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Alkylating agents

Pembrolizumab + Chemotherapy for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Phase 2
Waitlist Available
Research Sponsored by Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
No planned radiation or other cancer treatment in the 3 months following registration
Histologic or cytologic diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer (adenocarcinoma). Stage IV or recurrent metastatic non-small cell lung cancer. No planned initiation of definitive (potentially curative) concurrent chemo-radiation
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up up to 5 years
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial is testing pembrolizumab with or without chemotherapy to treat patients with stage IV non-small cell lung cancer that has come back and spread to other places in the body.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for patients aged 70 or older with advanced non-small cell lung cancer that has returned and spread. Participants must have proper organ function, no untreated brain metastases, be off corticosteroids, speak English to complete questionnaires, and not plan other cancer treatments within 3 months of joining.
What is being tested?
The study tests pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy drug) alone or combined with chemotherapy drugs pemetrexed and carboplatin in elderly patients. It aims to see if these treatments can shrink tumors by helping the immune system attack the cancer or by stopping tumor growth.
What are the potential side effects?
Pembrolizumab may cause immune-related side effects like inflammation in organs, fatigue, skin reactions, and changes in hormone levels. Chemotherapy can lead to nausea, hair loss, low blood cell counts increasing infection risk, tiredness, and possible kidney issues.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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I have no cancer treatments planned for the next 3 months.
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My lung cancer is advanced or has returned, and I'm not planning on undergoing a treatment aimed at curing it.
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I do not have an autoimmune disorder, haven't had an organ transplant, and am not on immunosuppressants.
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I don't have untreated brain cancer and am not on steroids.
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I am starting pembrolizumab treatment soon, as recommended by my doctor.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~up to 5 years
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and up to 5 years for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Incidence of grade 3 or worse adverse events post registration
Secondary study objectives
Comprehensive geriatric assessment risk score
Overall survival (OS)
Quality of life (QOL): Linear Analogue Self-Assessment [LASA] questionnaire

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Group B (pembrolizumab, pemetrexed, carboplatin)Experimental Treatment6 Interventions
Patients receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes, pemetrexed IV over 10 minutes, and carboplatin IV per institutional guidelines on day 1. Cycles repeat every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Group II: Group A (pembrolizumab)Experimental Treatment4 Interventions
Patients receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Cycles repeat every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Pemetrexed
2014
Completed Phase 3
~5550
Pembrolizumab
2017
Completed Phase 3
~2810
Carboplatin
2014
Completed Phase 3
~6120

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

National Cancer Institute (NCI)NIH
13,907 Previous Clinical Trials
41,012,043 Total Patients Enrolled
Alliance for Clinical Trials in OncologyLead Sponsor
516 Previous Clinical Trials
220,820 Total Patients Enrolled
Aminah Jatoi, MDStudy ChairMayo Clinic
28 Previous Clinical Trials
2,636 Total Patients Enrolled

Media Library

Carboplatin (Alkylating agents) Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT04533451 — Phase 2
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Research Study Groups: Group B (pembrolizumab, pemetrexed, carboplatin), Group A (pembrolizumab)
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Clinical Trial 2023: Carboplatin Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT04533451 — Phase 2
Carboplatin (Alkylating agents) 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT04533451 — Phase 2
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Patient Testimony for trial: Trial Name: NCT04533451 — Phase 2
~21 spots leftby Nov 2025