Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) as First-line Therapy for Advanced Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MK-3475-913)

Study Purpose

This is a single-arm, open-label, multicenter, efficacy, and safety study of pembrolizumab in adult and pediatric participants with previously untreated advanced Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC). The primary objective of the trial is to assess the objective response rate, as assessed by blinded independent central review per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) modified to follow a maximum of 10 target lesions and a maximum of 5 target lesions per organ, following administration of pembrolizumab.

Recruitment Criteria

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Healthy volunteers are participants who do not have a disease or condition, or related conditions or symptoms

No
Study Type

An interventional clinical study is where participants are assigned to receive one or more interventions (or no intervention) so that researchers can evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or health-related outcomes.


An observational clinical study is where participants identified as belonging to study groups are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.


Searching Both is inclusive of interventional and observational studies.

Interventional
Eligible Ages 12 Years and Over
Gender All
More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • - Be male or female and at least 12 years of age, at the time of signing the informed consent/assent.
  • - Have histologically confirmed diagnosis of locoregional MCC that has recurred following standard locoregional therapy with surgery and/or radiation therapy and is not amenable to local therapy or metastatic MCC (Stage IV) as per American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th edition guidelines.
  • - Have been untreated for advanced or metastatic disease except as follows: 1.
Prior intratumoral therapy will be permitted. 2. Prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy containing systemic chemotherapy will be permitted if treatment concluded at least 3 months prior to Cycle 1 Day 1 (C1D1). 3. Prior adjuvant or neoadjuvant therapy containing anti-PD-1/L1 or anti-CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4) therapy will not be permitted.
  • - Have at least 1 measurable lesion by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) per RECIST 1.1 criteria as determined by the local site investigator/radiology assessment.
  • - Toxic effect(s) of the most recent prior therapy have resolved to Grade 1 or less (except alopecia).
  • - Contraceptive use by men should be consistent with local regulations regarding the methods of contraception for those participating in clinical studies.
  • - Contraceptive use by women should be consistent with local regulations regarding the methods of contraception for those participating in clinical studies.
  • - A female participant is eligible to participate if she is not pregnant or breastfeeding, and at least one of the following conditions applies: - Is not a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP) - OR.
  • - Is a WOCBP and using a contraceptive method that is highly effective (with a failure rate of <1% per year), with low user dependency, or be abstinent from heterosexual intercourse as their preferred and usual lifestyle (abstinent on a long term and persistent basis).
  • - A WOCBP must have a negative highly sensitive pregnancy test (urine or serum as required by local regulations) within 72 hours before the first dose of study intervention.
  • - Have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 or Lansky Play-Performance Scale (LPS) ≥50 for pediatric participants up to and including 16 years of age.
  • - Have adequate organ function.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • - Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 2 years with certain exceptions.
  • - Has known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis with certain exceptions.
  • - Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy (in dosing exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to C1D1.
  • - Has severe hypersensitivity (≥Grade 3) to pembrolizumab and/or any of its excipients.
  • - Has an active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years (i.e., with use of disease-modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs).
  • - Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or has current pneumonitis.
  • - Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy.
  • - Has a known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
  • - Has a 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.
  • - Has a known history of active tuberculosis (TB; Bacillus tuberculosis).
  • - Has clinically significant cardiac disease within 6 months of C1D1, including New York Heart Association Class III or IV congestive heart failure, unstable angina, myocardial infarction, cerebral vascular accident, or cardiac arrhythmia associated with hemodynamic instability.
  • - Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the participant's participation for the full duration of the study, or is not in the best interest of the participant to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.
  • - Has a known psychiatric or substance abuse disorder that would interfere with the participant's ability to cooperate with the requirements of the study.
  • - Has not received standard locoregional therapy with surgery and/or radiation therapy for the treatment of local or locoregional disease.
Note: This exclusion criterion does not apply to participants who are diagnosed with unresectable or metastatic MCC.
  • - 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.
  • - Has received prior systemic anticancer therapy including investigational agents within 12 weeks prior to C1D1.
  • - Has received radiotherapy within 2 weeks prior to start of study intervention.
  • - Has received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to C1D1.
  • - Is currently participating in or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or has used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to C1D1.
  • - Is pregnant or breastfeeding or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the study, starting with the screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of study intervention.
  • - Has had an allogenic tissue/solid organ transplant.

Trial Details

Trial ID:

This trial id was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants with locations in all 50 States and in 196 countries.

NCT03783078
Phase

Phase 1: Studies that emphasize safety and how the drug is metabolized and excreted in humans.

Phase 2: Studies that gather preliminary data on effectiveness (whether the drug works in people who have a certain disease or condition) and additional safety data.

Phase 3: Studies that gather more information about safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs.

Phase 4: Studies occurring after FDA has approved a drug for marketing, efficacy, or optimal use.

Phase 3
Lead Sponsor

The sponsor is the organization or person who oversees the clinical study and is responsible for analyzing the study data.

Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
Principal Investigator

The person who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the entire clinical study.

Medical Director
Principal Investigator Affiliation Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
Agency Class

Category of organization(s) involved as sponsor (and collaborator) supporting the trial.

Industry
Overall Status Recruiting
Countries Australia, Canada, France, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, United States
Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied.

Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Study Website: View Trial Website
Arms & Interventions

Arms

Experimental: Pembrolizumab

Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) 200 mg (adult participants) or 2 mg/kg (up to 200 mg; pediatric participants) on Day 1 of each 3-week cycle (Q3W) intravenous (IV), for up to 35 administrations (approximately 2 years)

Interventions

Drug: - Pembrolizumab (MK-3475)

200 mg (adult participants) or 2 mg/kg (up to 200 mg; pediatric participants) on Day 1 of each 3-week cycle (Q3W). IV, Up to 35 administrations (approximately 2 years)

Contact a Trial Team

If you are interested in learning more about this trial, find the trial site nearest to your location and contact the site coordinator via email or phone. We also strongly recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider about the trials that may interest you and refer to our terms of service below.

New York, New York

Status

Recruiting

Address

Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health ( Site 0006)

New York, New York, 10016

Site Contact

Study Coordinator

[email protected]

212-731-5431

New York, New York

Status

Recruiting

Address

Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai ( Site 0004)

New York, New York, 10029

Site Contact

Study Coordinator

[email protected]

212-824-8858

International Sites

North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Status

Active, not recruiting

Address

Melanoma Institute Australia ( Site 0400)

North Sydney, New South Wales, 2065

Calvary Mater Newcastle ( Site 0402), Waratah, New South Wales, Australia

Status

Active, not recruiting

Address

Calvary Mater Newcastle ( Site 0402)

Waratah, New South Wales, 2298

Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada

Status

Recruiting

Address

Moncton Hospital - Horizon Health Network ( Site 0055)

Moncton, New Brunswick, E1C 6Z8

Site Contact

Study Coordinator

[email protected]

5068575076

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Status

Recruiting

Address

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre ( Site 0051)

Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9

Site Contact

Study Coordinator

[email protected]

4169462000

Caen, Calvados, France

Status

Recruiting

Address

Hopital de la Cote de Nacre - Caen ( Site 0204)

Caen, Calvados, 14033

Site Contact

Study Coordinator

[email protected]

+33231272506

Bordeaux, Gironde, France

Status

Recruiting

Address

CHU de Bordeaux- Hopital Saint Andre ( Site 0203)

Bordeaux, Gironde, 33000

Site Contact

Study Coordinator

[email protected]

+335578225521

Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France

Status

Recruiting

Address

Hopital Ambroise Pare Boulogne ( Site 0201)

Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, 92100

Site Contact

Study Coordinator

[email protected]

+33618458154

Chambray Les Tours, Indre-et-Loire, France

Status

Recruiting

Address

C.H.R.U. de Tours. Hopital Trousseau ( Site 0202)

Chambray Les Tours, Indre-et-Loire, 37170

Site Contact

Study Coordinator

[email protected]

+33247474747

Lille, Nord, France

Status

Recruiting

Address

CHRU Lille - Hopital Claude Huriez ( Site 0200)

Lille, Nord, 59037

Site Contact

Study Coordinator

[email protected]

+33320444193

Siena, Toscana, Italy

Status

Recruiting

Address

Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese ( Site 0224)

Siena, Toscana, 53100

Site Contact

Study Coordinator

[email protected]

+390577586335

Milano, Italy

Status

Recruiting

Address

IEO Istituto Europeo di Oncologia ( Site 0223)

Milano, , 20141

Site Contact

Study Coordinator

[email protected]

+390257489599

Napoli, Italy

Status

Recruiting

Address

Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione Pascale ( Site 0222)

Napoli, , 80131

Site Contact

Study Coordinator

[email protected]

+390815903431

Istituto Oncologico Veneto ( Site 0221), Padova, Italy

Status

Recruiting

Address

Istituto Oncologico Veneto ( Site 0221)

Padova, , 35128

Site Contact

Study Coordinator

[email protected]

+390498215931

Auckland City Hospital ( Site 0427), Auckland, New Zealand

Status

Active, not recruiting

Address

Auckland City Hospital ( Site 0427)

Auckland, , 1023

Valencia, Valenciana, Comunitat, Spain

Status

Recruiting

Address

Hospital General Universitario de Valencia ( Site 0262)

Valencia, Valenciana, Comunitat, 46014

Site Contact

Study Coordinator

[email protected]

+34963131800

Barcelona, Spain

Status

Recruiting

Address

Hospital Universitari Vall d Hebron ( Site 0264)

Barcelona, , 08035

Site Contact

Study Coordinator

[email protected]

+34934894350

Barcelona, Spain

Status

Recruiting

Address

Hospital Clinic de Barcelona ( Site 0261)

Barcelona, , 08036

Site Contact

Study Coordinator

[email protected]

+34932275402

Madrid, Spain

Status

Recruiting

Address

Hospital Universitario La Paz ( Site 0263)

Madrid, , 28046

Site Contact

Study Coordinator

[email protected]

+34912071138

Solna, Stockholms Lan, Sweden

Status

Recruiting

Address

Karolinska Universitetssjukhuset Solna ( Site 0281)

Solna, Stockholms Lan, 171 64

Site Contact

Study Coordinator

[email protected]

+46851772763

Goeteborg, Vastra Gotalands Lan, Sweden

Status

Recruiting

Address

Sahlgrenska Universitetssjukhuset ( Site 0282)

Goeteborg, Vastra Gotalands Lan, 413 45

Site Contact

Study Coordinator

[email protected]

+46313428751

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