New combo therapy for lung cancer shows promise in early trial
NCT ID NCT02621398
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This early-phase trial tested whether adding the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab to standard chemotherapy and radiation is safe for people with stage II to IIIB non-small cell lung cancer. Twenty-three participants received the combination to find the best dose and check for side effects, especially lung inflammation. The goal was to see if this approach could be a future treatment option.
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) given with paclitaxel, carboplatin, and radiation therapy
What this could lead to
If successful, this could lead to a new treatment option that improves outcomes for people with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.
What could go wrong
This is a very early phase 1 trial with only 23 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The main risk was severe lung inflammation (pneumonitis), and the combination may not work better than standard care.
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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Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
New Brunswick, New Jersey, 08903, United States
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University of Pennsylvania/Abramson Cancer Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States
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Yale Cancer Center
New Haven, Connecticut, 06510, United States