Plain-English translation of NCT02578680 on ClinicalTrials.gov โ ยท Source last updated ยท Translation generated ยท How we translate trials
Read our Lung cancer research guide โPhase 3 โ Testing in thousands of people, comparing the treatment against what doctors currently use. This is the last big step before approval.
This trial tested whether pembrolizumab, an immunotherapy medication, combined with standard chemotherapy worked better than chemotherapy alone for people with advanced non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer who had never received treatment for their advanced disease. About 616 people participated and were randomly assigned to receive either the combination treatment or chemotherapy alone. The researchers wanted to see if adding this medication helped people live longer and delayed their cancer from getting worse.
Standard chemotherapy has been the main treatment for advanced non-squamous lung cancer for many years, but doctors wanted to know if adding immunotherapy could improve outcomes. This trial was designed to test whether the combination approach could help patients survive longer than chemotherapy by itself.
Participants received intravenous infusions every 3 weeks for 4 cycles โ either the combination treatment or chemotherapy plus placebo. After the initial 4 cycles, those in the combination group continued receiving both medications until their cancer progressed, while the control group received chemotherapy plus placebo. Treatment continued for up to 2 years, with regular visits to monitor how well it worked and manage any side effects. After the study ended, participants were enrolled in an extension study to continue receiving care and follow-up assessments.
AI-generated summary from trial data ยท Oct 12, 2026 ยท Not medical advice