Neoadjuvant lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab in Merkel cell carcinoma: an investigator-initiated, open-label phase II trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Given the success of checkpoint inhibitor therapy in the advanced Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) setting, there is interest in exploring immunotherapy as a neoadjuvant approach. We report the primary results of a neoadjuvant study of lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab in resectable MCC.

Methods

In this single-center, phase II open-label trial, resectable stage II-IV MCC patients received 6 weeks of neoadjuvant therapy with lenvatinib 20 mg orally daily plus pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenous dose every 3 weeks. Following local therapy, patients received continued adjuvant pembrolizumab monotherapy to complete a total treatment duration of 1 year. Pathological complete response (pCR) rate was the primary endpoint of the study.

Results

26 patients were enrolled, includ

SUBMITTER: Brohl AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12815050 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature