AzTrials
AzTrials

MesotheliomaPhase 1NCT04153565

A Study of Pembrolizumab in Combination With Cisplatin and Pemetrexed in Advanced Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) (MK-3475-A17)

A Phase 1 study testing Pembrolizumab, Pemetrexed and Cisplatin in people with Mesothelioma, run by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC at 4 sites in Japan.

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

This is a multicenter, open-label, non-randomized, study of pembrolizumab in combination with cisplatin and pemetrexed in treatment of naïve participants with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of advanced/unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) in Japanese participants. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 20 years and older
Conditions the study is for
Mesothelioma
What is being tested?
Pembrolizumab, Pemetrexed and Cisplatin
Type of treatment
Injection or infusion
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
19 participants
Where
4 sitesJapan
Study dates
9 Dec 2019to 21 Sep 2022
Phase
Phase 1
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 20 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Has histologically confirmed diagnosis of advanced/unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM)
  • Have at least one measurable disease, which is systemic therapy naïve, radiologically assessed by the local site investigator per modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) using imaging scanned within 28 days prior to the first dose in this study
  • Has a performance status of 0 or 1 on the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Scale
  • Has a life expectancy of at least 3 months
  • Demonstrate adequate organ function
  • Male participants are eligible to participate if they agree to remain abstinent or agree to use contraception unless confirmed to be azoospermic
  • A female participant is eligible to participate if she is not pregnant or breastfeeding, using contraceptives or is not a woman of child bearing potential (WOCBP)

Who cannot join

  • A WOCBP who has a positive pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to treatment allocation
  • Has received prior therapy with an anti-programmed cell-death 1 (anti PD-1), anti programmed cell-death ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1), or anti programmed cell-death ligand 2 (anti PD-L2) agent or with an agent directed to another stimulatory or co-inhibitory T-cell receptor
  • Has previously received systemic anti-cancer therapy (including investigational agents) for MPM
  • Participants who received (neo) adjuvant previously may be eligible, only if the last dose of chemotherapy was completed at least 6 months before registration. Such participants must have recovered from all adverse events (AEs) due to previous (neo) adjuvant therapies to ≤Grade 1 or baseline. Participants with ≤Grade 2 neuropathy may be eligible
  • Received radiation therapy to the lung that is > 30 gray (Gy) within 6 months of the first dose of trial treatment
  • Completed palliative radiotherapy within 7 days of the first dose of trial treatment
Show all 18Show fewer
  • Participants must have recovered from all radiation-related toxicities, not require corticosteroids, and not have had radiation pneumonitis
  • Had a major surgery within 3 months prior to the first administration in this study
  • Has received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study drug
  • 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 the first dose of study intervention
  • 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 the first dose of study drug
  • Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 5 years. Note: Participants with basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or carcinoma in situ (eg, breast carcinoma, cervical cancer in situ) that have undergone potentially curative therapy are not excluded
  • Has known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis
  • Has had a severe hypersensitivity reaction (≥Grade 3) to treatment a monoclonal antibody/components of the study intervention
  • Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease that required steroids or has current pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease
  • Is being treated for pericardial effusion, or has symptomatic ascites or pleural effusion. A participant who is clinically stable following treatment for these conditions is eligible
  • Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy
  • 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

Trial locations and contacts

4 sites in 1 country.

Japan4 sites
  • Hyogo College of Medicine Hospital ( Site 0003)

    Nishinomiya, Hyōgo, 663-8501

  • JOHAS Okayama Rosai Hospital ( Site 0002)

    Okayama, 702-8055

  • National Cancer Center Hospital ( Site 0001)

    Tokyo, 104-0045

  • Kanagawa Cancer Center ( Site 0004)

    Yokohama, Kanagawa, 241-8515

Other trials in Japan

About this study

Official title: A Phase Ib Clinical Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in Combination With Cisplatin and Pemetrexed in Treatment-naive Participants With Advanced Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (KEYNOTE-A17).

This is a multicenter, open-label, non-randomized, study of pembrolizumab in combination with cisplatin and pemetrexed in treatment of naïve participants with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of advanced/unresectable malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) in Japanese participants. This study will evaluate the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of pembrolizumab in combination with cisplatin and pemetrexed. The primary objective is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of treatment with pembrolizumab in combination with cisplatin and pemetrexed.

Conditions
Mesothelioma
Keywords
Programmed Cell Death-1 (PD1, PD-1), Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PDL1, PD-L1), Programmed Cell Death 1 Ligand 2 (PDL2, PD-L2)
Medical subject headings
Mesothelioma, 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.

  • PembrolizumabDrug

    Also called Keytruda, MK-3475

    Participants will receive Pembrolizumab 200 mg IV every 3 weeks (Q3W) until disease progression, or until participant has received 35 administrations of Pembrolizumab (approximately 2 years).

  • PemetrexedDrug

    Also called Alimta

    Participants will receive Pemetrexed 500 mg/m^2 IV on Day 1 of each cycle up to 4-6 cycles where each cycle = 3 weeks

  • CisplatinDrug

    Also called Platinol-AQ

    Participants will receive Cisplatin 75 mg/m^2 IV on Day 1 of each cycle up to 4-6 cycles where each cycle = 3 weeks

Study groups in NCT04153565
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
Pembrolizumab + Cisplatin + PemetrexedExperimentalPembrolizumab 200 mg IV every 3 weeks (Q3W) in combination with Cisplatin 75 mg/m^2 IV, and Pemetrexed 500 mg/m^2 IV for 4-6 cycles followed by monotherapy of Pembrolizumab up to 35 cycles from the first dose of the study in treatment phase (approximately 2 years).
Receives: Drug: Pembrolizumab; Drug: Pemetrexed; Drug: Cisplatin

What is being measured

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

  1. Number of Participants Who Experienced a Dose-limiting Toxicity (DLT) During Cycle 1, Per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (AEs), Version 5.0 (CTCAE)

    DLTs were assessed during Cycle 1 (21 days) and defined as any of the following, if considered by investigator to be related to any of the study interventions: Grade 4 hematologic toxicities, except neutropenia and febrile neutropenia; Grade 4 neutropenia lasting >7 days despite appropriate supportive treatment; Grade 4 febrile neutropenia only if the event considered as clinically significant by investigator and sponsor; any Grade 4 non-hematologic toxicity (except laboratory test abnormal including transient electrolyte abnormalities); any Grade 3 non-hematologic toxicity lasting >72 hours despite appropriate supportive treatment (not laboratory); and any Grade 4 laboratory test value abnormality; any Grade 3 laboratory test value abnormality lasting >7 days; delay in start of second course of more than 2 weeks (more than 35 days after the first dose) due to toxicity related to study procedures; any Grade 5 toxicity.

    Measured: Up to 3 weeks (through Cycle 1 [21 days])

  2. Number of Participants With One or More Adverse Events (AEs)

    An AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a participant administered a study treatment which did not necessarily have to have a causal relationship with this treatment. An AE could be any unfavorable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding, for example), symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of study treatment, whether or not considered related to the study treatment. Any worsening (i.e., any clinically significant adverse change in frequency and/or intensity) of a pre-existing condition that was temporally associated with the use of study treatment, was also an AE.

    Measured: Up to approximately 34 months

  3. Number of Participants Discontinuing Study Treatment Due to an AE

    An AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a participant administered a study treatment which did not necessarily have to have a causal relationship with this treatment. An AE could be any unfavourable and unintended sign (including an abnormal laboratory finding, for example), symptom, or disease temporally associated with the use of study treatment, whether or not considered related to the study treatment. Any worsening (i.e., any clinically significant adverse change in frequency and/or intensity) of a pre-existing condition that was temporally associated with the use of study treatment, was also an AE.

    Measured: Up to approximately 2 years

Secondary outcomes (3)
  1. Objective Response Rate (ORR)

    ORR was defined as the percentage of participants who have a Complete Response (CR: disappearance of target and non-target lesions and normalization of tumor markers) or a Partial Response (PR: at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions). ORR was based on modified Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) for Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma (MPM) as assessed by investigator.

    Measured: Up to approximately 31 months

  2. Disease Control Rate (DCR)

    DCR was defined as the percentage of participants who had a Complete Response (CR: disappearance of target and non-target lesions and normalization of tumor markers) or Partial Response (PR: at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) or Stable Disease (SD: neither sufficient shrinkage to qualify for PR nor sufficient increase to qualify for progressive disease [PD: at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions and an absolute increase of at least 5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD.]) DCR was based on modified RECIST for MPM as assessed by investigator.

    Measured: Up to approximately 31 months

  3. Duration of Response (DOR)

    For participants who demonstrate a confirmed complete response (CR: disappearance of target and non-target lesions and normalization of tumor markers) or confirmed Partial Response (PR: at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions), DOR was defined as the time from first documented evidence of CR or PR until disease progression or death. DOR was based on modified RECIST for MPM as assessed by investigator.

    Measured: Up to approximately 31 months

Timeline

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

  1. First posted6 Nov 2019
  2. Study start9 Dec 2019
  3. Primary completion21 Sep 2022
  4. Study completion21 Sep 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 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
19 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT04153565
Sponsor's protocol ID
3475-A17
Other IDs
MK-3475-A17, 195054
Status last verified
Jul 2025
First submitted
4 Nov 2019
Last updated
17 Jul 2025
Data monitoring committee
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
Individual data sharing
Yes: http://engagezone.msd.com/doc/ProcedureAccessClinicalTrialData.pdf

Publications

  • Kijima T, Kato T, Goto Y, Kuribayashi K, Mikami K, Negi Y, Murakami S, Yoshida T, Homma M, Wakana A, Noguchi K, Fujimoto N. KEYNOTE-A17: First-Line Pembrolizumab Plus Cisplatin-Pemetrexed in Japanese Participants With Advanced Pleural Mesothelioma. Cancer Sci. 2025 Aug;116(8):2208-2217. doi: 10.1111/cas.70082. Epub 2025 May 23.

    PubMed 40407381

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1 study testing Pembrolizumab, Pemetrexed and Cisplatin in people with Mesothelioma, run by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC at 4 sites in Japan.

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 7 inclusion and 18 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 17 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 4 sites in Japan. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

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 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

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 22 Mar 2024). 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?

Number of Participants Who Experienced a Dose-limiting Toxicity (DLT) During Cycle 1, Per Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (AEs), Version 5.0 (CTCAE) (time frame: Up to 3 weeks (through Cycle 1 [21 days])). 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 NCT04153565, which also lists 1 linked publication.

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 17 Jul 2025.

Free account

Log in to keep searching

You’ve used your 3 free searches. AzTrials is free: log in or create a free account to keep searching clinical trials and save the ones you want to follow.

Create a free accountLog in