Keytruda after lung surgery: can it keep cancer away?

NCT ID NCT02504372

Completed Disease control Sponsor: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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

Summary

This phase 3 trial tested the drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) against a placebo in 1,177 people with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer who had already had surgery. The goal was to see if pembrolizumab could delay the cancer from coming back. Participants received either the drug or a placebo by IV infusion. The study focused on how long patients stayed cancer-free, especially those with high levels of a protein called PD-L1.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: pembrolizumab (Keytruda)
What this could lead to: If successful, this could offer a way to delay or prevent lung cancer from coming back after surgery, improving long-term outcomes for patients.
What could go wrong: This is a completed phase 3 trial, but results may not apply to all patients. Pembrolizumab can cause immune-related side effects, and not all patients may 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.

autosomal dominant Parkinson disease 4 non-small cell lung carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER

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