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Recruiting Phase 1, Phase 2 NCT02332668

NCT02332668 A Study of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in Pediatric Participants With an Advanced Solid Tumor or Lymphoma (MK-3475-051/KEYNOTE-051)

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Clinical Trial Summary
NCT ID NCT02332668
Status Recruiting
Phase Phase 1, Phase 2
Sponsor Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Condition Melanoma
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment 370 participants
Start Date 2015-03-19
Primary Completion 2028-02-02

Eligibility & Interventions

Sex All sexes
Min Age 6 Months
Max Age 17 Years
Study Type INTERVENTIONAL
Interventions
Pembrolizumab

Eligibility Fast-Check

Enter your details for a quick preliminary check. This does not replace medical advice.

What to Expect as a Participant

You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.

Phase 1 is the earliest stage of human testing — safety and dosage are the primary focus. Visits are frequent and medical supervision is intensive. You will be among the first people to receive this treatment.

This trial targets 370 participants in total. It began in 2015-03-19 with a primary completion date of 2028-02-02.

⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.

Brief Summary

Researchers are looking for new ways to treat children with different types of melanoma (skin cancer), solid tumors, and lymphomas (blood cancers) that are any of these: * Advanced, which means cancer spread in the body or cannot be removed with surgery * Relapsed, which means cancer has come back after it had responded to previous treatment (responded means it stopped growing, gets smaller, or disappeared) * Refractory, which means cancer did not respond to previous treatment Pembrolizumab is an immunotherapy, which is a treatment that helps the immune system fight cancer. Researchers want to learn if different doses of pembrolizumab can cause at least 1 of the types of cancer to get smaller or go away. With Amendment 8, enrollment of participants with solid tumors and participants 6 months to under 12 years old with melanoma were closed. With Amendment 13, enrollment was closed for participants with relapsed refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (rrCHL), microsatellite instabilty-high (MSI-H) solid tumors, tumor-mutational burden-high (TMB-H) solid tumors, and participants 12 years old to \<18 years old with advanced melanoma.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Between 6 months and \<18 years of age on day of signing informed consent is documented. * Histologically- or cytologically-documented, locally-advanced, or metastatic solid malignancy or lymphoma that is incurable and has failed prior standard therapy, or for which no standard therapy exists, or for which no standard therapy is considered appropriate * Any number of prior treatment regimens * Tissue (or lymph node biopsy for rrcHL participants) available from an archival tissue sample or, if appropriate, a newly obtained core or excisional biopsy of a tumor lesion not previously irradiated * Advanced melanoma or PD-L1-positive advanced, relapsed, or refractory solid tumor or lymphoma * Measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1 (Or based on IWG \[Cheson, 2007\] \[i.e., measurement must be \>15 mm in longest diameter or \>10 mm in short axis\] for rrcHL participants) * Participants with neuroblastoma with only metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG)-positive evaluable disease may be enrolled * Lansky Play Scale ≥50 for participants from 6 months up to and including 16 years of age; or Karnofsky score ≥50 for participants \>16 years of age * Adequate organ function * Female participants of childbearing potential should have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 72 hours before the first dose of study medication * Female participant is not a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP) or is a WOCBP who is abstinent from heterosexual intercourse or using contraception during the intervention period and for at least 120 days after the last dose of study intervention * Contraceptive use by men should be consistent with local regulations regarding the methods of contraception for those participating in clinical studies. * Demonstrate adequate organ function. Exclusion Criteria: * Currently participating and receiving study therapy in, or has participated in a study of an investigational agent and received study therapy or used an investigational device within 4 weeks of the date of allocation/randomization * Diagnosis of immunodeficiency or receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the date of allocation/randomization * Prior systemic anti-cancer therapy including investigational agent within 2 weeks prior to study Day 1 or not recovered from adverse events due to a previously administered agent * Prior radiotherapy within 2 weeks of start of study treatment * Known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment with the exception of basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ (eg, breast carcinoma, cervical carcinoma in situ) with potentially curative therapy, or in situ cervical cancer * Known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis * Tumor(s) involving the brain stem * Severe hypersensitivity (≥ Grade 3) to pembrolizumab and/or any of its excipients * Active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years; replacement therapy (such as thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency) is acceptable * Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or current pneumonitis. * Active infection requiring systemic therapy * Pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial through 120 days after the last dose of study medication * Prior therapy with an anti-programmed cell death (PD)-1, anti-PD-ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1), anti-PD-L2 agent, or any agent directed to another stimulatory or inhibitory T-cell receptor (eg, cytotoxic lymphocyte associated protein-4 \[CTLA-4\], OX-40, CD137) * Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) * Hepatitis B or C * Known history of active tuberculosis (TB; Bacillus tuberculosis) * Received a live vaccine within 30 days of planned start of study medication * Has undergone solid organ transplant at any time, or prior allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation within the last 5 years. (Participants who have had an allogeneic hematopoietic transplant \>5 years ago are eligible as long as there are no symptoms of Graft Versus Host Disease \[GVHD\].) * History or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality, or known severe hypersensitivity to any component or analog of the trial treatment, that might confound the results of the trial, or interfere with the participant's participation for the full duration of the study * Known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with the requirements of the study

Contact & Investigator

Central Contact

Toll Free Number

✉ Trialsites@msd.com

📞 1-888-577-8839

Principal Investigator

Medical Director

STUDY DIRECTOR

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can join the NCT02332668 clinical trial?

This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 6 Months or older, up to 17 Years, studying Melanoma. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.

What phase is the NCT02332668 trial and what does that mean for participants?

Phase 1 trials are the first stage of human testing. The primary goal is to assess safety and determine appropriate dosage levels. Participants are closely monitored. These trials typically involve a small number of volunteers.

Is NCT02332668 currently recruiting?

Yes, NCT02332668 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at Trialsites@msd.com for enrollment information.

Where is the NCT02332668 trial being conducted?

This trial is being conducted at Aurora, United States, Chicago, United States, Boston, United States, New York, United States and 11 additional locations.

Who is sponsoring the NCT02332668 clinical trial?

NCT02332668 is sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC. The principal investigator is Medical Director at Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC. The trial plans to enroll 370 participants.

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ClinicalMetric — Independent clinical trial intelligence platform. Not affiliated with NIH, ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. FDA, or any pharmaceutical company, hospital, or clinical research organization. Trial data is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Do not make any treatment, enrollment, or health decisions based solely on information found here — always consult a qualified healthcare professional. Full Disclaimer  ·  Last Reviewed: November 2026  ·  Data Methodology