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NCT02358031 · OUTCOME

Pembro Mono vs Control: PFS Per RECIST 1.1 by BICR in Participants With PD-L1 CPS ≥1

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

PFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented PD per RECIST 1.1 based on BICR, or death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. Per RECIST 1.1, PD was defined as ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum had to demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. Per protocol, PFS in the pembro mono arm was compared to the control arm as a pre-specified primary analysis of the ITT population. PFS is reported here for the first course of treatment, for all participants in the pembro mono arm and control arm with PD-L1 biomarker positive expression defined by IHC as CPS ≥1. Per protocol, PFS was compared separately between CPS ≥1 participants of the pembro combo arm and control arm and is presented earlier in the record.

Analysis population: All participants in the ITT population randomized to either the pembro mono arm or control arm during active enrollment with CPS ≥1 were analyzed. Per protocol, pembro combo 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)257
Pembrolizumab + Chemotherapy (Pembro Combo)0
Cetuximab + Chemotherapy (Control)255

Reported measurements

Source class 1
Values in Months · Interval/dispersion: 95% Confidence Interval
GroupValueSpreadLowerUpperComment
Pembrolizumab Monotherapy (Pembro Mono)3.2Not reported2.23.4Not reported
Cetuximab + Chemotherapy (Control)5.0Not reported4.86.0Not reported

Source statistical analyses

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

  1. ci Lower Limit
    0.94
    ci Num Sides
    TWO_SIDED
    ci Pct Value
    95
    ci Upper Limit
    1.36
    group Description
    PFS in CPS ≥1 participants of the pembro mono arm was compared to PFS in CPS ≥1 participants of the control arm to address the second 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, HPV status and PD-L1 status.
    group Ids
    1. OG000
    2. OG002
    non Inferiority Type
    SUPERIORITY
    p Value
    0.89580
    p Value Comment
    One-sided p-value based on log-rank test stratified by ECOG, HPV status and PD-L1 status.
    param Type
    Hazard Ratio (HR)
    param Value
    1.13
    statistical Method
    Regression, Cox
Complete source fields
analyses
  1. ci Lower Limit
    0.94
    ci Num Sides
    TWO_SIDED
    ci Pct Value
    95
    ci Upper Limit
    1.36
    group Description
    PFS in CPS ≥1 participants of the pembro mono arm was compared to PFS in CPS ≥1 participants of the control arm to address the second 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, HPV status and PD-L1 status.
    group Ids
    1. OG000
    2. OG002
    non Inferiority Type
    SUPERIORITY
    p Value
    0.89580
    p Value Comment
    One-sided p-value based on log-rank test stratified by ECOG, HPV status and PD-L1 status.
    param Type
    Hazard Ratio (HR)
    param Value
    1.13
    statistical Method
    Regression, Cox
classes
  1. categories
    1. measurements
      1. group Id
        OG000
        lower Limit
        2.2
        upper Limit
        3.4
        value
        3.2
      2. group Id
        OG002
        lower Limit
        4.8
        upper Limit
        6.0
        value
        5.0
denoms
  1. counts
    1. group Id
      OG000
      value
      257
    2. group Id
      OG001
      value
      0
    3. group Id
      OG002
      value
      255
    units
    Participants
description
PFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented PD per RECIST 1.1 based on BICR, or death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. Per RECIST 1.1, PD was defined as ≥20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions. In addition to the relative increase of 20%, the sum had to demonstrate an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. Per protocol, PFS in the pembro mono arm was compared to the control arm as a pre-specified primary analysis of the ITT population. PFS is reported here for the first course of treatment, for all participants in the pembro mono arm and control arm with PD-L1 biomarker positive expression defined by IHC as CPS ≥1. Per protocol, PFS was compared separately between CPS ≥1 participants of the pembro combo arm and control arm and is presented earlier 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
All participants in the ITT population randomized to either the pembro mono arm or control arm during active enrollment with CPS ≥1 were analyzed. Per protocol, pembro combo 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 Mono vs Control: PFS Per RECIST 1.1 by BICR in Participants With PD-L1 CPS ≥1
type
PRIMARY
unit Of Measure
Months

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