KEYSTEP-008: Pembrolizumab (pembro)-based combinations for microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H)/mismatch repair deficient (dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC).

T Thierry André F Filippo Pietrantonio S Suayib Yalcin J Joong Bae Ahn S Sonali Dasgupta (Velindre University NHS Trust, Cardiff, United Kingdom) M Myriam Chalabi T Tae-You Kim K Kai-Keen Shiu L Luis Corrales (Centro de Investigacion y Manejo del Cancer (CIMCA), San José, Costa Rica) S Sara Lonardi M Mariusz Kwiatkowski P Paula Jiménez-Fonseca M Mehmet Ali Nahit Şendur (Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital and Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey) G Goda Jonuskiene (National Cancer Institute, Verkiai, Lithuania) J Javier Sastre Valera (Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain) M Mahmut Gümüş (Istanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul, Turkey) A Amos Odeleye-Ajakaye (Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ) D David R. Fogelman (Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ) D David Eli Adelberg (Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ) T Tae Won Kim (Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea)

Abstract

137 Background: The open-label, phase 2 KEYSTEP-008 study (NCT04895722) evaluated pembro-based combinations vs pembro in participants (pts) with chemotherapy-refractory (cohort A) or previously untreated (cohort B) MSI-H/dMMR mCRC. Methods: Adults with stage IV colorectal adenocarcinoma, locally confirmed MSI-H/dMMR status and ECOG PS 0 or 1 were randomized 1:1 (cohort A) to coformulated quavonlimab (anti–CTLA-4; Qmab)/pembro (25 mg/400 mg) IV Q6W or pembro 400 mg IV Q6W or 1:1:1:1:1 (cohort B) to Qmab/pembro (25 mg/400 mg) IV Q6W, MK-4830 (anti-ILT4) 800 mg + pembro 200 mg IV Q3W, coformulated favezelimab (anti−LAG-3; fave)/pembro (800 mg/200 mg) IV Q3W, coformulated vibostolimab (anti-TIGIT; vibo)/pembro (200 mg/200 mg) IV Q3W, or pembro 400 mg IV Q6W. Pts received treatment for ~2 y. Primary end point: ORR per RECIST v1.1. Secondary end points: DOR and PFS per RECIST v1.1, OS and safety. Results: In cohort A, 121 pts were randomized to Qmab/pembro (n = 60) or pembro (n = 61). In cohort B, 181 pts were randomized to Qmab/pembro (n = 39), MK-4830 + pembro (n = 20), fave/pembro (n = 40), vibo/pembro (n = 41), or pembro (n = 41). Median (range) follow-up was 33.6 mo (19.3-46.0) for cohort A and 20.3 mo (10.9-37.5) for cohort B. In cohort A, ORR (95% CI) was 45% (32-58) with Qmab/pembro and 30% (19-43) with pembro. In cohort B, ORRs (95% CI) were 46% (30-63) with Qmab/pembro, 65% (41-85) with MK-4830 + pembro, 38% (23-54) with fave/pembro, 49% (33-65) with vibo/pembro, and 42% (26-58) with pembro. Additional results are in the table. Grade 3-4 TRAEs occurred in 12% with Qmab/pembro and 8% with pembro in cohort A; and 21% with Qmab/pembro, 0% with MK-4830 + pembro, 20% with fave/pembro, 27% with vibo/pembro, and 20% with pembro, in cohort B; 2 pts with vibo/pembro had grade 5 TRAEs. Conclusions: Pembro-based combinations evaluated in this study showed numerically higher ORR vs pembro alone, but the absolute improvement was modest, especially in the 1L setting. Despite manageable safety, these results do not support further clinical development of these combinations in pts with MSI-H/dMMR mCRC. Clinical trial information: NCT04895722 . Cohort AQmab/pembron = 60 Cohort APembron = 61 Cohort BQmab/pembron = 39 Cohort BMK-4830 + pembron = 20 Cohort BFave/pembron = 40 Cohort BVibo/pembron = 41 Cohort BPembron = 41 ORR (95% CI), % 45 (32-58) 30 (19-43) 46 (30-63) 65 (41-85) 38 (23-54) 49 (33-65) 42 (26-58) DOR, median (range), mo NR (8 to 42+) NR (6 to 44+) NR (4+ to 27+) NR (4+ to 31+) NR (4 to 27+) NR (2+ to 25+) NR (4+ to 34+) PFS, median (95% CI), mo 18 (4-NR) 4 (2-15) NR (12-NR) NR (2-NR) 8 (2-NR) 25 (8-NR) NR (4-NR) PFS HR(95% CI) 0.65 (0.41-1.02) - 0.78 (0.39-1.56) 0.77 (0.33-1.81) 1.18 (0.62-2.26) 0.78 (0.38-1.58) - OS, median (95% CI), mo NR (29-NR) 37 (14-NR) NR (NR-NR) NR (7-NR) NR (21-NR) NR (NR-NR) NR (21-NR) OS HR(95% CI) 0.70 (0.41-1.21) - 0.99 (0.43-2.29) 1.17 (0.45-3.07) 1.02 (0.45-2.32) 0.80 (0.33-1.95) - NR, not reached.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 44, Issue 2_suppl
Published January 10, 2026
Pages 137-137
ISSN 0732-183X
Publisher Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Journal Info

Journal of Clinical Oncology

Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

ISSN: 0732-183X Health Sciences

Authors (20)

T

Thierry André

F

Filippo Pietrantonio

S

Suayib Yalcin

J

Joong Bae Ahn

S

Sonali Dasgupta

Velindre University NHS Trust, Cardiff, United Kingdom

M

Myriam Chalabi

T

Tae-You Kim

K

Kai-Keen Shiu

L

Luis Corrales

Centro de Investigacion y Manejo del Cancer (CIMCA), San José, Costa Rica

S

Sara Lonardi

M

Mariusz Kwiatkowski

P

Paula Jiménez-Fonseca

M

Mehmet Ali Nahit Şendur

Department of Medical Oncology, Ankara Bilkent City Hospital and Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, Ankara, Turkey

G

Goda Jonuskiene

National Cancer Institute, Verkiai, Lithuania

J

Javier Sastre Valera

Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Spain

M

Mahmut Gümüş

Istanbul Medeniyet University, Istanbul, Turkey

A

Amos Odeleye-Ajakaye

Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ

D

David R. Fogelman

Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ

D

David Eli Adelberg

Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ

T

Tae Won Kim

Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea