A Study of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in Participants With Recurrent or Metastatic Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma (MK-3475-059/KEYNOTE-059)

• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02335411
• Recruitment Status: Completed
• First Posted: January 9, 2015
• Results First Posted: August 8, 2022
• Last Update Posted: August 8, 2022
• Sponsor: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
• Information provided by (Responsible Party): Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Study Description

Brief Summary:

This is a study of pembrolizumab (MK-3475) for advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma; pembrolizumab will be given as monotherapy to participants who have had previous treatment or who are treatment-naïve; pembrolizumab will also be evaluated as combination therapy with cisplatin and 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) or (Japan only) capecitabine in treatment-naïve participants. The primary study hypothesis is that pembrolizumab will provide a clinically meaningful Overall Response Rate (ORR).

Condition or disease	Intervention/treatment	Phase
Gastric Adenocarcinoma; Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma	Biological: pembrolizumab; Drug: cisplatin; Drug: 5-FU; Drug: capecitabine	Phase 2

Detailed Description:

This study will have 3 cohorts. In Cohort 1, participants who have received at least two prior therapies for their advanced disease will receive monotherapy with pembrolizumab. In Cohort 2, participants who have not received any previous therapy for their disease will receive pembrolizumab in combination with cisplatin and 5-FU or (Japan only) capecitabine. In Cohort 3, participants who have not received any previous therapy and who have programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive tumors will receive pembrolizumab monotherapy.

Study Design

• Study Type: Interventional (Clinical Trial)
• Actual Enrollment: 318 participants
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)
• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Official Title: A Phase II Clinical Trial of Pembrolizumab as Monotherapy and in Combination With Cisplatin+5-Fluorouracil in Subjects With Recurrent or Metastatic Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma (KEYNOTE-059)
• Actual Study Start Date: February 3, 2015
• Actual Primary Completion Date: July 23, 2021
• Actual Study Completion Date: July 23, 2021

Arms and Interventions

Arm	Intervention/treatment
Experimental: Cohort 1: Pembrolizumab monotherapy, previously treated; Participants receive pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously (IV) on Day 1 of each 3-week cycle (Q3W)	Biological: pembrolizumab; IV infusion; Other Name: MK-3475
Experimental: Cohort 2: Pembrolizumab combination therapy, treatment naive; Participants receive pembrolizumab 200 mg IV each 3-week cycle (Q3W) + cisplatin 80 mg/m^2 IV Q3W for up to 6 cycles + 5-FU 800 mg/m^2 IV on Days 1-5 every 3 weeks or (Japan only) capecitabine 1000 mg/m^2 orally, twice per day (BID) on Days 1-14 of each 3-week cycle	Biological: pembrolizumab; IV infusion; Other Name: MK-3475; Drug: cisplatin; IV infusion; Other Name: PLATINOL®; Drug: 5-FU; IV infusion; Other Name: ADRUCIL®; Drug: capecitabine; oral tablets; Other Name: XELODA®
Experimental: Cohort 3: Pembrolizumab monotherapy, treatment naive, PD-L1 positive; Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) positive participants receive pembrolizumab 200 mg IV on Day 1 of each 3-week cycle (Q3W)	Biological: pembrolizumab; IV infusion; Other Name: MK-3475

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures :

1. Number of Participants Experiencing Adverse Events (AEs) [ Time Frame: Up to approximately 65 months ]
   An AE is defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a participant administered study drug and which does not necessarily have to have a causal relationship with the study drug. The number of participants who experienced at least one AE is presented. Per protocol, the number of participants who experienced at least one AE during first course pembrolizumab treatment is presented.
2. Number of Participants Discontinuing Study Drug Due to AEs [ Time Frame: Up to approximately 52 months ]
   An AE was defined as any untoward medical occurrence in a participant administered study drug and which does not necessarily have to have a causal relationship with the study drug. The number of participants who discontinued study drug due to an AE is presented. Per protocol, the number of participants who discontinued drug during first course pembrolizumab treatment is presented.
3. Objective Response Rate (ORR) For All Participants in Cohorts 1 and 3 [ Time Frame: Up to approximately 75 months ]
   The Objective Response Rate (ORR) was defined as the percentage of participants in the analysis population who had a Complete Response (CR: Disappearance of all target lesions) or Partial Response (PR: At least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as assessed by central radiology review. The percentage of all participants (regardless of programmed death-ligand 1 [PD-L1] tumor status) in Cohorts 1 and 3 who had a CR or PR during first course pembrolizumab treatment per protocol, is presented.
4. Objective Response Rate For PD-L1 Positive Participants in Cohorts 1 and 3 [ Time Frame: Up to approximately 75 months ]
   The ORR was defined as the percentage of participants in the analysis population who had a CR or PR (CR: Disappearance of all target lesions; PR: At least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per RECIST 1.1, as assessed by central radiology review. The percentage of all participants in Cohorts 1 and 3 with PD-L1+ tumor status who experienced a CR or PR during first course pembrolizumab treatment per protocol, is presented. Note: All participants in Cohort 3 had a PD-L1-positive tumor status.

Secondary Outcome Measures :

1. Objective Response Rate (ORR) For All Participants in Cohort 2 [ Time Frame: Up to approximately 75 months ]
   The Objective Response Rate (ORR) was defined as the percentage of participants in the analysis population who had a Complete Response (CR: Disappearance of all target lesions) or Partial Response (PR: At least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as assessed by central radiology review. The percentage of all participants (regardless of PD-L1 tumor status) in Cohort 2 who had a CR or PR during first course pembrolizumab treatment per protocol, is presented.
2. Objective Response Rate For PD-L1 Positive Participants in Cohort 2 [ Time Frame: Up to approximately 75 months ]
   The ORR was defined as the percentage of participants in the analysis population who had a CR or PR (CR: Disappearance of all target lesions; PR: At least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per RECIST 1.1, as assessed by central radiology review. The percentage of participants in Cohort 2 with PD-L1+ tumor status who experienced a CR or PR during first course pembrolizumab treatment per protocol, is presented.
3. Duration of Response (DOR) For All Participants [ Time Frame: Up to approximately 75 months ]
   Duration of Response (DOR) was defined as the time from first documented evidence of CR or PR (CR: Disappearance of all target lesions; PR: At least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per RECIST 1.1, based on central imaging vendor assessment, until disease progression (PD) or death, whichever occurred first. PD is defined as ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions is also considered PD. Participants who had not progressed or died at the time of analysis were censored at the date of their last tumor assessment. The DOR for all participants (regardless of PD-L1 tumor status) during first course pembrolizumab treatment per protocol, is presented.
4. Duration of Response For PD-L1 Positive Participants [ Time Frame: Up to approximately 75 months ]
   DOR was defined as the time from first documented evidence of CR or PR (CR: Disappearance of all target lesions; PR: At least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per RECIST 1.1, based on central imaging vendor assessment, until disease progression (PD) or death, whichever occurred first. PD is defined as ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions is also considered PD. Participants who had not progressed or died at the time of analysis were censored at the date of their last tumor assessment. The DOR for only PD-L1 positive participants during first course pembrolizumab treatment per protocol, is presented. Note: All participants in Cohort 3 had a PD-L1-positive tumor status.
5. Progression-Free Survival (PFS) For All Participants [ Time Frame: Up to approximately 75 months ]
   Progression-Free Survival (PFS) was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented disease progression, or death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. Per RECIST 1.1, progressive disease was defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the smallest sum on study. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of at least 5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered progression. The PFS for all participants (regardless of PD-L1 tumor status) during first course pembrolizumab treatment per protocol, is presented.
6. Progression-Free Survival For PD-L1 Positive Participants [ Time Frame: Up to approximately 75 months ]
   PFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented disease progression, or death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. Per RECIST 1.1, progressive disease was defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the smallest sum on study. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum must also demonstrate an absolute increase of at least 5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered progression. The PFS for only PD-L1 positive participants during first course pembrolizumab treatment per protocol, is presented. Note: All participants in Cohort 3 had a PD-L1-positive tumor status.
7. Overall Survival (OS) For All Participants [ Time Frame: Up to approximately 75 months ]
   Overall Survival (OS) was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Participants without documented death at the time of the final analysis were censored at the date of the last follow-up. The OS for all participants (regardless of PD-L1 tumor status) during first course pembrolizumab treatment per protocol, is presented.
8. Overall Survival For PD-L1 Positive Participants [ Time Frame: Up to approximately 75 months ]
   OS was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Participants without documented death at the time of the final analysis were censored at the date of the last follow-up. The OS for only PD-L1 positive participants during first course pembrolizumab treatment per protocol, is presented. Note: All participants in Cohort 3 had a PD-L1-positive tumor status.
9. Disease Control Rate (DCR) For All Participants [ Time Frame: Up to approximately 75 months ]
   Disease Control Rate (DCR) was defined as the percentage of participants in the analysis population who had a CR or a PR (CR: Disappearance of all target lesions; PR: At least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) or stable disease (SD); (SD: neither sufficient shrinkage to qualify for PR nor sufficient increase to qualify for progressive disease) for ≥6 months, (for Cohort 1 ≥2 months) as assessed by central radiology review. The percentage of all participants (regardless of PD-L1 tumor status) who had a CR or PR or SD during first course pembrolizumab treatment per protocol, is presented.
10. Disease Control Rate For PD-L1 Positive Participants [ Time Frame: Up to approximately 75 months ]
    DCR was defined as the percentage of participants in the analysis population who had a CR or a PR (CR: Disappearance of all target lesions; PR: At least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) or stable disease (SD); (SD: neither sufficient shrinkage to qualify for PR nor sufficient increase to qualify for progressive disease) for ≥6 months, (for Cohort 1 ≥2 months) as assessed by central radiology review. The percentage of participants with PD-L1+ tumor status who experienced a CR or PR or SD during first course pembrolizumab treatment per protocol, is presented. Note: All participants in Cohort 3 had a PD-L1-positive tumor status.

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 Years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Sexes Eligible for Study: All
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria - Cohort 1:

• Received and progressed on ≥2 prior chemotherapy regimens for their advanced disease; prior regimen must have included a cisplatin and a fluoropyridine
• Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2/neu) negative, or, if HER2/neu positive, must have previously received treatment with trastuzumab

Inclusion Criteria - Cohort 2 or 3:

• HER2/neu negative
• Has not received prior systemic anti-cancer therapy for their advanced carcinoma (systemic therapy received in the neoadjuvant and adjuvant setting does not count)

Inclusion Criteria - All Participants:

• Histologically- or cytologically-confirmed recurrent or metastatic gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma that is considered incurable by local therapies
• Willing to provide tissue for PD-L1 biomarker analysis from newly-obtained and/or archival tissue
• Measurable disease based on Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1)
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 within 3 days prior to first dose of study drug
• Life expectancy of at least 3 months
• Female participants of childbearing potential should have a negative pregnancy test and be willing to use 2 methods of birth control or be surgically sterile, or abstain from heterosexual activity for the course of the study through 120 days after the last dose of study drug (180 days for participants receiving cisplatin + 5FU)
• Male participants should agree to use an adequate method of contraception starting with the first dose through 120 days after the last dose of study drug (180 days for participants receiving cisplatin + 5FU)
• Adequate organ function

Exclusion Criteria - All Participants:

• Currently participating and receiving study therapy or participated in a study of an investigational agent and received study therapy or used an investigation device within 4 weeks of the first dose of study drug
• Active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years
• Immunodeficiency or receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study drug
• Weight loss >10% over 2 months prior to first dose of study drug
• Clinical evidence of ascites by physical exam
• Prior anti-cancer monoclonal antibody (mAb) within 4 weeks prior to study Day 1 or not recovered from AEs due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier
• Prior chemotherapy, targeted small molecule therapy, or radiation therapy within 2 weeks prior to study Day 1 or who has not recovered from AEs due to a previously administered agent
• Known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment excepting basal cell carcinoma of the skin or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer
• Known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis
• Known history of, or any evidence of active, non-infectious pneumonitis
• Active infection requiring systemic therapy
• Psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the study
• Pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the study, starting with the screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of study drug (180 days for participants receiving cisplatin + 5FU)
• Prior therapy with an anti-programmed death-1 (PD-1), anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 agent
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Hepatitis B or C
• Received live vaccine within 30 days of planned start of study drug

Contacts and Locations

Sponsors and Collaborators

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Investigators

• Study Director: Medical Director; Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

  Study Documents (Full-Text)

Documents provided by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC:

Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan  [PDF] May 1, 2020

More Information

Additional Information:

Merck Oncology Clinical Trials Information 

Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):

Cristescu R, Aurora-Garg D, Albright A, Xu L, Liu XQ, Loboda A, Lang L, Jin F, Rubin EH, Snyder A, Lunceford J. Tumor mutational burden predicts the efficacy of pembrolizumab monotherapy: a pan-tumor retrospective analysis of participants with advanced solid tumors. J Immunother Cancer. 2022 Jan;10(1):e003091. doi: 10.1136/jitc-2021-003091.

Chao J, Fuchs CS, Shitara K, Tabernero J, Muro K, Van Cutsem E, Bang YJ, De Vita F, Landers G, Yen CJ, Chau I, Elme A, Lee J, Ozguroglu M, Catenacci D, Yoon HH, Chen E, Adelberg D, Shih CS, Shah S, Bhagia P, Wainberg ZA. Assessment of Pembrolizumab Therapy for the Treatment of Microsatellite Instability-High Gastric or Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer Among Patients in the KEYNOTE-059, KEYNOTE-061, and KEYNOTE-062 Clinical Trials. JAMA Oncol. 2021 Jun 1;7(6):895-902. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2021.0275.

Bang YJ, Kang YK, Catenacci DV, Muro K, Fuchs CS, Geva R, Hara H, Golan T, Garrido M, Jalal SI, Borg C, Doi T, Yoon HH, Savage MJ, Wang J, Dalal RP, Shah S, Wainberg ZA, Chung HC. Pembrolizumab alone or in combination with chemotherapy as first-line therapy for patients with advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma: results from the phase II nonrandomized KEYNOTE-059 study. Gastric Cancer. 2019 Jul;22(4):828-837. doi: 10.1007/s10120-018-00909-5. Epub 2019 Mar 25.

Fuchs CS, Doi T, Jang RW, Muro K, Satoh T, Machado M, Sun W, Jalal SI, Shah MA, Metges JP, Garrido M, Golan T, Mandala M, Wainberg ZA, Catenacci DV, Ohtsu A, Shitara K, Geva R, Bleeker J, Ko AH, Ku G, Philip P, Enzinger PC, Bang YJ, Levitan D, Wang J, Rosales M, Dalal RP, Yoon HH. Safety and Efficacy of Pembrolizumab Monotherapy in Patients With Previously Treated Advanced Gastric and Gastroesophageal Junction Cancer: Phase 2 Clinical KEYNOTE-059 Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2018 May 10;4(5):e180013. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2018.0013. Epub 2018 May 10. Erratum In: JAMA Oncol. 2019 Apr 1;5(4):579.

• Responsible Party: Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
• ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02335411
• Other Study ID Numbers: 3475-059; MK-3475-059 ( Other Identifier: Merck ); KEYNOTE-059 ( Other Identifier: Merck ); 2014-003574-16 ( EudraCT Number )
• First Posted: January 9, 2015
• Results First Posted: August 8, 2022
• Last Update Posted: August 8, 2022
• Last Verified: July 2022

Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:

• Plan to Share IPD: Yes
• Plan Description: http://engagezone.msd.com/doc/ProcedureAccessClinicalTrialData.pdf
• URL: http://engagezone.msd.com/ds_documentation.php

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No

Keywords provided by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC:

Gastric cancer; Gastroesophageal junction cancer; Programmed Cell Death-1 (PD1, PD-1); Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PDL1, PD-L1)

Additional relevant MeSH terms:

Adenocarcinoma; Esophageal Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Gastrointestinal Neoplasms; Digestive System Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Head and Neck Neoplasms; Digestive System Diseases; Esophageal Diseases; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Pembrolizumab; Capecitabine; Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; Antimetabolites