MelanomaPhase 2NCT02681549
Pembrolizumab Plus Bevacizumab for Treatment of Brain Metastases in Metastatic Melanoma or Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
A Phase 2 study testing Pembrolizumab plus Bevacizumab in people with Melanoma and Non-small Cell Lung Cancer, run by Yale University at 2 sites in United States.
Trial summary
The purpose of this phase 2 trial is to study the activity of pembrolizumab in combination with bevacizumab in patients with untreated brain metastases from melanoma or NSCLC to determine activity and safety of the drug combination. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Melanoma, Non-small Cell Lung Cancer, Brain Metastasis
- What is being tested?
- Pembrolizumab plus Bevacizumab
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 41 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 May 2016to 31 Mar 2025
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Major Inclusion Criteria:
- Biopsy proven metastatic melanoma or non-squamous NSCLC with at least one untreated brain metastasis that is at least 5 mm AND twice the MRI slice thickness, but less than 20 mm, which is asymptomatic and not requiring immediate local therapy or steroids.
- Patients who have had prior resection or biopsy of a CNS metastasis will be required to provide a paraffin embedded specimen from tumor taken at the time of surgery, if available.
- Patients will be required to undergo biopsy or submit archival tumor tissue from a systemic site of disease for correlative studies. When not feasible, this requirement can be waived after discussion with the principal investigators.
- PD-L1 expression in tumor tissue from any site determined by the Dako 22C3 assay is required for patients with NSCLC.
- Adequate organ function.
- ECOG performance status < 2.
- Any number of previous treatments with the exception of previous inhibitors of PD-1 or PD-L1.
- Life expectancy of at least 3 months.
- Understanding and willingness to consent.
- A history of radiotherapy for brain metastases is allowed, but any lesion present at the time of WBRT or included in the stereotactic radiotherapy field will NOT be considered evaluable unless documented to have progressed since treatment.
Overall Inclusion Criteria:
- Biopsy proven metastatic melanoma or non-squamous NSCLC with at least one untreated cerebral metastasis that is at least 5 mm AND twice the MRI slice thickness, but less than 20 mm, that is asymptomatic and does not require local therapy at the time of enrollment ("clinically evaluable lesion(s)"). An untreated brain metastasis is defined as a lesion not present at the time of whole brain radiation therapy or included in a stereotactic radiotherapy field (or within 2mm of a treated lesion), or any lesion that is new or unequivocally progressing since prior radiation therapy.
- ECOG performance status < 2
- Any number of previous treatments with the exception of previous inhibitors of PD-1, PD-L1, or PD-L2. Other prior systemic therapies must have been administered at least 2 weeks before administration of pembrolizumab; the exception to this is ipilimumab which must have been administered at least 4 weeks prior to the start of pembrolizumab. Patients are not required to have had prior systemic therapy.
- Life expectancy of at least 3 months
- A history of previously treated brain metastases is allowed, provided that at least 7 days have lapsed between radiation and initiation of pembrolizumab. Any brain metastasis ≥ 20mm or causing symptoms must be treated with local therapy (i.e. radiation or surgical resection, as clinically appropriate) prior to study enrollment. Any lesion present at the time of WBRT or included in the stereotactic radiotherapy field (or within 2mm of the treated lesion) will NOT be considered evaluable unless it is new or documented to have progressed since treatment.
- PD-L1 expression >1% in tumor tissue from any site is required for patients with NSCLC. Tumor tissue can be archival if no intercurrent systemic therapy was administered, however if no archival tissue is available or if intercurrent systemic therapy was administered, then a biopsy must be obtained for PD-L1 testing. PD-L1 expression must be obtained using the Dako 22C3 assay in a CLIA-certified laboratory. PD-L1 expression is not required for patients with melanoma.
- All patients are required to submit a tumor specimen for analysis (brain or extra-cerebral). A formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue block, or a 4mm punch from an FFPE block must be submitted. If it is not possible to safely obtain a biopsy due to anatomic location of tumors, and no prior tissue is available, this requirement may be waived upon discussion with the study PI or co-PI.
- Patients must have normal organ and marrow function (as defined in the protocol) at the time of screening.
- Female subject of childbearing potential should have a negative urine or serum pregnancy within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study medication. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required.
- Female subjects of childbearing potential should be willing to use 2 methods of birth control or be surgically sterile, or abstain from heterosexual activity for the course of the study through 120 days after the last dose of study medication. Subjects of childbearing potential are those who have not been surgically sterilized or have not been free from menses for > 1 year.
- Male subjects should agree to use an adequate method of contraception starting with the first dose of study therapy through 120 days after the last dose of study therapy.
Major Exclusion Criteria:
- Symptomatic brain metastases at the time of initiation of systemic therapy.
- Other systemic therapy within 14 days of initiation of study drug.
- Use of corticosteroids to control CNS symptoms. Low-dose steroid use (≤10 mg of prednisone or equivalent) is allowed.
- Presence of leptomeningeal disease.
- Presence of active autoimmune disease. Autoimmune thyroid disease will be allowed if thyroid function is within normal range.
Overall Exclusion Criteria:
- Symptomatic brain metastases. Any neurologic symptoms present must have resolved with local therapy by the time of administration of study drug.
- Patients with brain metastases for whom complete surgical resection is clinically appropriate.
- Patients with lung cancer with squamous histology.
- Has had prior chemotherapy or targeted small molecule therapy within 2 weeks prior to start of treatment or who has not recovered (i.e., ≤ Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to a previously administered agent. Previous radiation to extracranial sites may be completed at any time prior to initiation of pembrolizumab.
- Note: If subject received major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting therapy.
- Note: Toxicity that has not recovered to ≤ Grade 1 is allowed if it meets the inclusion requirements for laboratory parameters.
- Has had prior treatment with any other anti-PD-1 or PD-L1 or PD-L2 agent.
- The use of corticosteroids to control cerebral edema or treat neurologic symptoms will not be allowed, and patients who previously required corticosteroids for symptom control must be off steroids for at least 1 week prior to treatment on day 1 of cycle 1. Low-dose steroid use (≤10 mg of prednisone or equivalent) as corticosteroid replacement therapy is allowed
- Has not recovered (i.e., ≤ Grade 1 or at baseline) from adverse events due to agents administered more than 4 weeks earlier.
- Presence of leptomeningeal disease
- Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (eg., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment.
- Pregnancy or breast feeding. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with pembrolizumab, breastfeeding must be discontinued if the mother is treated with pembrolizumab.
- Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents and may not have participated in a study of an investigational agent or using an investigational device within 4 weeks of the first dose of treatment.
- Either a concurrent condition (including medical illness, such as active infection requiring treatment with intravenous antibiotics or the presence of laboratory abnormalities) or history of a prior condition that places the patient at unacceptable risk if he/she were treated with the study drug or a medical condition that confounds the ability to interpret data from the study.
- Concurrent, active malignancies in addition to those being studied (other than cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma or basal cell carcinoma)
- Patients with active hemoptysis.
- Any contraindication to MRI (i.e. patients with pacemakers or other metal implanted medical devices). An MRI safety questionnaire is required prior to MR imaging.
- Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or current pneumonitis.
- Has a known Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Hepatitis B (HBV), or Hepatitis C (HCV) infection.
- Has received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of trial treatment.
- Inadequately controlled hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure >150 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure > 100 mmHg). Anti-hypertensive therapy to achieve these parameters is allowable.
- History of myocardial infarction or unstable angina within 3 months prior to Cycle 1, Day 1
- History of stroke or transient ischemic attack within 3 months prior to Cycle 1, Day 1
- Significant vascular disease (e.g., aortic aneurysm requiring surgical repair or recent peripheral arterial thrombosis) within 6 months prior to Cycle 1, Day 1
- Evidence of bleeding diathesis or clinically significant coagulopathy (in the absence of therapeutic anticoagulation). Any history of significant bleeding or thrombosis should be discussed the study PIs.
- Current or recent (within 10 calendar days prior to Cycle 1, Day 1) use of dipyramidole, ticlopidine, clopidogrel, or cilostazol
- Warfarin is not permitted. Prophylactic or therapeutic use of low molecular-weight heparin (e.g., enoxaparin) or direct thrombin inhibitors are permitted.
- History of abdominal or tracheoesophageal fistula or gastrointestinal perforation within 6 months prior to Cycle 1, Day 1
- Serious, non-healing or dehiscing wound
- Proteinuria > 2.0 g of protein in a 24-hour urine collection. All patients with 2 protein on dipstick urinalysis at baseline must undergo a 24-hour urine collection for protein.
- Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids, current pneumonitis or evidence of interstitial lung disease.
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
United States2 sites
Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven
New Haven, Connecticut, 06510
Moffitt Cancer Center
Tampa, Florida, 33612
About this study
Official title: A Phase 2 Trial of Pembrolizumab Plus Bevacizumab in Patients With Metastatic Melanoma or Non-small Cell Lung Cancer With Untreated Brain Metastases
The purpose of this phase 2 trial is to study the activity of pembrolizumab in combination with bevacizumab in patients with untreated brain metastases from melanoma or NSCLC to determine activity and safety of the drug combination. Furthermore, in patients who undergo resection of biopsy of a brain metastasis, we will evaluate biomarkers predictive of treatment benefit, and will also conduct correlative biomarker studies on extra-cerebral specimens in all patients in whom a systemic biopsy is feasible or in archival tumor tissue when available.
A total of 53 eligible patients will be enrolled on this trial (40 with melanoma and 13 with NSCLC). Individual cohorts of the study can be stopped if insufficient activity is observed in the first stage of that cohort. The study will accrue for approximately 84 months, and will be open for approximately 12 additional months as patients on study are being followed.
- Conditions
- Melanoma, Non-small Cell Lung Cancer, Brain Metastasis
- Being tested
- Pembrolizumab plus Bevacizumab
- Medical subject headings
- Melanoma, Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung, Brain Neoplasms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Pembrolizumab plus BevacizumabDrug
Pembrolizumab will be administered on day 1 of every cycle until disease progression or withdrawal from study. Bevacizumab will be administered in addition to pembrolizumab on day 1 of cycles 1, 2, 3, and 4 (or alternative cycles if bevacizumab is held during these cycles). Three weeks constitutes one cycle.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Untreated brain metastases from melanoma | Experimental | pembrolizumab plus bevacizumab Receives: Drug: Pembrolizumab plus Bevacizumab |
| Untreated brain metastases from NSCLC | Experimental | pembrolizumab plus bevacizumab Receives: Drug: Pembrolizumab plus Bevacizumab |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Brain Metastasis Response Rate (BMRR)
Brain metastasis response rate (BMRR) using modified RECIST (mRECIST) criteria
Measured: up to 2 years from start of treatment
Secondary outcomes (4)
Steroid Use
Number of patients using steroids to control of cerebral edema for greater than 96 hours
Measured: up to 2 years from start of treatment
Overall Response Rate (ORR)
best overall response rate (ORR) by mRECIST criteria in the brain or RECIST criteria in the body
Measured: up to 2 years from start of treatment
Progression-free Survival (PFS)
Progression-free survival by mRECIST criteria in the brain or RECIST criteria in the body
Measured: up to 9 years from start of treatment or to disease progression
Safety and Toxicity of Combination Pembrolizumab and Bevacizumab Assessed Using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v. 4.
Number of participants that experienced at least 1 treatment related adverse event.
Measured: up to 2 years from start of treatment
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted12 Feb 2016 (estimated)
- Study start1 May 2016
- Primary completion11 Sep 2024
- Study completion31 Mar 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for MelanomaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Yale UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 41 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Yale University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Cancer Institute (NCI), Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Harriet Kluger, Yale University
- Investigators
- Harriett Kluger, MD, Principal investigator, Yale University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02681549
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 1512016953
- Other IDs
- 1511MEL007, 1R01CA269286-01A1
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 9 Feb 2016
- Last updated
- 7 Aug 2025
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Weiss SA, Djureinovic D, Wei W, Tran T, Austin M, Markowitz J, Eroglu Z, Khushalani NI, Hegde U, Cohen J, Sznol M, Anderson G, Johnson B, Piteo C, Mahajan A, Adeniran A, Jilaveanu L, Goldberg S, Chiang V, Forsyth P, Kluger HM. Phase II Trial of Pembrolizumab in Combination With Bevacizumab for Untreated Melanoma Brain Metastases. J Clin Oncol. 2025 May 10;43(14):1685-1694. doi: 10.1200/JCO-24-02219. Epub 2025 Mar 6.
PubMed 40048689
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 Aug 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Phase 2 Trial of Pembrolizumab Plus Bevacizumab in Patients With Metastatic Melanoma or Non-small Cell Lung Cancer With Untreated Brain Metastases
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT02681549
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 1512016953
- Conditions
- Melanoma, Non-small Cell Lung Cancer, Brain Metastasis
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 41 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Yale UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- National Cancer Institute (NCI), Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
- Study start
- 1 May 2016 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 11 Sep 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Mar 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 12 Feb 2016 (estimated)
- Results
- Posted 7 Aug 2025
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this phase 2 trial is to study the activity of pembrolizumab in combination with bevacizumab in patients with untreated brain metastases from melanoma or NSCLC to determine activity and safety of the drug combination. Furthermore, in patients who undergo resection of biopsy of a brain metastasis, we will evaluate biomarkers predictive of treatment benefit, and will also conduct correlative biomarker studies on extra-cerebral specimens in all patients in whom a systemic biopsy is feasible or in archival tumor tissue when available.
A total of 53 eligible patients will be enrolled on this trial (40 with melanoma and 13 with NSCLC). Individual cohorts of the study can be stopped if insufficient activity is observed in the first stage of that cohort. The study will accrue for approximately 84 months, and will be open for approximately 12 additional months as patients on study are being followed.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Non-randomised
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Untreated brain metastases from melanoma | Experimental | Drug: Pembrolizumab plus Bevacizumabpembrolizumab plus bevacizumab |
| Untreated brain metastases from NSCLC | Experimental | Drug: Pembrolizumab plus Bevacizumabpembrolizumab plus bevacizumab |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Pembrolizumab plus BevacizumabPembrolizumab will be administered on day 1 of every cycle until disease progression or withdrawal from study. Bevacizumab will be administered in addition to pembrolizumab on day 1 of cycles 1, 2, 3, and 4 (or alternative cycles if bevacizumab is held during these cycles). Three weeks constitutes one cycle. | Drug | Untreated brain metastases from NSCLC, Untreated brain metastases from melanoma |
Primary outcome
Brain Metastasis Response Rate (BMRR)
Time frame: up to 2 years from start of treatment
Brain metastasis response rate (BMRR) using modified RECIST (mRECIST) criteria
4 secondary outcomes
Steroid Use
Time frame: up to 2 years from start of treatment
Overall Response Rate (ORR)
Time frame: up to 2 years from start of treatment
Progression-free Survival (PFS)
Time frame: up to 9 years from start of treatment or to disease progression
Safety and Toxicity of Combination Pembrolizumab and Bevacizumab Assessed Using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events v. 4.
Time frame: up to 2 years from start of treatment
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 7 Aug 2025.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 40048689Weiss SA, Djureinovic D, Wei W, Tran T, Austin M, Markowitz J, Eroglu Z, Khushalani NI, Hegde U, Cohen J, Sznol M, Anderson G, Johnson B, Piteo C, Mahajan A, Adeniran A, Jilaveanu L, Goldberg S, Chiang V, Forsyth P, Kluger HM. Phase II Trial of Pembrolizumab in Combination With Bevacizumab for Untreated Melanoma Brain Metastases. J Clin Oncol. 2025 May 10;43(14):1685-1694. doi: 10.1200/JCO-24-02219. Epub 2025 Mar 6.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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A Feasibility Study Utilizing Immune Recall to Increase Response to Checkpoint Therapy
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Melanoma
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Harriett Kluger, MD principal investigator
Yale University
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing Pembrolizumab plus Bevacizumab in people with Melanoma and Non-small Cell Lung Cancer, run by Yale University at 2 sites in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Aug 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 7 Aug 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Brain Metastasis Response Rate (BMRR) (time frame: up to 2 years from start of treatment). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT02681549, which also lists 1 linked publication.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Aug 2025.