Study of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) Versus Placebo After Complete Resection of High-Risk Stage III Melanoma (MK-3475-054/1325-MG/KEYNOTE-054)

Phase 3Active Not RecruitingNCT02362594

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC1,019 enrolled

Overview

This study will assess whether post-surgery therapy with pembrolizumab improves recurrence-free survival (RFS) as compared to placebo for high-risk participants with melanoma (Stage IIIA \[\> 1 mm metastasis\], IIIB and IIIC). The study will also assess whether pembrolizumab improves RFS versus placebo in the subgroup of participants with programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive tumor expression. Participants will be stratified for stage of disease and region and then will be randomly assigned to receive either pembrolizumab or placebo as post-surgery therapy in Part 1. In Part 2, participants who experience a disease recurrence are eligible for pembrolizumab treatment (if treated with placebo in Part 1) or pembrolizumab rechallenge (if treated with pembrolizumab in Part 1).

As of Amendment 8, enrollment in Part 2 has closed, and an optional pembrolizumab extension study will not be available to participants after study closure.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

1,019

Conditions

Melanoma

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion criteria: * Completely resected Stage III melanoma * Tumor tissue available for evaluation of PD-L1 expression * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 * Adequate organ function * No prior therapy for melanoma except surgery for primary melanoma lesions (or previously treated with interferon for thick primary melanomas without evidence of lymph node involvement are eligible) * Female participants of childbearing potential should be willing to use adequate methods of birth control or be surgically sterile, or abstain from heterosexual activity for the course of the study through 120 days after the last dose of study medication * Male participants should agree to use an adequate method of birth control starting with the first dose of study therapy through 120 days after the last dose of study medication Exclusion criteria: * Mucosal or ocular melanoma * History of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or current pneumonitis * History of or current interstitial lung disease * History of hematologic or primary solid tumor malignancy, unless no evidence of that disease for 5 years * Active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years * Active infection requiring therapy * Unstable hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism * Diagnosis of immunodeficiency * Systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study medication * Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), active Hepatitis B or C * Treatment with live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study medication are not eligible * Prior treatment with any anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4) monoclonal antibody or anti-programmed cell death receptor 1 (PD-1), anti-programmed cell death receptor ligand 1 (PD-L1), or anti-programmed cell death receptor ligand 2 (PD-L2) agent, or prior participation in any Merck pembrolizumab clinical trial * Currently participating and receiving study therapy, or participated in a study of an investigational agent and received study therapy or used an investigation device within 4 weeks of the first dose of study medication * Pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial, starting with the screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of study medication * Participant is or has an immediate family member (e.g., spouse, parent/legal guardian, sibling or child) who is investigational site or Sponsor staff directly involved with this trial without prospective Institutional Review Board approval (by chair or designee) is given

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Part 1: Percentage of Participants With Recurrence-Free Survival (RFS) At 6 Months Among All Participants

RFS was defined as the time between the date of randomization and the date of first melanoma recurrence (local, regional, distant metastasis) or death (whatever the cause), whichever occurred first. For participants who remained alive and whose disease had not recurred, RFS was censored on the date of last visit/contact with disease assessments. The percentage of participants with RFS at Month 6 was reported for all participants in both treatment arms of Part 1.

Time frame: 6 months

Part 1: Percentage of Participants With Recurrence-Free Survival (RFS) At 6 Months Among Participants With PD-L1-positive Tumor Expression

Time frame: 6 months

Secondary Outcomes

Distant Metastases-free Survival (DMFS) in All Participants

DMFS will be defined as the time between the date of randomization and the date of first distant metastasis or date of death (whatever the cause), whichever occurs first. For participants who remain alive and distant metastasis-free, DMFS will be censored on the date of last visit/contact with disease assessments. The percentage of participants with DMFS will be reported for all participants in both treatment arms.

Time frame: Up to approximately 11 years

Distant Metastases-free Survival (DMFS) for Participants With PD-L1-positive Tumor Expression

Description: DMFS will be defined as the time between the date of randomization and the date of first distant metastasis or date of death (whatever the cause), whichever occurs first. For participants who remain alive and distant metastasis-free, DMFS will be censored on the date of last visit/contact with disease assessments. The percentage of participants with DMFS will be reported for all participants with PD-L1-positive tumors in both treatment arms.

Time frame: Up to approximately 11 years

Overall Survival (OS) for All Participants

OS will be defined as the time from the date of randomization to the date of death, whatever the cause. The follow-up of participants still alive will be censored at the moment of last visit/contact. OS will be reported for all participants in both treatment arms.

Time frame: Up to approximately 11 years

Overall Survival (OS) for Participants With PD-L1-positive Tumor Expression

Time frame: Up to approximately 11 years

Number of Participants Who Experienced At Least 1 Adverse Event (AE)

An AE is defined as "any untoward medical occurrence in a participant which does not necessarily have to have a causal relationship with this treatment". An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended signs (such as rash or enlarged liver), symptoms (such as nausea or chest pain), an abnormal laboratory finding (including results of blood tests, x-rays or scans) or a disease temporarily associated with the use of the protocol treatment, whether or not considered related to the investigational medicinal product. The number of participants who experienced at least 1 AE was reported for all participants in each treatment arm.

Time frame: Up to 22 months

Number of Participants Who Discontinued Study Treatment Due to an Adverse Event (AE)

An AE is defined as "any untoward medical occurrence in a participant which does not necessarily have to have a causal relationship with this treatment". An AE can therefore be any unfavorable and unintended signs (such as rash or enlarged liver), symptoms (such as nausea or chest pain), an abnormal laboratory finding (including results of blood tests, x-rays or scans) or a disease temporarily associated with the use of the protocol treatment, whether or not considered related to the investigational medicinal product. The number of participants who discontinued study treatment due to an AE was reported for all participants in each treatment arm.

Time frame: Up to 22 months

Clearance (CL) of Pembrolizumab

Blood samples were to be collected at pre-specified time points and plasma isolated for analysis of pembrolizumab CL, defined as the volume of plasma from which pembrolizumab is eliminated per unit time following IV pembrolizumab administration. Samples were not collected and this analysis was not performed.

Time frame: Pre-dose on Day 1 of Cycles 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8, and then Day 1 of cycle for every 4 cycles afterwards (up to approximately 16 months). Each cycle is 3 weeks.

Volume of Distribution (V) of Pembrolizumab

Blood samples were to be collected at pre-specified time points and plasma isolated for analysis of pembrolizumab V, defined as the theoretical volume that would be necessary to contain the total amount of administered pembrolizumab at the same concentration that it is observed in the blood plasma. Samples were not collected and this analysis was not performed.

Time frame: Pre-dose on Day 1 of Cycles 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8, and then Day 1 of cycle for every 4 cycles afterwards (up to approximately 16 months). Each cycle is 3 weeks.

Number of Participants Positive for Anti-Drug Antibodies (ADA) After Pembrolizumab Treatment

Pre- and post-baseline serum samples from participants treated with pembrolizumab were analyzed for ADA by means of a neutralizing antibody assay which assessed the ability of ADA to block (neutralize) binding of pembrolizumab to Programmed Cell Death-1 (PD-1) protein. Overall immunogenicity was defined as the number of treatment emergent positive participants based on the total number of evaluable participants (treatment emergent positive, non-treatment emergent positive and negative immunogenicity status).

Time frame: Pre-dose on Day 1 of Cycles 1, 2, 4, 6, and 8, and then Day 1 of cycle for every 4 cycles afterwards (up to approximately 16 months). Each cycle is 3 weeks.