Pembrolizumab in Metastatic Anal Cancer

Summary

Participation Requirements

Description

This research study is a Phase II clinical trial. Phase II clinical trials test the safety and effectiveness of an investigational drug to learn whether the drug works in treating a specific disease. "Investigational" means that the drug is being studied. The FDA (the U.S. Food and Drug Administrati...

This research study is a Phase II clinical trial. Phase II clinical trials test the safety and effectiveness of an investigational drug to learn whether the drug works in treating a specific disease. "Investigational" means that the drug is being studied. The FDA (the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) has not approved pembrolizumab for Advanced Anal Cancer, but it has been approved for other uses. Pembrolizumab, also known as KEYTRUDA or MK-3475, is approved in the USA and several other countries to treat a type of skin cancer called Malignant Melanoma. In this research study the investigators are studying an investigational drug called Pembrolizumab, which is a monoclonal antibody. Monoclonal antibodies are manmade and mimic proteins in the immune system by attaching to specific proteins in the body. T cells are cells in the immune system that are controlled by PD-1. PD-1 is a protein on the T cells that prevent the body from overproducing T cells. Pembrolizumab targets PD-1, attaches to it and blocks its action. By preventing PD-1 from working, T cell production rises and the body's immune system may increase its action against Cancer cells. Clinical and laboratory studies using pembrolizumab suggest that pembrolizumab may be useful in shrinking certain tumors.

Tracking Information