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Completed

NCT Number: NCT04003636

Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) Plus Gemcitabine/Cisplatin Versus Placebo Plus Gemcitabine/Cisplatin for First-Line Advanced and/or Unresectable Biliary Tract Carcinoma (BTC) (MK-3475-966/KEYNOTE-966)

This is a study of pembrolizumab plus gemcitabine/cisplatin versus placebo plus gemcitabine/cisplatin as first-line therapy in participants with advanced and/or unresectable biliary tract carcinoma. The primary hypothesis is pembrolizumab plus gemcitabine/cisplatin is superior to placebo plus gemcitabine/cisplatin with respect to overall survival (OS).

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Key information

Conditions

Biliary Tract Carcinoma Adenocarcinoma Bile Duct Diseases Bile Duct Neoplasms Biliary Tract Diseases Biliary Tract Neoplasms Carcinoma Cholangiocarcinoma Digestive System Diseases Digestive System Neoplasms Gallbladder Diseases Gallbladder Neoplasms Neoplasms Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms by Site Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial Parkinson Disease 4, Autosomal Dominant Lewy Body

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 3

Primary location

CEMIC ( Site 0581), Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires F.D., Argentina

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Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Has histologically confirmed diagnosis of advanced (metastatic) and/or unresectable (locally advanced) biliary tract cancer (intra-or extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma or gallbladder cancer)
  • Has measurable disease based on Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST 1.1), as determined by the site investigator
  • Participants with a history of hepatitis B or hepatitis C can be enrolled if they meet study criteria
  • Is able to provide archival tumor tissue sample or newly obtained core or excisional biopsy of a tumor lesion
  • Has a life expectancy of greater than 3 months
  • Has adequate organ function

Exclusion criteria

  • Has had previous systemic therapy for advanced (metastatic) or unresectable (locally advanced) biliary tract cancer (intra-or extra hepatic cholangiocarcinoma or gallbladder cancer)
  • Has ampullary cancer
  • Has small cell cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, lymphoma, sarcoma, mixed tumor histology and/or mucinous cystic neoplasms
  • Has received prior therapy with an anti-programmed cell death 1 (anti-PD-1), anti- programmed cell death ligand 1 or 2 (anti-PD-L1, anti-PD-L2) agent or with an agent directed to another stimulatory or coinhibitory T-cell receptor (e.g., cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 [CTLA-4], OX-40, CD137)
  • Has a known history of, or any evidence of, central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis, as assessed by local site investigator
  • Has had an allogenic tissue/solid organ transplant

Treatment and study plan

Pembrolizumab

Biological

Pembrolizumab by intravenous (IV) infusion

Other names: MK-3475

Gemcitabine

Drug

Gemcitabine by IV infusion

Other names: Gemzar

Cisplatin

Drug

Cisplatin by IV infusion

Other names: Platinol®, Platinol®-AQ

Placebo

Drug

Placebo to pembrolizumab

Primary outcomes

  1. Overall Survival (OS)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 38 months

    Overall survival was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Progression-free Survival (PFS) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as Assessed by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (BICR)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 26 months

    PFS was defined as the time from randomization to the first documented disease progression (PD) 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 must also have demonstrated an absolute increase of ≥5 mm. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. PFS as assessed by BICR per RECIST 1.1 was presented.

  2. Objective Response Rate (ORR) Per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as Assessed by Blinded Independent Central Review (BICR)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 26 months

    ORR was defined as the percentage of participants who have a confirmed Complete Response (CR: disappearance of all target lesions) or Partial Response (PR: a ≥30% decrease in the sum of diameters [SOD] of target lesions) as assessed by BICR per RECIST 1.1, which was adjusted for this study to allow a maximum of 10 target lesions in total and 5 per organ.

  3. Duration of Response (DOR) Per RECIST 1.1 as Assessed by BICR

    Time frame: Up to approximately 38 months

    For participants who demonstrated a confirmed CR (disappearance of all target lesions) or PR (at least a 30% decrease in the sum of diameters of target lesions) per RECIST 1.1, DOR was defined as the time from first documented evidence of a CR or PR until PD or death. DOR for participants who had not progressed or died at the time of analysis was to be censored at the date of their last tumor assessment. Per RECIST 1.1, PD was defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of diameters of target lesions as well as an absolute increase of at least a 5 mm in the sum of diameters. The appearance of one or more new lesions was also considered PD. DOR assessments were based on BICR with confirmation. The DOR as assessed using RECIST 1.1 for all participants who experienced a confirmed CR or PR was presented.

  4. Number of Participants Who Experience One or More Adverse Events (AE)

    Time frame: Up to approximately 65 months

    An adverse event (AE) was defined as any unfavorable and unintended sign including an abnormal laboratory finding, symptom or disease associated with the use of a medical treatment or procedure, regardless of whether it was considered related to the medical treatment or procedure, that occurred during the course of the study. Number of participants who experienced one or more AEs were reported.

  5. Number of Participants Who Discontinued Study Intervention Due to an AE

    Time frame: Up to approximately 63 months

    An AE was defined as any unfavorable and unintended sign including an abnormal laboratory finding, symptom or disease associated with the use of a medical treatment or procedure, regardless of whether it was considered related to the medical treatment or procedure, that occurs during the course of the study. Number of participants who discontinued study intervention due to an AE were reported.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

A Phase 3 Randomized, Double Blind Study of Pembrolizumab Plus Gemcitabine/Cisplatin Versus Placebo Plus Gemcitabine/Cisplatin as First-Line Therapy in Participants With Advanced and/or Unresectable Biliary Tract Carcinoma

Acronym: KEYNOTE-966

Important dates

Study start
2019
Primary completion
2022
Study completion
2025
First posted
Jul 1, 2019
Registry last updated
Mar 24, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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