A Study of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) Versus Paclitaxel, Docetaxel, or Vinflunine for Participants With Advanced Urothelial Cancer (MK-3475-045/KEYNOTE-045)

NCT02256436 | Completed Phase 3 Results DMC FDA Drug

• 4 other identifiers: 3475-0452014-002009-40152903MK-3475-045
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 542
• Locations: 0 countries
• Sites: N/A

Brief Summary

Participants with metastatic or locally advanced/unresectable urothelial cancer that has recurred or progressed following platinum-based chemotherapy will be randomly assigned to receive Investigator's choice of paclitaxel, docetaxel, or vinflunine (Control), or pembrolizumab. The primary study hypotheses are that pembrolizumab will prolong Overall Survival (OS) and Progression-free Survival (PFS) compared to paclitaxel, docetaxel, or vinflunine.

Conditions

Urothelial Cancer

Keywords

Programmed Cell Death-1 (PD1, PD-1); Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PDL1, PD-L1); Bladder cancer

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (6)

• Progression-Free Survival (PFS) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) - All Participants

  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 (PD) was defined as at least a 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 at least 5 mm. Note: The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. The PFS per RECIST 1.1 was assessed by blinded independent central review (BICR) in all participants up through the primary analysis database cut-off date of 07-Sep-2016.

  Through primary analysis database cut-off date of 07-Sep-2016 (Up to approximately 20 months)

• Overall Survival (OS) - All Participants

  OS was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. The OS was assessed in all participants up through the primary analysis database cut-off date of 07-Sep-2016.

  Through primary analysis database cut-off date of 07-Sep-2016 (Up to approximately 20 months)

• PFS Per RECIST 1.1 - Participants With Programmed Cell Death-Ligand (PD-L1) Positive Tumors

  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, PD was defined as at least a 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 at least 5 mm. Note: The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. PFS per RECIST 1.1 was assessed by BICR in all participants who had PD-L1 positive tumors (combined positive score \[CPS\] ≥1%) up through the primary analysis database cut-off date of 07-Sep-2016.

  Through primary analysis database cut-off date of 07-Sep-2016 (Up to approximately 20 months)

• OS - Participants With PD-L1 Positive Tumors

  OS was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. For the purposes of this study, participants with PD-L1 CPS ≥1% were considered to have a PD-L1 positive tumor status. OS was assessed in all participants who had PD-L1 positive tumors (CPS ≥1%) up through the primary analysis database cut-off date of 07-Sep-2016.

  Through primary analysis database cut-off date of 07-Sep-2016 (Up to approximately 20 months)

• PFS Per RECIST 1.1 - Participants With Strongly PD-L1 Positive Tumors

  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, PD was defined as at least a 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 at least 5 mm. Note: The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. PFS per RECIST 1.1 was assessed by BICR in all participants who had strongly PD-L1 positive tumors (CPS ≥10%) up through the primary analysis database cut-off date of 07-Sep-2016.

  Through primary analysis database cut-off date of 07-Sep-2016 (Up to approximately 20 months)

• OS - Participants With Strongly PD-L1 Positive Tumors

  OS was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. For the purposes of this study, participants with a PD-L1 CPS ≥10% were considered to have a strongly PD-L1 positive tumor status. The OS was assessed in all participants who had strongly PD-L1 positive tumors (CPS ≥10%) up through the primary analysis database cut-off date of 07-Sep-2016.

  Through primary analysis database cut-off date of 07-Sep-2016 (Up to approximately 20 months)

Secondary Outcomes (14)

• Number of Participants Who Experienced an Adverse Event (AE)

  Through final analysis database cut-off date of 26-Oct-2017 (Up to approximately 34 months)

• Number of Participants Who Discontinued Study Treatment Due to an AE

  Through final analysis database cut-off date of 26-Oct-2017 (Up to approximately 34 months)

• Objective Response Rate (ORR) Per RECIST 1.1 - Participants With Strongly PD-L1 Positive Tumors

  Through final analysis database cut-off date of 26-Oct-2017 (Up to approximately 34 months)

• ORR Per RECIST 1.1 - Participants With PD-L1 Positive Tumors

  Through final analysis database cut-off date of 26-Oct-2017 (Up to approximately 34 months)

• ORR Per RECIST 1.1 - All Participants

  Through final analysis database cut-off date of 26-Oct-2017 (Up to approximately 34 months)

Study Arms (2)

Control

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Participants receive paclitaxel 175 mg/m\^2 intravenously (IV) or docetaxel 75 mg/m\^2 IV or vinflunine 320 mg/m\^2 IV, on Day 1 of each 3-week cycle (Q3W). Eligible participants who experience disease progression may be able to switch over to receive pembrolizumab 200 mg Q3W for up to 35 treatment administrations (up to approximately 2 years).

Drug: paclitaxel; Drug: vinflunine; Drug: docetaxel

Pembrolizumab

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants receive pembrolizumab 200 mg IV on Day 1 Q3W. Eligible participants who stop pembrolizumab with Stable Disease (SD) or better but progress after discontinuation may be able to initiate a second course of pembrolizumab 200 mg for up to 17 cycles (up to approximately 1 additional year).

Biological: pembrolizumab

Interventions

pembrolizumab BIOLOGICAL

IV infusion

Also known as: MK-3475, KEYTRUDA®

Pembrolizumab

paclitaxel DRUG

IV infusion

Control

vinflunine DRUG

IV infusion

Control

docetaxel DRUG

IV infusion

Control

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Histologically- or cytologically-confirmed diagnosis of urothelial cancer of the renal pelvis, ureter, bladder, or urethra, that is transitional cell or mixed transitional/non-transitional (predominantly transitional) cell type
• Progression or recurrence of urothelial cancer following a first-line platinum-containing regimen (e.g cisplatin, carboplatin) for metastatic or inoperable locally advanced disease; or adjuvant platinum-based therapy following cystectomy for localized muscle-invasive urothelial cancer with recurrence/progression \<=12 months following completion of therapy; or neoadjuvant platinum-containing therapy prior to cystectomy for localized muscle-invasive urothelial cancer with recurrence \<=12 months following completion of therapy
• No more than 2 prior lines of systemic chemotherapy for metastatic urothelial cancer
• Able to provide tissue for biomarker analysis from an archival tissue sample or newly obtained core or excisional biopsy of a tumor lesion not previously irradiated
• Measureable disease
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0, 1, or 2
• Adequate organ function
• Female participants of childbearing potential have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test; or are surgically sterile, or willing to use 2 acceptable methods of birth control, or abstain from heterosexual activity for the course of the study through 120 days after the last dose of pembrolizumab or 180 days after the last dose of paclitaxel, docetaxel, or vinflunine
• Male participants must be willing to use an adequate method of contraception starting with the first dose of study medication through 120 days after the last dose of pembrolizumab or 180 days after the last dose of paclitaxel, docetaxel, or vinflunine

You may not qualify if:

• Urothelial cancer that is suitable for local therapy administered with curative intent
• Currently participating in or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or using an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of trial medication
• Diagnosis of immunodeficiency or receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study medication
• Anti-cancer monoclonal antibody (mAb) within 4 weeks prior to study Day 1 or not recovered from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier
• Prior chemotherapy, targeted small molecule therapy, or radiation therapy within 2 weeks of study Day 1 or not recovered from adverse events due to a previously administered agent
• Prior therapy with all choices of active comparator
• 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 that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cancer; or prostate cancer that was identified incidentally following cystoprostatectomy for bladder cancer that is Stage T2N0M0 or lower, Gleason score\<= 6, or prostatic-specific antigen (PSA) undetectable
• Known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis
• Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment within the past 3 months or a documented history of clinically severe autoimmune disease, or a syndrome that requires systemic or immunosuppressive agents
• Active cardiac disease
• Evidence of interstitial lung disease or active non-infectious pneumonitis
• Active infection requiring systemic therapy
• History of severe hypersensitivity reaction to paclitaxel, docetaxel, or to other drugs formulated with polysorbate 80 or polyoxyethylated castor oil, or to vinflunine or other vinca alkaloids
• Requires ongoing therapy with a medication that is a strong inhibitor or inducer of the cytochrome 3A4 (CYP3A4) enzymes
• Pregnant, breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial, starting with the screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of pembrolizumab or 180 days after the last dose of paclitaxel, docetaxel, or vinflunine

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC: lead

Related Publications (10)

• Giannatempo P, Machiels JP, Sassa N, Arranz JA, Fujii Y, Su WP, Keam B, Culine S, Shen YC, Langa JM, Sarid D, Aarts M, Calabro F, Rosenbaum E, Moreno BH, Bavle A, Xu JZ, Rha SY. Impact of Histology on Clinical Outcomes of Pembrolizumab Monotherapy in Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma in the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-045 and KEYNOTE-361 Trials. Clin Genitourin Cancer. 2025 Apr;23(2):102273. doi: 10.1016/j.clgc.2024.102273. Epub 2024 Nov 15.

  PMID: 40037029 DERIVED

• Balar AV, Castellano DE, Grivas P, Vaughn DJ, Powles T, Vuky J, Fradet Y, Lee JL, Fong L, Vogelzang NJ, Climent MA, Necchi A, Petrylak DP, Plimack ER, Xu JZ, Imai K, Moreno BH, Bellmunt J, de Wit R, O'Donnell PH. Efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab in metastatic urothelial carcinoma: results from KEYNOTE-045 and KEYNOTE-052 after up to 5 years of follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2023 Mar;34(3):289-299. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2022.11.012. Epub 2022 Dec 6.

  PMID: 36494006 DERIVED

• Bellmunt J, de Wit R, Fradet Y, Climent MA, Petrylak DP, Lee JL, Fong L, Necchi A, Sternberg CN, O'Donnell PH, Powles T, Plimack ER, Bajorin DF, Balar AV, Castellano D, Choueiri TK, Culine S, Gerritsen W, Gurney H, Quinn DI, Vuky J, Vogelzang NJ, Cristescu R, Lunceford J, Saadatpour A, Loboda A, Ma J, Rajasagi M, Godwin JL, Homet Moreno B, Grivas P. Putative Biomarkers of Clinical Benefit With Pembrolizumab in Advanced Urothelial Cancer: Results from the KEYNOTE-045 and KEYNOTE-052 Landmark Trials. Clin Cancer Res. 2022 May 13;28(10):2050-2060. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-21-3089.

  PMID: 35247908 DERIVED

• 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.

  PMID: 35101941 DERIVED

• van Vugt MJH, Stone JA, De Greef RHJMM, Snyder ES, Lipka L, Turner DC, Chain A, Lala M, Li M, Robey SH, Kondic AG, De Alwis D, Mayawala K, Jain L, Freshwater T. Immunogenicity of pembrolizumab in patients with advanced tumors. J Immunother Cancer. 2019 Aug 8;7(1):212. doi: 10.1186/s40425-019-0663-4.

  PMID: 31395089 DERIVED

• Fradet Y, Bellmunt J, Vaughn DJ, Lee JL, Fong L, Vogelzang NJ, Climent MA, Petrylak DP, Choueiri TK, Necchi A, Gerritsen W, Gurney H, Quinn DI, Culine S, Sternberg CN, Nam K, Frenkl TL, Perini RF, de Wit R, Bajorin DF. Randomized phase III KEYNOTE-045 trial of pembrolizumab versus paclitaxel, docetaxel, or vinflunine in recurrent advanced urothelial cancer: results of >2 years of follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2019 Jun 1;30(6):970-976. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdz127.

  PMID: 31050707 DERIVED

• Vaughn DJ, Bellmunt J, Fradet Y, Lee JL, Fong L, Vogelzang NJ, Climent MA, Petrylak DP, Choueiri TK, Necchi A, Gerritsen W, Gurney H, Quinn DI, Culine S, Sternberg CN, Mai Y, Li H, Perini RF, Bajorin DF, de Wit R. Health-Related Quality-of-Life Analysis From KEYNOTE-045: A Phase III Study of Pembrolizumab Versus Chemotherapy for Previously Treated Advanced Urothelial Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2018 Jun 1;36(16):1579-1587. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2017.76.9562. Epub 2018 Mar 28.

  PMID: 29590008 DERIVED

• Rassy EE, Bakouny Z, Aoun F, Haddad FG, Sleilaty G, Assi T, Kattan J. A network meta-analysis of the PD(L)-1 inhibitors in the salvage treatment of urothelial bladder cancer. Immunotherapy. 2018 Jun;10(8):657-663. doi: 10.2217/imt-2017-0190. Epub 2018 Mar 22.

  PMID: 29562804 DERIVED

• Bellmunt J, de Wit R, Vaughn DJ, Fradet Y, Lee JL, Fong L, Vogelzang NJ, Climent MA, Petrylak DP, Choueiri TK, Necchi A, Gerritsen W, Gurney H, Quinn DI, Culine S, Sternberg CN, Mai Y, Poehlein CH, Perini RF, Bajorin DF; KEYNOTE-045 Investigators. Pembrolizumab as Second-Line Therapy for Advanced Urothelial Carcinoma. N Engl J Med. 2017 Mar 16;376(11):1015-1026. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1613683. Epub 2017 Feb 17.

  PMID: 28212060 DERIVED

• Kim YS, Lee SI, Park SH, Park S, Hwang IG, Lee SC, Sun JM, Lee J, Lim HY. A Phase II Study of Weekly Docetaxel as Second-Line Chemotherapy in Patients With Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma. Clin Genitourin Cancer. 2016 Feb;14(1):76-81. doi: 10.1016/j.clgc.2015.09.008. Epub 2015 Sep 25.

  PMID: 26454620 DERIVED

Related Links

• Merck Oncology Clinical trials Information

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Parkinson Disease 4, Autosomal Dominant Lewy Body; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

Interventions

pembrolizumab; Paclitaxel; vinflunine; Docetaxel

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Urologic Neoplasms; Urogenital Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Female Urogenital Diseases; Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications; Urogenital Diseases; Urinary Bladder Diseases; Urologic Diseases; Male Urogenital Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Taxoids; Cyclodecanes; Cycloparaffins; Hydrocarbons, Alicyclic; Hydrocarbons, Cyclic; Hydrocarbons; Organic Chemicals; Diterpenes; Terpenes

Results Point of Contact

• Title: Senior Vice President, Global Clinical Development
• Organization: Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.

ClinicalTrialsDisclosure@merck.com

1-800-672-6372

Study Officials

• Medical Director

  Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

  STUDY DIRECTOR

Publication Agreements

• PI is Sponsor Employee: No
• Restriction Type: OTHER
• Restrictive Agreement: Yes

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: phase 3
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: INDUSTRY
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 29, 2014
• First Posted: October 3, 2014
• Study Start: October 22, 2014
• Primary Completion: September 7, 2016
• Study Completion: October 1, 2020
• Last Updated: September 20, 2021
• Results First Posted: August 31, 2017

Record last verified: 2021-08

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share