More Evidence on Pembrolizumab for Metastatic Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer

KEYNOTE-189, a manufacturer-sponsored phase 3 clinical trial, evaluated the addition of pembrolizumab to platinum-based chemotherapy for patients with previously untreated metastatic nonsquamous non–small-cell lung cancer. A total of 616 patients were randomized 2:1 to receive intravenous pembrolizumab (200 mg every 3 weeks) or placebo for 2 years (35 cycles), in combination with pemetrexed (500 mg/m²) plus either cisplatin or carboplatin for 4 cycles, followed by pemetrexed until disease progression. Previous reports found a survival advantage with pembrolizumab (JW Oncol Hematol Apr 24 2018 and N Engl J Med 2018 Apr 16; [e-pub]); the investigators now present the protocol-specified final analysis.

At median follow-up of 31 months, there wa…