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Not yet recruitingNCT07801027Updated Sep 3, 2026

A Trial of Pembrolizumab With Chemotherapy or Chemoradiotherapy in Participants From India With Different Types of Cancer (MK-3475-G44/KEYNOTE-G44)

A Phase 4 interventional study of Pembrolizumab and Cisplatin in Neoplasm Malignant, Gastric Neoplasms and Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma, sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-03.

Sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC (part of Merck & Co., Inc) · Phase 4, Interventional, and Treatment

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Phase
Phase 4
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
150
Allocation
Non-randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The goal of this study is to assess the safety of pembrolizumab with chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy in participants in India for:

  • Advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction [GEJ] cancer that is (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 [HER2]-negative and has a programmed death-ligand 1 [PD-L1] combined positive score [CPS] ≥1
  • Advanced and/or unresectable biliary tract cancer [BTC], and
  • High-risk, locally advanced cervical cancer
02

Conditions studied

  • Neoplasm Malignant
  • Gastric Neoplasms
  • Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma
  • Biliary Tract Carcinoma
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
03

In context

Neoplasms

10,824 studies on the registry are indexed under Neoplasms; 2,325 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 150 is above the median of 60 across 7,706 interventional studies indexed under Neoplasms.

Browse Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC is the lead sponsor of 2,166 studies on the registry; 131 are open to participants now.

Of its 503 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 371 (74%) 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

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

Cohort 1:

  • The participant must have a or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of locally advanced unresectable or gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma, with locally confirmed programmed death-ligand 1 () CPS ≥1.
  • Has locally confirmed human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 () negative cancer.

Cohort 2:

- Has a histologically confirmed diagnosis of advanced (metastatic) and/or unresectable (locally advanced) biliary tract cancer (BTC) (intra or extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma or gallbladder cancer).

Cohort 3:

  • Has high-risk locally advanced cervical cancer.
  • Has histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, or adenosquamous carcinoma of the cervix.

All Cohorts:

  • If surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive, has undetectable hepatitis B virus (HBV) viral load and has received HBV antiviral therapy for at least 4 weeks and will continue it.
  • If history of virus (HCV) infection, has undetectable HCV viral load.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

Cohort 1:

  • Has squamous cell or undifferentiated gastric cancer.
  • Has had previous therapy for locally advanced, unresectable or gastric/GEJ cancer.
  • Has known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis.
  • Has had major surgery, open , or significant traumatic injury within 28 days prior to first dose of study.
  • Had active hemoptysis (bright red blood of at least 0.5 teaspoon) within 3 weeks or tumor bleeding within 2 weeks prior to the first dose of study intervention.

Cohort 2:

  • Has ampullary cancer.
  • Has small cell cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, lymphoma, sarcoma, mixed tumor histology, and/or mucinous cystic neoplasms.
  • Has had previous systemic therapy for advanced (metastatic) or unresectable (locally advanced) BTC (intra or extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma or gallbladder cancer), with the exception of /adjuvant therapy, which is allowed.
  • Has known active and/or carcinomatous meningitis.
  • Had active hemoptysis (bright red blood of at least 0.5 teaspoon) within 3 weeks or tumor bleeding within 2 weeks prior to the first dose of study intervention.

Cohort 3:

- Has undergone a previous hysterectomy defined as removal of the entire uterus or will have a hysterectomy as part of their initial cervical cancer therapy.

All Cohorts:

  • Has hypokalemia.
  • Has hypomagnesemia.
  • Has hypocalcemia.
  • Received prior therapy with an anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (), anti-PD-L1, or anti-programmed death-ligand 2 (PD-L2) agent, or with an agent directed to another stimulatory or coinhibitory T-cell receptor.
  • Has active disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years.
  • Has history of (noninfectious) pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease that required or current pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease.
  • Has a known additional invasive that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 3 years.
  • Has history of (HIV) infection.
  • Has known active tuberculosis.
  • Has not adequately recovered from major surgery or is having ongoing surgical complications.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(13)

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.

Metastases

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

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.

HER2

HER2 is a protein, made from the ERBB2 gene, that drives the growth of some cancers. A study may look for a level of the protein, extra copies of the gene, or a particular change in it.

In breast cancer, protein tests are read as HER2-positive, HER2-low or HER2-negative; other cancers use their own rules. Check which test result the study requires.

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.

Biopsy and archival tissue

A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.

Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.

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.

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.

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.

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.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 4
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Non-randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
150 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Cohort 1 (Gastric)

    Participants with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) combined positive score (CPS) ≥1 will receive 200 mg of pembrolizumab intravenously (IV) every 3 weeks (Q3W) for maximum of 35 cycles plus either 800mg/m\^2/day of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) IV on Days 1 through 5, Q3W and 80mg/m\^2 of cisplatin IV on Day 1, Q3W OR 1000mg/m\^2 of capecitabine orally twice daily on Days 1 through 14, Q3W and 130mg/m\^2 oxaliplatin IV on Day 1, Q3W. A cycle is 21 days.

    Biological: Pembrolizumab · Drug: Cisplatin · Drug: 5-Fluorouracil · Drug: Oxaliplatin · Drug: Capecitabine

  • Experimental
    Cohort 2 (Biliary)

    Participants with advanced/unresectable biliary tract cancer (BTC) will receive 200 mg pembrolizumab IV Q3W for a maximum of 35 cycles plus 1000 mg/m\^2 of gemcitabine IV on Days 1 and 8, Q3W and 25 mg/m\^2 of cisplatin IV on Days 1 and 8, Q3W for a maximum of 8 cycles. A cycle is 21 days.

    Biological: Pembrolizumab · Drug: Cisplatin · Drug: Gemcitabine

  • Experimental
    Cohort 3 (Cervical)

    Participants with high-risk locally advanced cervical cancer will receive 200 mg pembrolizumab IV Q3W for a maximum of 35 cycles plus 40 mg/m\^2 of cisplatin IV weekly for up to 5 infusions concurrent with radiotherapy (RT) and external beam RT and brachytherapy (BT). A cycle is 21 days.

    Biological: Pembrolizumab · Drug: Cisplatin · Radiation: External Beam Radiotherapy · Radiation: Brachytherapy

Interventions

  • BiologicalPembrolizumab

    Administered as an IV infusion

    Also known as: MK-3475, KEYTRUDA®

  • Administered as an IV infusion

    Also known as: Platinol-AQ

  • Administered as an IV infusion

    Also known as: ADRUCIL, 5-FU

  • Administered as an IV infusion

    Also known as: ELOXATIN

  • Administered as an oral tablet

    Also known as: XELODA

  • Administered as an IV infusion

    Also known as: GEMZAR

  • RadiationExternal Beam Radiotherapy

    External beam radiation per the Radiation Manual

  • RadiationBrachytherapy

    Internal radiation - brachytherapy per the Radiation Manual

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Participants Who Experienced One or More Adverse Events (AEs)

    An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of study intervention, whether or not considered related to the study intervention. The number of participants that experience AEs will be reported.

    Time frame: Up to approximately 27 months

  2. Number of Participants Who Discontinued Study Intervention Due to an AE

    An AE is any untoward medical occurrence in a clinical study participant, temporally associated with the use of study intervention, whether or not considered related to the study intervention. The number of participants who discontinue study intervention due to AEs will be reported.

    Time frame: Up to approximately 24 months

07

Study locations

No study locations are listed for this record.

08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: Yes — https://trialstransparency.msdclinicaltrials.com/pdf/ProcedureAccessClinicalTrialData.pdf

Data sharing details ↗ · externaldatasharing-msd.com

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Start is estimated for Nov 2026; primary completion for Jan 2030, 38 months later.

Of 88 phase 4 interventional studies under Neoplasms, half reached primary completion within 38 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 21 and three quarters within 64. This study's planned 38 months is close to that.

Neoplasms covers many different conditions, not one, so the studies compared here vary widely. Read these figures as a rough guide.

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

Registered
Aug 28, 2026
First posted
Sep 3, 2026
StartEst.
Nov 6, 2026
Primary completionEst.
Jan 31, 2030
CompletionEst.
Jan 31, 2030
Last update
Sep 3, 2026
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 Sep 3, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT07801027
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Sep 3, 2026
Start date
Nov 6, 2026 (estimated)
Primary completion
Jan 31, 2030 (estimated)
Completion
Jan 31, 2030 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 3, 2026

Study contacts

Medical Director
study director · Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Oversight

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

Not currently enrolling

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

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Discussion

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Studies of the drug tested here: Pembrolizumab

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