Can a cancer drug wipe out hidden tumor cells after surgery?

NCT ID NCT03832569

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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

Summary

This study tests the safety and effectiveness of pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy drug, in 17 adults with MSI-H solid tumors who still have cancer DNA in their blood after surgery. Participants receive the drug every 3 weeks for up to 12 months. The main goal is to see if the drug can clear the cancer DNA from the blood, which might help prevent the cancer from coming back.

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 it works, this could point toward a way to stop certain cancers from coming back after surgery by using the immune system to clear remaining tumor cells.
What could go wrong: This is a very small, early-phase trial with only 17 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The drug can cause serious side effects, and it's not yet known if it will actually prevent cancer recurrence.

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.

Pathologic Complete Response

As listed by the trial registrant

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

IDENTIFIED BY NGS, PCR OR IHC SOLID TUMORS

Contacts and locations

Locations

Memorial Sloan Kettering Basking Ridge

Basking Ridge, New Jersey, 07920, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen

Montvale, New Jersey, 07645, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

New York, New York, 10065, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Commack

Commack, New York, 11725, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth

Middletown, New Jersey, 07748, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau

Uniondale, New York, 11553, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester

Harrison, New York, 10604, United States

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