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NCT02358031 · OUTCOME

Pembro Combo vs Control: OS in Participants With PD-L1 CPS ≥20

A Study of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) for First Line Treatment of Recurrent or Metastatic Squamous Cell Cancer of the Head and Neck (MK-3475-048/KEYNOTE-048) · Source last updated 2025-07-18

Results reported by the registry submitting party. Population, time horizon, units and missing values must be read together.

Measure
MEDIAN
Unit
Months
Interval / dispersion
95% Confidence Interval
Time frame
Up to approximately 47 months

What was measured

OS was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Participants without documented death at the time of the final analysis were censored at the date of the last follow-up. Per protocol, OS in the pembro combo arm was compared to the control arm as a pre-specified primary analysis of the ITT population. OS is reported here for the first course of treatment, for all participants in the pembro combo arm and control arm with PD-L1 biomarker positive expression defined by IHC as CPS ≥20. Per protocol, OS was compared separately between CPS ≥20 participants of the pembro mono arm and control arm and is presented later in the record.

Analysis population: Participants in the ITT population randomized to either pembro combo arm or control arm during active enrollment with CPS ≥20 were analyzed. 12 participants in control arm enrolled during an enrollment pause of the pembro combo arm were excluded. Per protocol, pembro mono arm was compared to control arm separately and not included in this analysis.

Groups in this outcome

Pembrolizumab Monotherapy (Pembro Mono)

Participants received pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously (IV) on Day 1 of each 3-week cycle for up to 35 cycles (up to \~2 years).

Pembrolizumab + Chemotherapy (Pembro Combo)

Participants received pembrolizumab 200 mg IV on Day 1 of each 3-week cycle for up to 35 cycles (up to \~2 years); plus cisplatin 100 mg/m\^2 IV or carboplatin at a target area under the curve of 5 (AUC 5) IV, per Investigator's choice, on Day 1 of each 3-week cycle (6 cycle maximum \[up to \~4 months\]); plus 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) 1000 mg/m\^2/day IV continuous from Day 1-4 of each 3-week cycle (6 cycle maximum \[up to \~4 months\]).

Cetuximab + Chemotherapy (Control)

Participants received cetuximab on Day 1 at a dose of 400 mg/m\^2 IV, and then 250 mg/m\^2 IV on Day 1 of each subsequent week until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity; plus cisplatin 100 mg/m\^2 IV or carboplatin AUC 5 IV (Investigator's choice) on Day 1 of each 3-week cycle (6 cycle maximum \[up to \~4 months\] for platinum-based therapy); plus 5-FU 1000 mg/m\^2/day IV continuous from Day 1-4 of each 3-week cycle (6 cycle maximum \[up to \~4 months\]).

Group identifiers and denominators belong to this outcome only. They may differ in another outcome or in safety reporting.

Analysis denominator · Participants

GroupSource count
Pembrolizumab Monotherapy (Pembro Mono)0
Pembrolizumab + Chemotherapy (Pembro Combo)126
Cetuximab + Chemotherapy (Control)110

Reported measurements

Source class 1
Values in Months · Interval/dispersion: 95% Confidence Interval
GroupValueSpreadLowerUpperComment
Pembrolizumab + Chemotherapy (Pembro Combo)14.7Not reported10.319.3Not reported
Cetuximab + Chemotherapy (Control)11.0Not reported9.213.0Not reported

Source statistical analyses

Group order, estimate direction, methods and comments are retained. No treatment ranking is inferred.

  1. ci Lower Limit
    0.45
    ci Num Sides
    TWO_SIDED
    ci Pct Value
    95
    ci Upper Limit
    0.82
    group Description
    OS in CPS ≥20 participants of the pembro combo arm was compared to OS in CPS ≥20 participants of the control arm to address the eleventh primary hypothesis. The comparison was based on a Cox regression model with Efron's method of tie handling with treatment as a covariate stratified by ECOG and HPV status.
    group Ids
    1. OG001
    2. OG002
    non Inferiority Type
    SUPERIORITY
    p Value
    0.00044
    p Value Comment
    One-sided p-value based on log-rank test stratified by ECOG and HPV status.
    param Type
    Hazard Ratio (HR)
    param Value
    0.60
    statistical Method
    Regression, Cox
Complete source fields
analyses
  1. ci Lower Limit
    0.45
    ci Num Sides
    TWO_SIDED
    ci Pct Value
    95
    ci Upper Limit
    0.82
    group Description
    OS in CPS ≥20 participants of the pembro combo arm was compared to OS in CPS ≥20 participants of the control arm to address the eleventh primary hypothesis. The comparison was based on a Cox regression model with Efron's method of tie handling with treatment as a covariate stratified by ECOG and HPV status.
    group Ids
    1. OG001
    2. OG002
    non Inferiority Type
    SUPERIORITY
    p Value
    0.00044
    p Value Comment
    One-sided p-value based on log-rank test stratified by ECOG and HPV status.
    param Type
    Hazard Ratio (HR)
    param Value
    0.60
    statistical Method
    Regression, Cox
classes
  1. categories
    1. measurements
      1. group Id
        OG001
        lower Limit
        10.3
        upper Limit
        19.3
        value
        14.7
      2. group Id
        OG002
        lower Limit
        9.2
        upper Limit
        13.0
        value
        11.0
denoms
  1. counts
    1. group Id
      OG000
      value
      0
    2. group Id
      OG001
      value
      126
    3. group Id
      OG002
      value
      110
    units
    Participants
description
OS was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Participants without documented death at the time of the final analysis were censored at the date of the last follow-up. Per protocol, OS in the pembro combo arm was compared to the control arm as a pre-specified primary analysis of the ITT population. OS is reported here for the first course of treatment, for all participants in the pembro combo arm and control arm with PD-L1 biomarker positive expression defined by IHC as CPS ≥20. Per protocol, OS was compared separately between CPS ≥20 participants of the pembro mono arm and control arm and is presented later in the record.
dispersion Type
95% Confidence Interval
groups
  1. description
    Participants received pembrolizumab 200 mg intravenously (IV) on Day 1 of each 3-week cycle for up to 35 cycles (up to \~2 years).
    id
    OG000
    title
    Pembrolizumab Monotherapy (Pembro Mono)
  2. description
    Participants received pembrolizumab 200 mg IV on Day 1 of each 3-week cycle for up to 35 cycles (up to \~2 years); plus cisplatin 100 mg/m\^2 IV or carboplatin at a target area under the curve of 5 (AUC 5) IV, per Investigator's choice, on Day 1 of each 3-week cycle (6 cycle maximum \[up to \~4 months\]); plus 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) 1000 mg/m\^2/day IV continuous from Day 1-4 of each 3-week cycle (6 cycle maximum \[up to \~4 months\]).
    id
    OG001
    title
    Pembrolizumab + Chemotherapy (Pembro Combo)
  3. description
    Participants received cetuximab on Day 1 at a dose of 400 mg/m\^2 IV, and then 250 mg/m\^2 IV on Day 1 of each subsequent week until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity; plus cisplatin 100 mg/m\^2 IV or carboplatin AUC 5 IV (Investigator's choice) on Day 1 of each 3-week cycle (6 cycle maximum \[up to \~4 months\] for platinum-based therapy); plus 5-FU 1000 mg/m\^2/day IV continuous from Day 1-4 of each 3-week cycle (6 cycle maximum \[up to \~4 months\]).
    id
    OG002
    title
    Cetuximab + Chemotherapy (Control)
param Type
MEDIAN
population Description
Participants in the ITT population randomized to either pembro combo arm or control arm during active enrollment with CPS ≥20 were analyzed. 12 participants in control arm enrolled during an enrollment pause of the pembro combo arm were excluded. Per protocol, pembro mono arm was compared to control arm separately and not included in this analysis.
reporting Status
POSTED
time Frame
Up to approximately 47 months
title
Pembro Combo vs Control: OS in Participants With PD-L1 CPS ≥20
type
PRIMARY
unit Of Measure
Months

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