Study of Pembrolizumab Versus Docetaxel in Participants Previously Treated for Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (MK-3475-033/KEYNOTE-033)

August 30, 2024 updated by: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

A Multinational, Multicenter, Phase III, Randomized Open-label Trial of Pembrolizumab Versus Docetaxel in Previously Treated Subjects With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy of pembrolizumab (MK-3475) versus docetaxel in participants with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) positive tumors who have experienced disease progression after platinum-containing systemic therapy. The primary hypotheses of this study are that pembrolizumab (MK-3475) prolongs overall survival (OS) and that pembrolizumab prolongs progression-free survival (PFS), compared to docetaxel in participants with PD-L1 positive tumors.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
425

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 3

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Chinese participants must be born, raised, and reside in China
  • Has a histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of stage IIIB/IV or recurrent NSCLC and have at least one measurable lesion as defined by RECIST 1.1
  • Has a life expectancy of ≥3 months
  • Has progression of disease (investigator determined) per RECIST 1.1 after treatment with at least two cycles of a platinum-containing doublet
  • Has documentation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) translocation status
  • Participants with an EGFR sensitizing mutation tumor will be excluded
  • Has Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status of 0 or 1 within 10 days prior to study start
  • Has provided archival tumor tissue sample or newly obtained formalin fixed tumor tissue from a recent biopsy of a tumor lesion not previously irradiated
  • Has a PD-L1 positive tumor as determined by immunohistochemistry at a central laboratory
  • Has resolution of toxic effect(s) of the most recent prior chemotherapy to Grade 1 or less (except alopecia)
  • Has recovered from the toxicity and/or complications of any recent major surgery or radiation therapy
  • Females must not be pregnant (negative urine or serum human chorionic gonadotropin test within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study medication)
  • Female and male participants of reproductive potential must agree to use adequate contraception starting with the first dose of study therapy through 120 days after the last dose of pembrolizumab (MK-3475) or 180 days after the last dose of docetaxel

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Has received prior therapy with docetaxel for NSCLC
  • Is currently participating or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or using an investigational device within 4 weeks of the first dose of study treatment
  • Is receiving systemic steroid therapy within 3 days prior to the first dose of study treatment or receiving any other form of immunosuppressive
  • Is expected to require any other form of systemic or localized antineoplastic therapy while on study including maintenance therapy with another agent for NSCLC or radiation therapy
  • Has received prior systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy, antineoplastic biological therapy (e.g., cetuximab), any other agents used as systemic treatment for cancer, or major surgery within 3 weeks of the first dose of study treatment; received thoracic radiation therapy of > 30 Gray Units (Gy) within 6 months of the first dose of study treatment; received prior ALK-directed tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy or completed palliative radiotherapy of 30 Gy or less within 7 days of the first dose of study treatment
  • Has received prior therapy with an anti-programmed cell death 1 (anti-PD-1), anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2, with an agent directed to an agonist or antagonist T-cell check point receptor, or if the participant has previously participated in Merck sponsored clinical trials evaluating pembrolizumab (MK-3475)
  • Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment, with the exception of early stage cancers, treated with curative intent, basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, in situ cervical cancer, or in situ breast cancer that has undergone potentially curative therapy
  • Has known active central nervous system metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis
  • Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years
  • Has had an allogeneic tissue/solid organ transplant
  • Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or current pneumonitis
  • Has received or will receive a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first administration of study medication
  • Has an active infection requiring intravenous systemic therapy
  • Has known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) (HIV ½ antibodies)
  • Has known active Hepatitis B or C
  • Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial
  • Is, at the time of signing informed consent, a regular user (including "recreational use") of any illicit drugs or had a recent history (within the last year) of substance abuse (including alcohol)
  • Is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children starting with the screening visit (Visit 1) through 120 days after the last dose of pembrolizumab (MK-3475) or 180 days after the last dose of docetaxel
  • Requires treatment with a strong inhibitor of Cytochrome P450 3A4

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Pembrolizumab
Participants with NSCLC receive pembrolizumab 2 mg/kg intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes every 3 weeks (Q3W) for up to 35 doses (approximately 24 months).
Biological: Pembrolizumab
Pembrolizumab administered IV at 2 mg/kg on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle for up to 35 doses (approximately 24 months).
Other Names:
  • MK-3475
  • KEYTRUDA®
Experimental: Docetaxel
Participants with NSCLC receive Docetaxel 75 mg/m^2 IV over 1 hour Q3W until disease progression, toxicity, investigator's decision to discontinue, or consent withdrawal.
Drug: Docetaxel
Docetaxel administered IV at 75 mg/m^2 on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle as per the approved product label.
Other Names:
  • TAXOTERE®

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Overall Survival (OS) in Participants With Programmed Cell Death Ligand 1 (PD-L1) Positive (Tumor Proportion Score [TPS] ≥50%) Tumors
Time Frame: Up to approximately 36 months (through Final Analysis cut-off date of 09-Sep-2019)
OS was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Participants without documented death at the time of the final analysis were censored at the date of the last follow-up. Per protocol, OS was reported by treatment arm for participants in the TPS ≥50% stratum of PD-L1 expression.
Up to approximately 36 months (through Final Analysis cut-off date of 09-Sep-2019)
OS in Participants With PD-L1 Positive (TPS ≥1%) Tumors (All Participants)
Time Frame: Up to approximately 36 months (through Final Analysis cut-off date of 09-Sep-2019)
OS was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Participants without documented death at the time of the final analysis were censored at the date of the last follow-up. Per protocol, OS was reported by treatment arm for participants in the TPS ≥1% stratum of PD-L1 expression (all participants).
Up to approximately 36 months (through Final Analysis cut-off date of 09-Sep-2019)
Progression Free Survival (PFS) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as Assessed by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR) in Participants With PD-L1 Positive (TPS ≥50%) Tumors
Time Frame: Up to approximately 36 months (through Final Analysis cut-off date of 09-Sep-2019)
PFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented progressive disease (PD) per RECIST 1.1 based on BICR, or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first. Per RECIST 1.1, PD was defined as ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters (SOD) of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum had to demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. Per protocol, PFS was reported by treatment arm for participants in the TPS ≥50% stratum of PD-L1 expression.
Up to approximately 36 months (through Final Analysis cut-off date of 09-Sep-2019)
PFS Per RECIST 1.1 as Assessed by BICR in Participants With PD-L1 Positive (TPS ≥1%) Tumors (All Participants)
Time Frame: Up to approximately 36 months (through Final Analysis cut-off date of 09-Sep-2019)
PFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented PD per RECIST 1.1 based on BICR, or death due to any cause, whichever occurs first. Per RECIST 1.1, PD was defined as ≥20% increase in the SOD of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum had to demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. Per protocol, PFS was reported by treatment arm for participants in the TPS ≥1% stratum of PD-L1 expression (all participants).
Up to approximately 36 months (through Final Analysis cut-off date of 09-Sep-2019)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Objective Response Rate (ORR) Per RECIST 1.1 as Assessed by BICR in Participants With PD-L1 Positive (TPS ≥50%) Tumors
Time Frame: Up to approximately 36 months (through Final Analysis cut-off date of 09-Sep-2019)
ORR was defined as the percentage of participants in the analysis population who had a Complete Response (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) or a Partial Response (PR: ≥30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per RECIST 1.1. as assessed by BICR. Per protocol, the percentage of participants who experienced CR or PR is reported here as the ORR for participants in the TPS ≥50% stratum of PD-L1 expression.
Up to approximately 36 months (through Final Analysis cut-off date of 09-Sep-2019)
ORR Per RECIST 1.1 as Assessed by BICR in Participants With PD-L1 Positive (TPS ≥1%) Tumors (All Participants)
Time Frame: Up to approximately 36 months (through Final Analysis cut-off date of 09-Sep-2019)
ORR was defined as the percentage of participants in the analysis population who had a CR (disappearance of all target lesions) or a PR (≥30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per RECIST 1.1. as assessed by BICR. Per protocol, the percentage of participants who experienced CR or PR is reported here as the ORR for participants in the TPS ≥1% stratum of PD-L1 expression (all participants).
Up to approximately 36 months (through Final Analysis cut-off date of 09-Sep-2019)
Duration of Response (DOR) Per RECIST 1.1 as Assessed by BICR in Participants With PD-L1 Positive (TPS ≥50%) Tumors
Time Frame: Up to approximately 36 months (through Final Analysis cut-off date of 09-Sep-2019)
For participants who demonstrated a confirmed CR (disappearance of all target lesions) or PR (at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per RECIST 1.1 based upon BICR, DOR was defined as the time from first documented evidence of confirmed CR or PR until PD or death, whichever occurred first. DOR for participants who had not progressed or died at the time of analysis was censored at the date of their last tumor assessment. Per RECIST 1.1, PD was defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum had to demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. Response duration was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method for censored data. Per protocol, DOR was reported by treatment arm for participants in the TPS ≥50% stratum of PD-L1 expression.
Up to approximately 36 months (through Final Analysis cut-off date of 09-Sep-2019)
DOR Per RECIST 1.1 as Assessed by BICR in Participants With PD-L1 Positive (TPS ≥1%) Tumors (All Participants)
Time Frame: Up to approximately 36 months (through Final Analysis cut-off date of 09-Sep-2019)
For participants who demonstrated a confirmed CR (disappearance of all target lesions) or PR (at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per RECIST 1.1 based upon BICR, DOR was defined as the time from first documented evidence of confirmed CR or PR until PD or death, whichever occurred first. DOR for participants who had not progressed or died at the time of analysis was censored at the date of their last tumor assessment. Per RECIST 1.1, PD was defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum had to demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. Response duration was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method for censored data. Per protocol, DOR was reported by treatment arm for participants in the TPS ≥1% stratum of PD-L1 expression (all participants).
Up to approximately 36 months (through Final Analysis cut-off date of 09-Sep-2019)
Number of Participants Who Experienced an Adverse Event (AE)
Time Frame: Up to approximately 66 months
An AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a participant administered a pharmaceutical product and which did not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment. An AE could therefore be any unfavourable and unintended sign, symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product or protocol-specified procedure, whether or not considered related to the medicinal product or protocol-specified procedure. Any worsening of a pre-existing condition that was temporally associated with the use of the Sponsor's product was also an AE. Per protocol, MedDRA preferred terms "Neoplasm progression", "Malignant neoplasm progression" and "Disease progression" not related to the study intervention are excluded. Per protocol, the number of participants who experienced an AE was reported by treatment arm for all participants as part of the pre-specified safety analysis at study completion (Final AE collection cut-off date of 14-Oct-2022).
Up to approximately 66 months
Number of Participants Who Discontinued Study Treatment Due to an AE
Time Frame: Up to approximately 45 months
An AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a participant administered a pharmaceutical product and which did not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment. An AE could therefore be any unfavourable and unintended sign, symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product or protocol-specified procedure, whether or not considered related to the medicinal product or protocol-specified procedure. Any worsening of a pre-existing condition that was temporally associated with the use of the Sponsor's product was also an AE. Per protocol, the number of participants who discontinued study treatment due to an AE was reported by treatment arm for all participants as part of the pre-specified safety analysis at study completion (Final AE collection cut-off date of 14-Oct-2022).
Up to approximately 45 months
Number of Participants Who Experienced an Adverse Event of Special Interest (AEOSI)
Time Frame: Up to approximately 66 months
An AEOSI was defined as any AE that is immune-mediated or potentially immune-mediated. An AE is defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a participant administered a pharmaceutical product and which did not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment. An AE could therefore be any unfavourable and unintended sign, symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product or protocol-specified procedure, whether or not considered related to the medicinal product or protocol-specified procedure. Any worsening of a pre-existing condition that was temporally associated with the use of the Sponsor's product was also an AE. Per protocol, the number of participants who experienced an AE was reported by treatment arm for all participants as part of the pre-specified safety analysis at study completion (Final AE collection cut-off date of 14-Oct-2022).
Up to approximately 66 months
Number of Participants Who Experienced a Grade 3-5 AE
Time Frame: Up to approximately 66 months
An AE is defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a participant administered a pharmaceutical product and which did not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment. An AE could therefore be any unfavourable and unintended sign, symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product or protocol-specified procedure, whether or not considered related to the medicinal product or protocol-specified procedure. Any worsening of a pre-existing condition that was temporally associated with the use of the Sponsor's product was also an AE. Per protocol, MedDRA preferred terms "Neoplasm progression", "Malignant neoplasm progression" and "Disease progression" not related to the study intervention are excluded. Per protocol, the number of participants who experienced an AE was reported by treatment arm for all participants as part of the pre-specified safety analysis at study completion (Final AE collection cut-off date of 14-Oct-2022).
Up to approximately 66 months
Number of Participants Who Experienced an AE That Was Experienced by ≥10% of Participants in Either Arm
Time Frame: Up to approximately 66 months
An AE was any untoward medical occurrence in a participant administered a pharmaceutical product and which did not necessarily have a causal relationship with this treatment. An AE could therefore be any unfavourable and unintended sign, symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of a medicinal product or protocol-specified procedure, whether or not considered related to the medicinal product or protocol-specified procedure. Any worsening of a pre-existing condition temporally associated with the use of the Sponsor's product was also an AE. Per protocol, MedDRA preferred terms "Neoplasm progression", "Malignant neoplasm progression" and "Disease progression" not related to the study intervention are excluded. Per protocol, the number of participants who experienced an AE was reported by treatment arm for all participants (TPS ≥1% stratum of PD-L1 expression) as part of the pre-specified safety analysis at study completion (Final AE collection cut-off date of 14-Oct-2022).
Up to approximately 66 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Study Director: Medical Director, Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 7, 2016

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
September 9, 2019

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
October 14, 2022

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 10, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 10, 2016

First Posted (Estimated)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 12, 2016

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 19, 2024

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 30, 2024

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
August 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 3475-033
  • MK-3475-033 (Other Identifier: Merck Registration Number)
  • KEYNOTE-033 (Other Identifier: MSD)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

http://engagezone.msd.com/doc/ProcedureAccessClinicalTrialData.pdf

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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