Can we treat sicker lung cancer patients the same as healthier ones?
NCT ID NCT04253964
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Aug 11, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This study looks at whether non-small cell lung cancer patients who are less fit (performance status 2) can be treated just as effectively with a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy as those who are more fit (performance status 0-1). About 105 participants will receive pembrolizumab, and some will also get carboplatin and paclitaxel depending on their cancer type. The goal is to see if the less fit group has similar cancer control and side effects.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Pembrolizumab, Carboplatin, Paclitaxel
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that lung cancer patients with a lower performance status can still benefit from standard chemo/immunotherapy, expanding treatment access.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase pilot study, so results may not be conclusive. Patients with poorer performance status may experience more side effects or less benefit.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center
RECRUITINGWinston-Salem, North Carolina, 27105, United States
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