imbalance1
Infusion related reaction1
INR increased4
Bacteriuria1
Localized Edema1
Mucositis1
Myalgia1
Nausea1
Neuralgia2
Osteoporosis1
Pericardial effusion1
Pleural effusion1
Pneumothorax1
Productive cough2
Proteinuria2
Thromboembolic event1
Rash maculo-papular2
Nephrotic syndrome1
Hemoptysis2
Sinus tachycardia1
Urinary incontinence1
Vomiting3
Weight gain3
Weight loss2
Confusion1
SecondaryClinical 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
Reported as:
Number · percentage of participants
Clinical Benefit Rate (Complete Response + Partial Response + Stable Disease)
percentage of participantsTreatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab)
Clinical Benefit Rate (Complete Response + Partial Response + Stable Disease)50
SecondaryProgression-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
Reported as:
Median · months
Progression-free Survival
monthsTreatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab)
Progression-free Survival1.4 (1.13 to NA)
SecondaryOverall 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
Reported as:
Median · months
Overall Survival
monthsTreatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab)
Overall Survival7.03 (5.57 to NA)
Other pre-specifiedTumor 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

Results for this outcome have not been posted.

Other pre-specifiedCirculating 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

Results for this outcome have not been posted.

Other pre-specifiedChange 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

Results for this outcome have not been posted.

Adverse events

Collected over Adverse event data was collected for up to 2 years. Non-serious events are listed at a 5% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Treatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab)6/6 (100%)4/6 (66.7%)6/6 (100%)
Most frequent serious events
Most frequent serious events
EventTreatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab)
EncephalopathyNervous system disorders2/6
Aspartate aminotransferase increaseInvestigations1/6
HypertensionVascular disorders1/6
Pericardial EffusionCardiac disorders1/6
Pleural effusionRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders1/6
Pulmonary embolismVascular disorders1/6
Nephrotic syndromeRenal and urinary disorders1/6
PneumothoraxRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders1/6
Most frequent other events
Showing 10 of 52
Most frequent other events
EventTreatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab)
Lymphocyte count decreasedInvestigations4/6
FatigueGeneral disorders4/6
HyponatremiaMetabolism and nutrition disorders4/6
AnemiaBlood and lymphatic system disorders3/6
Edema limbsGeneral disorders3/6
HyperglycemiaMetabolism and nutrition disorders3/6
HypoalbuminemiaMetabolism and nutrition disorders3/6
Alkaline phosphatase increasedInvestigations2/6
Aspartate aminotransferase increasedInvestigations2/6
ConstipationGastrointestinal disorders2/6

Baseline characteristics

Age, Categorical
Age, Categorical(Participants)Treatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab)
<=18 years0
Between 18 and 65 years2
>=65 years4
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Treatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab)
Female3
Male3
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Treatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab)
Hispanic or Latino0
Not Hispanic or Latino6
Unknown or Not Reported0
Race (NIH/OMB)
Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Treatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab)
American Indian or Alaska Native0
Asian1
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander0
Black or African American0
White5
More than one race0
Unknown or Not Reported0
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)Treatment (Ramucirumab, Pembrolizumab)
United States6
08

Study locations

1 site
  • Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
    Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
09

References and documents

Related links

Study documents

  • Protocol and statistical analysis plan · Jun 10, 2022
  • Informed consent form · Jun 10, 2022

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 Jul 11, 2025, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT04120454
Lead sponsor
Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
Responsible party
Asrar Alahmadi (Principal Investigator, Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center) — Principal investigator
First posted
Oct 9, 2019
Start date
Jun 17, 2020
Primary completion
Aug 19, 2023
Completion
Aug 19, 2023
Results posted
Jul 11, 2025
Last update
Jul 11, 2025

Study contacts

Asrar Alahmadi, MBBS, MAS-CR
principal investigator · Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center

Oversight

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

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