Immunotherapy boosts chemo to wipe out hidden leukemia cells

NCT ID NCT04214249

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI) Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This phase 2 trial tests whether adding the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab to standard chemotherapy helps people with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) achieve a deeper remission. About 49 participants will receive either chemo alone or chemo plus pembrolizumab. The main goal is to see if the combination can eliminate all traces of leukemia (minimal residual disease) better than chemo alone.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: pembrolizumab (immunotherapy) plus standard chemotherapy (cytarabine and idarubicin or daunorubicin)
What this could lead to: If successful, this combination could help more people with AML achieve a deep remission with no detectable cancer cells left.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase trial (49 people) and the added immunotherapy may cause immune-related side effects. It is not yet proven to improve long-term survival.

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.

acute myeloid leukemia acute myeloid leukemia with multilineage dysplasia therapy related acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome therapy-related myeloid neoplasm

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA ARISING FROM PREVIOUS MYELODYSPLASTIC SYNDROME ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA POST CYTOTOXIC THERAPY SECONDARY ACUTE MYELOID LEUKEMIA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center/Dartmouth Cancer Center

Lebanon, New Hampshire, 03756, United States
Mayo Clinic in Florida

Jacksonville, Florida, 32224-9980, United States
Northwestern University

Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States
UC Irvine Health/Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center

Orange, California, 92868, United States
University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer Center

Birmingham, Alabama, 35233, United States
VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center

Richmond, Virginia, 23298, United States
Wake Forest Baptist Health - Wilkes Medical Center

Wilkesboro, North Carolina, 28659, United States
Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, United States
Wake Forest University at Clemmons

Clemmons, North Carolina, 27012, United States
Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, United States

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