In a recent update on the three-year follow-up data from the randomized Phase III KEYNOTE-407 study, pembrolizumab (Pembro) plus chemotherapy has been shown to provide sustained benefits for patients with advanced squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study, which was conducted by Merck and Roche, aimed to investigate the efficacy of Pembro plus chemotherapy in previously untreated metastatic squamous NSCLC.

The KEYNOTE-407 trial involved 1,274 patients who were randomly assigned to receive either Pembro plus chemotherapy or placebo plus chemotherapy. The results showed that Pembro plus chemotherapy significantly improved overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and objective response rate (ORR) compared with placebo plus chemotherapy.

One of the key findings from the study was that patients with high PD-L1 expression derived a greater treatment effect from Pembro. In fact, investigators estimated that about 65.9% of patients who received Pembro and had high PD-L1 expression will still be alive and disease-free after three years, compared to 57.6% of those in the placebo group.

The study also showed that the treatment effect of Pembro was consistent across different patient subgroups, including those with low or no PD-L1 expression. This is significant because it suggests that Pembro may be effective in a broader range of patients than previously thought.

In addition to the clinical benefits, the KEYNOTE-407 trial also demonstrated the safety and tolerability of Pembro plus chemotherapy. The most common adverse events were fatigue, nausea, and decreased appetite, but these were generally mild and manageable.

The results of this study are significant because they provide new insights into the treatment of advanced squamous NSCLC. Pembrolizumab is already approved in combination with chemotherapy for the first-line treatment of metastatic NSCLC, and these findings suggest that it may be an effective option for patients who have undergone surgery as well.

Overall, the KEYNOTE-407 trial provides further evidence of the benefits of Pembro plus chemotherapy in the treatment of advanced squamous NSCLC. Its results are likely to inform clinical practice and help guide treatment decisions for patients with this disease.

Keynote 407 update