Maintenance Pembrolizumab at Usual or Low doSE in Non-squamous Lung Cancer: a Non-inferiority Study (Pulse)

June 20, 2025 updated by: Gustave Roussy, Cancer Campus, Grand Paris

Pulse is a randomized non-inferiority phase III clinical trial assessing a new mode of immunotherapy administration based on increased interval time between 2 infusions as maintenance treatment in Pulse arm compared with the conventional administration in Control arm.

In both treatment arms, pembrolizumab alone or combined with pemetrexed is allowed as maintenance treatment. Indeed :

In Pulse arm : Pembrolizumab 200 mg will be administered to patients every 6 weeks (Q6W) plus, in the absence of contra-indication pemetrexed 500 mg/m^2 will be administered every 3 weeks (Q3W).

In control arm : Pembrolizumab 200 mg will be administered to patients every 3 weeks (Q3W) or 400 mg every 6 weeks plus,in the absence of contra-indication pemetrexed 500 mg/m^2 will be administered every 3 weeks (Q3W).

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

1166

Phase

  • Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • Belgium
      • Namur, Belgium, B-5000
        • Recruiting
        • CHU UCL Namur - Site Sainte Elisabeth
        • Contact:
          • Vincent VAHHAUDENARDE, MD
        • Contact:
  • France
      • Paris, France, 75014
        • Recruiting
        • Hopital Cochin - APHP
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • WISLEZ Marie, MD
      • Paris, France, 75020
        • Recruiting
        • Hôpital Tenon - APHP
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • CADRANEL Jacques, MD
      • Paris, France, 75013
        • Recruiting
        • Hopital Pitie-Salpetriere - APHP
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • SPANO Jean-Philippe, MD
      • Paris, France, 75674
        • Recruiting
        • Hopital Paris Saint-Joseph
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • NALTET Charles, MD
    • Aude
      • Carcassonne, Aude, France, 11810
        • Recruiting
        • Centre Hospitalier de Carcassonne
        • Contact:
          • LABOUREY Jean Luc, MD
        • Contact:
    • Bas-Rhin
      • Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, France, 67000
        • Recruiting
        • Clinique Sainte Anne - Strasbourg
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • TAZI Youssef, MD
      • Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, France, 67200
        • Recruiting
        • Institut de cancérologie Strasbourg Europe (ICANS)
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • SCHOTT Rolland, MD
    • Bouches-du-Rhône
      • Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France, 13003
        • Recruiting
        • Hôpital Européen de Marseille
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • LE TREUT Jacques, md
    • Charente-Maritime
      • La Rochelle, Charente-Maritime, France, 17000
        • Recruiting
        • Groupe Hospitalier La Rochelle
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • LEVRAT Virginie, MD
    • Finistère
      • Brest, Finistère, France, 29609
        • Recruiting
        • Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Brest (Hôpital Morvan)
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • QUERE Gilles, MD
      • Morlaix, Finistère, France, 29600
        • Recruiting
        • Centre Hospitalier Des Pays De Morlaix
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • AMRANE Karim, MD
    • Haut-Rhin
      • Mulhouse, Haut-Rhin, France, 68100
        • Recruiting
        • Groupe Hospitalier de la Région de Mulhouse et Sud Alsace
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • DEBIEUVRE Dédier, MD
    • Hautes-Pyrénées
      • Tarbes, Hautes-Pyrénées, France, 65000
        • Recruiting
        • Centre Hospitalier de Bigorre
        • Contact:
          • DEGUIRAL Philippe, MD
        • Contact:
    • Hauts-de-Seine
      • Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France, 92150
        • Recruiting
        • Hopital Foch
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • METIVIER Anne Cécile, MD
    • Hérault
      • Béziers, Hérault, France, 34500
        • Recruiting
        • Centre Hospitalier de Béziers
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • HAOUACHI Rym, MD
    • Ille-et-Vilaine
      • Rennes, Ille-et-Vilaine, France, 35000
      • Saint-Malo, Ille-et-Vilaine, France, 35400
        • Recruiting
        • Centre Hospitalier de Saint-Malo
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • TIERCIN Marie, MD
    • Indre-et-Loire
      • Tours, Indre-et-Loire, France, 37044
        • Recruiting
        • Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Tours
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • CARMIER Delphine, MD
    • La Réunion
      • Saint-Denis, La Réunion, France, 97400
        • Not yet recruiting
        • Centre Hospitalier Universitaire - La Réunion - Site Felix Guyon
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • GAZAILLE Virgile, MD
      • Saint-Pierre, La Réunion, France, 97448
        • Not yet recruiting
        • Centre Hospitalier Universitaire - La Réunion - Site Sud
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • HUCHOT Eric, MD
    • Loire
      • Saint Priest en Jarez, Loire, France, 42270
        • Recruiting
        • CHU St-Etienne
        • Contact:
          • FOURNEL Pierre, MD
        • Contact:
    • Loiret
      • Orléans, Loiret, France, 45067
        • Recruiting
        • Centre Hospitalier Régional d'Orléans - NHO
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • DIXMIER Adrien, MD
    • Lyon
      • Bron, Lyon, France, 69677
        • Recruiting
        • Hospices civils de Lyon - Hôpital Louis Pradel
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • DURUISSEAUX Michaël, MD
    • Maine-et-Loire
      • Cholet, Maine-et-Loire, France, 49300
        • Recruiting
        • Centre Hospitalier de Cholet
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • GUILLEMOIS Sylvère, MD
    • Oise
      • Compiègne, Oise, France, 60200
        • Recruiting
        • Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Compiègne-Noyon
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • DEHETTE Stéphanie, MD
    • Pyrénées-Atlantiques
      • Bayonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, France, 64100
        • Recruiting
        • Centre Hospitalier de la Cote Basque
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • SCHNEIDER Sophie, MD
    • Val-de-Marne
      • Créteil, Val-de-Marne, France, 94010
        • Recruiting
        • Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal Creteil
        • Contact:
          • MONNET Isabelle, MD
        • Contact:
      • Saint-Mandé, Val-de-Marne, France, 94160
        • Recruiting
        • Hôpital d'Instruction des Armées BEGIN
        • Contact:
          • HELISSEY Carole, MD
        • Contact:
      • Villejuif, Val-de-Marne, France, 94 805
    • Yonne
      • Auxerre, Yonne, France, 89000
        • Recruiting
        • Centre Hospitalier d'Auxerre
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • MARTI Adina, MD
  • Spain
      • Barcelona, Spain, 08035
        • Recruiting
        • Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO)
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • Nuria PARDO ARANDA, MD
      • Barcelona, Spain, 08025
        • Recruiting
        • H. Santa Creu i Sant Pau
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • Andrés BARBA JOAQUIN, MD
      • Madrid, Spain, 28040
        • Recruiting
        • H. Clínico San Carlos
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • Carlos AGUADO DE LA ROSA, MD
      • Madrid, Spain, 28041
        • Recruiting
        • HU. 12 de Octubre
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • Jon Zugazagoitia, MD
      • Málaga, Spain, 29010
        • Recruiting
        • Hospital Virgen de la Victoria
        • Contact:
          • José Carlos Benítez Montañez, MD
        • Contact:
      • Sevilla, Spain, 41013
        • Recruiting
        • H.Virgen Del Rocio
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
          • Reyes BERNABE CARO, MD

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

A) To be checked before the induction phase (only for patient included before induction phase) :

  1. Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  2. Non-operable / non-irradiable stage III or stage IV.
  3. Patient must be eligible to receive 3 or 4 cycles of induction treatment combination with pembrolizumab plus platinum (cisplatin or carboplatin) and pemetrexed.
  4. In the presence of an EGFR mutation, an ALK or ROS1 rearrangement the patient must have received at least one specific targeted therapy line.
  5. Age ≥ 18 years old.
  6. Performance status 0 or 1.
  7. Signed informed consent.
  8. Patient affiliated to a social security system or beneficiary of the same.

B) To be checked before the maintenance phase (for all patient) :

  1. Histologically or cytologically confirmed diagnosis of non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
  2. Non-operable / non-irradiable stage III or stage IV.
  3. Received 3 or 4 cycles of induction treatment combination with pembrolizumab plus platinum (cisplatin or carboplatin) and pemetrexed.
  4. Patient must be eligible to receive maintenance pembrolizumab with or without pemetrexed, last induction chemotherapy cycle within 42 days before randomization.
  5. Stable disease, partial or complete response according to RECIST 1.1 criteria after induction chemotherapy and pembrolizumab. Targets lesions are not required before randomization.
  6. In the presence of an EGFR mutation, an ALK or ROS1 rearrangement the patient must have received at least one specific targeted therapy line (not needed a second time if already checked before induction phase).
  7. Patients with baseline brain metastases will be eligible in case of stability or no evidence of progression and if they remain clinically stable.
  8. Age ≥ 18 years old.
  9. Performance status 0 or 1.
  10. Signed informed consent (only for patient included after induction phase).
  11. Patient affiliated to a social security system or beneficiary of the same.

  12. Creatinine clearance > 30 ml/min by Cockcroft-Gault* or MDRD in case that patient will start maintenance just with pembrolizumab but ≥ 45 ml/min if the patient will receive pemetrexed plus pembrolizumab.

    *Cockcroft- Gault Formula:

    • Female CrCl = [(140 - age in years) x weight in kg x 0.85] / 72 x serum creatinine in mg/dL;
    • Male CrCl = [(140 - age in years) x weight in kg x 1.00] /72 x serum creatinine in mg/dL.
  13. Neutrophils ≥ 1500/μL and platelets ≥ 100 000/μL.
  14. Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 upper limit normal (ULN).
  15. Transaminases, Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 2.5 x the ULN except in case of liver metastases (5 x ULN).
  16. Patients might have received platinum-based chemotherapy as an adjuvant or neoadjuvant treatment, or with radiotherapy for a localized lung cancer, provided that the chemotherapy was ended more than 6 months before the first cycle of induction chemotherapy.
  17. Patients might have received previous immune checkpoint inhibitors as an adjuvant or neoadjuvant treatment, or as a consolidation treatment after radiotherapy for a localized lung cancer, but the immune checkpoint inhibitors must be finished at least than 12 months before the first cycle of induction chemotherapy for advanced stage.

  18. A woman is eligible for the study if she is no longer likely to procreate (physiologically unfit to carry out a pregnancy), which includes women who have had: a hysterectomy, an oophorectomy, a bilateral tubal ligation.

    Post-menopausal women:

    • Patients not using hormone replacement therapy should have had a complete cessation of menstruation for at least one year and be over 40 years of age, or, if in doubt, have an FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) level > 40 mIU/mL and an estradiol level < 40 pg/mL (< 150 pmol/L).
    • Patients using hormone replacement therapy must have had a complete cessation of menstruation for at least one year and be over 45 years of age or have evidence of menopause (FSH and estradiol levels) before starting hormone replacement therapy.
  19. Women who are likely to procreate are eligible if they have a negative serum pregnancy test in the week before the first dose of treatment and preferably as close as possible to the first dose and if they agree to use an effective contraceptive method during the course of the study through 4 months after the last dose of study medication.

Sexually active males patients must agree to use condom during the study and for at least 4 months after the last study treatment administration. Also, it is recommended their women of childbearing potential partner use a highly effective method of contraception.

Exclusion Criteria:

A) To be checked before the induction phase (only for patient included before induction phase) :

  1. Mixed small-cell, squamous-cell carcinoma.
  2. Mental or psychological illness that does not allow the patient to give informed consent.
  3. Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
  4. History of HIV or chronic hepatitis B or C.
  5. Active or uncontrolled infection.

  6. History of one or more of the following cardiovascular disorders in the previous 6 months:

    • Coronary artery bypass or peripheral arterial bypass, cardiac angioplasty or stent.
    • Myocardial infarction
    • Severe or unstable angina pectoris
    • Peripheral vascular disease, pulmonary embolism or untreated thromboembolic events, stroke or transient ischemic attack. Note: Patients with recent deep vein thrombosis (including pulmonary embolism) treated with anticoagulant for at least 4 weeks and clinically stable are eligible.
    • Congestive heart failure class III or IV as defined by the NYHA
  7. Concomitant treatment with another experimental treatment or participation in another clinical trial.

B) To be checked before the maintenance phase (for all patient) :

  1. Presence of grade 3 or 4 toxicity related to pembrolizumab limiting maintenance treatment continuation.
  2. Mixed small-cell, squamous-cell carcinoma.
  3. Corticosteroids at a dose greater than 20 mg per day of prednisone or equivalent.
  4. Patient unable to follow the therapeutic program.
  5. Mental or psychological illness that does not allow the patient to give informed consent.
  6. Pregnant or breastfeeding women.
  7. Ongoing immunosuppressive systemic therapy (cyclophosphamide, aziatropin, methotrexate, thalidomide and anti-TNF).
  8. Active autoimmune diseases. History of autoimmune diseases including myasthenia gravis, lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, vascular thrombosis associated with antiphospholipid syndrome, Wegener's granulomatosis, Sjögren's syndrome, Guillain-Barré syndrome, multiple sclerosis, vasculitis or glomerulonephritis. Patients with a history of autoimmune hypothyroidism treated with a stable dose of hormone replacement therapy are eligible. Patients with diabetes treated with insulin are eligible.
  9. History of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, organized pneumonia (i.e., obliterating bronchiolitis), drug-induced lung disease or active signs of pneumonia, pulmonary infiltration (regardless of cause) detected on the baseline chest CT-scan.
  10. History of any other hematologic or primary solid tumor malignancy unless in remission for at least 2 years and without specific treatment (as example, not allowed hormonal therapy to replace for breast cancer or hormonal therapy substitution in prostate cancer). pT1-2 prostatic cancer Gleason score < 6, superficial bladder cancer, non-melanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of the cervix are allowed.
  11. Presence of a condition or condition that makes patient participation in the study inappropriate, including serious unresolved or unstable toxicities from previous administration of another experimental treatment or any medical condition that could interfere with patient safety, obtaining consent or compliance with study procedures.
  12. Administration of a live attenuated vaccine within the 4 weeks before day 1 of Cycle 1 or administration of a live attenuated vaccine planned for the duration of the study. The flu vaccine can be given during the flu season (approximately from October to May). Patients should not receive a live attenuated influenza vaccine during the 4 weeks preceding day 1 of Cycle 1 and should not receive this type of vaccine during the study.
  13. History of HIV or chronic hepatitis B or C (not needed a second time if already checked before induction phase).
  14. Active or uncontrolled infection.

  15. History of one or more of the following cardiovascular disorders in the previous 6 months:

    • Coronary artery bypass or peripheral arterial bypass, cardiac angioplasty or stent.
    • Myocardial infarction
    • Severe or unstable angina pectoris
    • Peripheral vascular disease, pulmonary embolism or untreated thromboembolic events, stroke or transient ischemic attack. Note: Patients with recent deep vein thrombosis (including pulmonary embolism) treated with anticoagulant for at least 4 weeks and clinically stable are eligible.
    • Congestive heart failure class III or IV as defined by the NYHA
  16. Concomitant treatment with another experimental treatment or participation in another clinical trial.

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
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Control Arm
Drug: Pemetrexed 500 mg/m^2 Q3W
Pemetrexed 500 mg/m^2 Q3W
Drug: Pembrolizumab 200 mg Q3W or 400 mg Q6W
Pembrolizumab 200 mg Q3W or 400 mg Q6W
Experimental: Pulse Arm
Drug: Pembrolizumab 200 mg Q6W
Pembrolizumab 200mg Q6W
Drug: Pemetrexed 500 mg/m^2 Q3W
Pemetrexed 500 mg/m^2 Q3W

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Overall survival
Time Frame: 6 years
defined as the time elapsed between the date of randomization and the date of death whatever the cause. Patients alive at the date of last follow-up will be censored at that date.
6 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Progression-free survival
Time Frame: 6 years
defined by the time between the randomization date and the date of observation of a progression of the disease according to RECIST 1.1 or death of the patient (all causes combined) or date of last follow-up if the patient is alive without progression or lost to follow up.
6 years
Duration of response between both treatment arms.
Time Frame: 6 years
Duration of response among patients who had a response (CR/PR) after the 4 induction cycles. It is defined by the time between first response observed (i.e. randomization date) and first event observed (progression, secondary malignancy or death in case of no previous progression).
6 years
Assessment of quality of life between both treatment arms via the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire.
Time Frame: 6 years

Patient reported outcomes via the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Core Quality of Life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30).

The EORTC QLQ-C30 was developed to assess the quality of life of cancer subjects and is the most widely used cancer-specific HRQoL instrument. It contains 30 items and measures five functional dimensions (physical, role, emotional, cognitive, and social), three symptom items (fatigue, nausea/vomiting, and pain), six single items (dyspnea, sleep disturbance, appetite loss, constipation, diarrhea, and financial impact) and global health and quality of life. The global health and quality of life scale uses a 7-point scale scoring with anchors (1=very poor and 7=excellent); the other items are scored on a 4 point scale (1=not at all, 2=a little, 3= quite a bit, 4=very much).
6 years
Assessment of quality of life between both treatment arms via the EORTC QLQ-LC13 questionnaire.
Time Frame: 6 years

Patient reported outcomes via the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Quality of Life Questionnaire-Lung Cancer 13 (EORTC QLQ-LC13).

The EORTC QLQ-LC13 covers 13 typical symptoms of lung cancer patients, such as coughing, pain, dyspnea, sore mouth, peripheral neuropathy, and hair loss. It is scored on a 4 point scale (1=not at all, 2=a little, 3=quite a bit, 4=very much).
6 years
Assessment of quality of life between both treatment arms via the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire.
Time Frame: 6 years

Patient reported outcomes via the 5-level EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D-5L questionnaire).

The EQ-5D-5L essentially consists of five health state dimensions include the following: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression. Each dimension is rated on a five-point scale from 1 (extreme problem) to 5 (no problem). The EQ-5D-5L also includes a graded (0 = The worst health you can imagine, to 100 = The best health you can imagine) vertical visual analog scale on which the subject rates his or her general state of health at the time of the assessment.
6 years
Treatment tolerance in both treatment arms
Time Frame: 6 years
Frequency of adverse events according to CTCAE V5
6 years
Economic evaluation
Time Frame: 6 years

An important cost reduction per patient associated to treatment de-escalation is expected. We will compare the costs between the two arms. Time horizon extends from randomization to the date of last follow-up.

Direct medical costs will be estimated from the French national health insurance perspective (Système National des Données de Santé, SNDS).
6 years
Population pharmacokinetic analysis in both arms (primary objective)
Time Frame: 6 years
The primary objective of the PK study will be to evaluate the systemic exposition (Ctrough) of pembrolizumab in both arms.
6 years
Population pharmacokinetic analysis in both arms (secondary objective)
Time Frame: 6 years
The secondary objective of the PK study will be to use the clearance evolution of the pembrolizumab as marker of the response to explore the potential correlation between clearance evolution and the survival.
6 years
Evaluate the saturation of PD-1 on circulating lymphocytes in both arms
Time Frame: 6 years
Calculate the % of saturation of PD-1 on fresh circulating lymphocytes at baseline and during treatment in both arms.
6 years
Evaluate the target engagement pharmacodynamics (PD) in both arms
Time Frame: 6 years
Target engagement pharmacodynamics (PD) will be assayed using the interleukin-2 (IL-2) stimulation ratio at baseline and during treatment in both arms.
6 years

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Gustave Roussy, Cancer Campus, Grand Paris

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Benjamin BESSE, Gustave Roussy, Cancer Campus, Grand Paris

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)

March 20, 2023

Primary Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2029

Study Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2029

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

December 20, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 11, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

January 20, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

June 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 20, 2025

Last Verified

June 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2021-006795-16
  • 2021/3336 (Other Identifier: CSET number)
  • 2023-503481-23-00 (Ctis)

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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