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Esophageal CarcinomaPhase 3NCT02564263

Study of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) Versus Investigator's Choice Standard Therapy for Participants With Advanced Esophageal/ Esophagogastric Junction Carcinoma That Progressed After First-Line Therapy (MK-3475-181/KEYNOTE-181)

A Phase 3 study testing pembrolizumab, paclitaxel and docetaxel in people with Esophageal Carcinoma and Esophagogastric Junction Carcinoma, run by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
Search all trials

Trial summary

In this study, participants with advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus or Siewert type I adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) that had progressed after first-line standard therapy were randomized to receive either pembrolizumab (MK-3475) OR the Investigator's… Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
pembrolizumab, paclitaxel and docetaxel
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
628 participants
Where
No sites listed yet
Study dates
1 Dec 2015to 14 Mar 2022
Phase
Phase 3
Are there results?
Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Histologically- or cytologically-confirmed diagnosis of adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus or Siewert type I adenocarcinoma of the EGJ
  • Metastatic disease or locally advanced, unresectable disease
  • Life expectancy of greater than 3 months
  • Measurable disease based on Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1
  • Performance status of 0 or 1 on the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Scale
  • Documented radiographic or clinical disease progression on no more or less than one previous line of standard therapy
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  • Can provide either a newly obtained or archival tumor tissue sample for intra-tumoral immune-related testing and for anti-programmed cell death (PD)-1
  • Participants of reproductive potential must be willing to use adequate contraception for the course of the study through 120 days after the last dose of pembrolizumab or through 180 days after the last dose of paclitaxel, docetaxel or irinotecan
  • Adequate organ function

Who cannot join

  • Currently participating and receiving study therapy or has participated in a study of an investigational agent and received study therapy or used an investigational device within 4 weeks of the first dose of study treatment
  • Active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years
  • Diagnosis of immunodeficiency or receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study treatment
  • Known central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis (includes past history or current metastasis)
  • Has received prior anti-cancer monoclonal antibody (mAb), chemotherapy, targeted small molecule therapy, or radiation therapy within 2 weeks prior to study Day 1 or not recovered from adverse events due to a previously administered agent
  • Has had a severe hypersensitivity reaction to treatment with another mAb
Show all 19Show fewer
  • Prior therapy with a PD-1, anti-PD-Ligand 1 (PD-L1), or anti-PD-L2 agent, or previously participated in Merck pembrolizumab (MK-3475) study
  • Has a known additional malignancy that has progressed or required active treatment within the last 5 years with the exception of curatively treated basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and/or curatively resected in-situ cervical and/or breast cancers, and in-situ or intra-mucosal pharyngeal cancer
  • Received a live vaccine within 30 days of the first dose of study treatment
  • Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection
  • Known history of or is positive for hepatitis B or known active hepatitis C
  • History of non-infectious pneumonitis that required steroids or current pneumonitis
  • Active infection requiring systemic therapy
  • Known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the study
  • Pregnant, 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 pembrolizumab or through 180 days after the last dose of paclitaxel, docetaxel or irinotecan
  • Known allergy, hypersensitivity, or contraindication to paclitaxel, docetaxel, or irinotecan or any components used in their preparation
  • Experienced weight loss >10% over approximately 2 months prior to first dose of study treatment
  • Has ascites or pleural effusion by physical exam
  • Has experienced documented objective radiographic or clinical disease progression during or after receiving >1 line of therapy

About this study

Official title: A Phase III Randomized Open-Label Study of Single Agent Pembrolizumab vs Physicians' Choice of Single Agent Docetaxel, Paclitaxel, or Irinotecan in Subjects With Advanced/Metastatic Adenocarcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Esophagus That Have Progressed After First-Line Standard Therapy (KEYNOTE-181)

In this study, participants with advanced or metastatic adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus or Siewert type I adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ) that had progressed after first-line standard therapy were randomized to receive either pembrolizumab (MK-3475) OR the Investigator's choice of standard chemotherapy with paclitaxel, docetaxel, or irinotecan.

The primary study hypothesis was that treatment with pembrolizumab would prolong overall survival (OS) as compared to treatment with standard chemotherapy.

Keywords
Programmed Cell Death-1 (PD1, PD-1), Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PDL1, PD-L1), Programmed Death-Ligand 2 (PDL2, PD-L2), Gene expression profiling (GEP)
Medical subject headings
Esophageal Neoplasms, Parkinson Disease 4, Autosomal Dominant Lewy Body

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • pembrolizumabBiological

    Also called KEYTRUDA®, MK-3475

    200 mg administered as IV infusion on Day 1 of every 21-day cycle

  • paclitaxelDrug

    Also called TAXOL®

    80-100 mg/m^2 administered as IV infusion on Days 1, 8, and 15 of each 28-day cycle

  • docetaxelDrug

    Also called TAXOTERE®

    75 mg/m^2 administered as IV infusion on Day 1 of every 21-day cycle

  • irinotecanDrug

    Also called CAMPTOSAR®

    180 mg/m^2 administered as IV infusion on Day 1 of every 14-day cycle

Study groups in NCT02564263
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
PembrolizumabExperimentalParticipants received pembrolizumab 200 mg, intravenously (IV) on Day 1 of every 21-day (3-week) cycle for up to 35 administrations (up to approximately 25 months).
Receives: Biological: pembrolizumab
ChemotherapyActive comparatorParticipants received Investigator's choice of paclitaxel 80-100 mg/m^2 IV on Days 1, 8, and 15 of every 28-day (4-week) cycle, OR docetaxel 75 mg/m^2 IV on Day 1 of every 21-day (3-week) cycle, OR irinotecan 180 mg/m^2 IV on Day 1 of every 14-day (2-week) cycle (up to approximately 19 months).
Receives: Drug: paclitaxel; Drug: docetaxel; Drug: irinotecan

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Overall Survival (OS) in Participants With Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of the Esophagus

    OS was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Median OS in participants with SCC of the esophagus is presented.

    Measured: Through Final Analysis data cutoff date of 15-Oct-2018 (up to approximately 34 months)

  2. Overall Survival (OS) in Participants With Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Combined Positive Score ≥10 (PD-L1 CPS ≥10)

    OS was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Median OS in participants with a PD-L1 CPS ≥10 is presented.

    Measured: Through Final Analysis data cutoff date of 15-Oct-2018 (up to approximately 34 months)

  3. Overall Survival (OS) in All Participants

    OS was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Median OS in all participants is presented.

    Measured: Through Final Analysis data cutoff date of 15-Oct-2018 (up to approximately 34 months)

Secondary outcomes (8)

  1. Progression-free Survival (PFS) as Assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) in All Participants

    PFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented progressive disease (PD) or death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. Per RECIST 1.1, PD was defined as ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also have demonstrated an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of ≥1 new lesions was also considered PD. Median PFS as assessed by blinded independent central review per RECIST 1.1 in all participants is presented.

    Measured: Through Final Analysis data cutoff date of 15-Oct-2018 (up to approximately 34 months)

  2. Objective Response Rate (ORR) as Assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) in All Participants

    ORR was defined as the percentage of participants 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) as assessed using RECIST 1.1. The percentage of all participants who experienced a CR or PR is presented.

    Measured: Through Final Analysis data cutoff date of 15-Oct-2018 (up to approximately 34 months)

  3. Progression-free Survival (PFS) as Assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) in Participants With Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of the Esophagus

    PFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented progressive disease (PD) or death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. Per RECIST 1.1, PD was defined as ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also have demonstrated an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of ≥1 new lesions was also considered PD. Median PFS as assessed by blinded independent central review per RECIST 1.1 is presented for participants with SCC of the esophagus.

    Measured: Through Final Analysis data cutoff date of 15-Oct-2018 (up to approximately 34 months)

  4. Progression-free Survival (PFS) as Assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) in Participants With Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Combined Positive Score ≥10 (PD-L1 CPS ≥10)

    PFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented progressive disease (PD) or death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. Per RECIST 1.1, PD was defined as ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also have demonstrated an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of ≥1 new lesions was also considered PD. Median PFS as assessed by blinded independent central review per RECIST 1.1 is presented for participants with a PD-L1 CPS ≥10.

    Measured: Through Final Analysis data cutoff date of 15-Oct-2018 (up to approximately 34 months)

  5. Objective Response Rate (ORR) as Assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) in Participants With Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of the Esophagus

    ORR was defined as the percentage of participants 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) as assessed using RECIST 1.1. The percentage of participants with SCC of the esophagus who experienced a CR or PR is presented.

    Measured: Through Final Analysis data cutoff date of 15-Oct-2018 (up to approximately 34 months)

  6. Objective Response Rate (ORR) as Assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) in Participants With Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Combined Positive Score ≥10 (PD-L1 CPS ≥10)

    ORR was defined as the percentage of participants 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) as assessed using RECIST 1.1. The percentage of participants with a PD-L1 CPS ≥10 who experienced a CR or PR is presented.

    Measured: Through Final Analysis data cutoff date of 15-Oct-2018 (up to approximately 34 months)

  7. Number of Participants Experiencing an Adverse Event (AE)

    An AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a participant administered a pharmaceutical product and which does not necessarily have to 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. The number of participants who experienced ≥1 AE is presented.

    Measured: Through End-of-Trial Analysis data cutoff date of 14-Mar-2022 (up to approximately 6 years)

  8. Number of Participants Discontinuing Study Treatment Due an Adverse Event (AE)

    An AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a participant administered a pharmaceutical product and which does not necessarily have to 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. The number of participants who discontinued study treatment due to an AE is presented.

    Measured: Through End-of-Trial Analysis data cutoff date of 14-Mar-2022 (up to approximately 6 years)

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted30 Sep 2015 (estimated)
  2. Study start1 Dec 2015
  3. Primary completion15 Oct 2018
  4. Study completion14 Mar 2022

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 3
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
628 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT02564263
Sponsor's protocol ID
3475-181
Other IDs
163145, MK-3475-181, KEYNOTE-181, 2015-002782-32, 2015
Status last verified
Feb 2023
First submitted
29 Sep 2015
Last updated
13 Mar 2023
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: http://engagezone.msd.com/doc/ProcedureAccessClinicalTrialData.pdf

Publications

  • Kojima T, Shah MA, Muro K, Francois E, Adenis A, Hsu CH, Doi T, Moriwaki T, Kim SB, Lee SH, Bennouna J, Kato K, Shen L, Enzinger P, Qin SK, Ferreira P, Chen J, Girotto G, de la Fouchardiere C, Senellart H, Al-Rajabi R, Lordick F, Wang R, Suryawanshi S, Bhagia P, Kang SP, Metges JP; KEYNOTE-181 Investigators. Randomized Phase III KEYNOTE-181 Study of Pembrolizumab Versus Chemotherapy in Advanced Esophageal Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2020 Dec 10;38(35):4138-4148. doi: 10.1200/JCO.20.01888. Epub 2020 Oct 7.

    PubMed 33026938

  • Adenis A, Kulkarni AS, Girotto GC, de la Fouchardiere C, Senellart H, van Laarhoven HWM, Mansoor W, Al-Rajabi R, Norquist J, Amonkar M, Suryawanshi S, Bhagia P, Metges JP. Impact of Pembrolizumab Versus Chemotherapy as Second-Line Therapy for Advanced Esophageal Cancer on Health-Related Quality of Life in KEYNOTE-181. J Clin Oncol. 2022 Feb 1;40(4):382-391. doi: 10.1200/JCO.21.00601. Epub 2021 Nov 3.

    PubMed 34730989

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 3 study testing pembrolizumab, paclitaxel and docetaxel in people with Esophageal Carcinoma and Esophagogastric Junction Carcinoma, run by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 9 inclusion and 19 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Mar 2023. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 3 studies compare the treatment with the current standard treatment or a placebo in a large group, to confirm how well it works and watch for side effects.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 20 Nov 2019). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Overall Survival (OS) in Participants With Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC) of the Esophagus (time frame: Through Final Analysis data cutoff date of 15-Oct-2018 (up to approximately 34 months)). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02564263, which also lists 2 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 13 Mar 2023.

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