Could a single drug tame brain metastases? new trial hints at hope
NCT ID NCT02886585
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This phase 2 trial tests the drug pembrolizumab in 101 adults with cancer that has spread to the brain or spinal cord. The goal is to see if the drug can shrink or stabilize these tumors. Participants receive pembrolizumab along with standard imaging and sometimes radiation. The study is active but no longer recruiting new participants.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Pembrolizumab (a drug that helps the immune system fight cancer)
What this could lead to
If successful, this could provide a new treatment option for people with cancer that has spread to the brain, potentially shrinking tumors or slowing disease progression.
What could go wrong
This is a mid-stage trial with only 101 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. Pembrolizumab can cause immune-related side effects, and not all patients may benefit.
Disclaimer
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This is a summary of
the original study
.
Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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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
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Locations
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Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
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Priscilla Brastianos
Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States