Keytruda shows promise for liver cancer in asian patients

NCT ID NCT03062358

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This phase 3 trial tested whether adding the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) to best supportive care helps Asian patients with advanced liver cancer live longer. 453 patients who had already received one prior treatment were randomly assigned to get either pembrolizumab or a placebo, along with supportive care. The main goal was to see if pembrolizumab improved overall survival.

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 provide a new second-line treatment option for Asian patients with advanced liver cancer, potentially extending survival.

What could go wrong

This trial is completed, but results may not apply to all populations. Pembrolizumab can cause immune-related side effects, and not all patients may benefit.

Disclaimer Read more

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.

autosomal dominant Parkinson disease 4 hepatocellular carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Anhui Provincial Hospital ( Site 0032)

    Hefei, Anhui, 230001, China

  • Asan Medical Center ( Site 0072)

    Seoul, 05505, South Korea

  • Beacon Hospital Sdn Bhd ( Site 0092)

    Petaling Jaya, Selangor, 46050, Malaysia

  • Beijing Cancer Hospital ( Site 0010)

    Beijing, 100142, China

  • Bengbu Medical College First Affiliated Hospital ( Site 0020)

    Bengbu, 233030, China

  • Chia-Yi Chang Gung Memorial Hospital ( Site 0133)

    Chiayi City, 613, Taiwan

  • China Medical University Hospital ( Site 0131)

    Taichung, 40447, Taiwan

  • Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center ( Site 0024)

    Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200032, China

  • Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command ( Site 0019)

    Fuzhou, Fujian, 350025, China

  • Guangdong General Hospital ( Site 0015)

    Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510080, China

  • Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital ( Site 0007)

    Harbin, Heilongjiang, 610000, China

  • Hong Kong Sanatorium Hospital ( Site 0053)

    Hong Kong, Hong Kong

  • Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia ( Site 0093)

    Cheras, 56000, Malaysia

  • Hubei Cancer Hospital ( Site 0035)

    Wuhan, Hubei, 430079, China

  • Hunan Cancer Hospital ( Site 0027)

    Changsha, Hunan, 410006, China

  • Jiangsu Cancer Hospital ( Site 0003)

    Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, China

  • Jilin Province Cancer Hospital, Department of Chemotherapy ( Site 0002)

    Changchun, Jilin, 130012, China

  • Nantong Tumor Hospital ( Site 0028)

    Nantong, Jiangsu, 226361, China

  • National Cheng Kung University Hospital ( Site 0132)

    Tainan, 70403, Taiwan

  • Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital ( Site 0052)

    Hong Kong, Hong Kong

  • Princess Margaret Hospital. ( Site 0051)

    Hong Kong, Hong Kong

  • Renji Hosp,Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine ( Site 0017)

    Shanghai, 200127, China

  • Samsung Medical Center ( Site 0071)

    Seoul, 06351, South Korea

  • Seoul National University Hospital ( Site 0074)

    Seoul, 03080, South Korea

  • Severance Hospital Yonsei University Health System ( Site 0073)

    Seoul, 03722, South Korea

  • The 81st Hospital of PLA ( Site 0016)

    Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210031, China

  • The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University ( Site 0005)

    Hefei, Anhui, 230022, China

  • The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University ( Site 0022)

    Dalian, Liaoning, 116011, China

  • The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University ( Site 0025)

    Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215006, China

  • The First Hospital Of Jilin University ( Site 0001)

    Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China

  • The First People s Hospital of Foshan ( Site 0033)

    Foshan, Guangdong, 528000, China

  • The First affiliated Hospital Zhejing University ( Site 0034)

    Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China

  • The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University ( Site 0008)

    Hefei, 230601, China

  • The Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University ( Site 0026)

    Changsha, Hunan, 410013, China

  • The first affiliated Hospital of Xi an Jiaotong University ( Site 0014)

    Xi’an, Shanxi, 710061, China

  • University Malaya Medical Centre ( Site 0091)

    Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, 59100, Malaysia

  • West China Hospital of Sichuan University ( Site 0030)

    Chengdu, Sichuan, 610000, China

  • Wuhan Tongji Hospital ( Site 0021)

    Wuhan, Hubei, 430030, China

  • Yangzhou No.1 People's Hospital ( Site 0023)

    Yangzhou, Jiangsu, 225012, China

  • Zhejiang Cancer Hospital ( Site 0011)

    Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310022, China

  • Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University ( Site 0012)

    Shanghai, 200032, China