On June 17, 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted accelerated approval to pembrolizumab (KEYTRUDA) for patients with metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy and at least one other prior line of therapy. Though pembrolizumab is an established treatment option for non-small cell lung cancer, this is the first approval of pembrolizumab for small cell lung cancer.
This approval was based on two clinical trials, KEYNOTE-158 and KEYNOTE-028, which measured tumor response rate and durability of response.
I’ve been on Keytruda for almost two years because I have Lung Cancer. It’s been working. My Doctor said he’s going to take me off of it after I’m done taking it for 2 years. I need from you what I would call, a 2nd opinion to my question. Why does my Dr. say, after 2 years he’s going to take me off of it even thou I have no bad side effects? Does this mean, that after a little while I can expect my cancer to get worse and spread?
Thank you very much
Hi Larry, we’re sending positive vibes to you and your family during this difficult time. Every diagnosis and treatment path is different and we’re sure your doctor has a good reason for choosing your treatment path. Please know that moving away from Keytruda is not necessarily a sign that something is going to get worse. In some studies, a portion of patients that were treated with immunotherapy had lasting benefits from the treatment for a long time even after stopping the initial treatment course. It is not unusual to stop immunotherapy treatment after 2 years or so if it is working – some doctors recommend this. It’s best to ask your doctor why they are making that choice for you. No matter where you are in your treatment plan, it is always a good idea to consult an oncologist for a second opinion, and peace of mind. Please know we are always here for you. Our HelpLine is a great resource to utilize, you can reach them at 1-800-298-2436 or by emailing support@go2.org.