Skip to main content
An official website of the United States government

Study of Pembrolizumab Following Surgery in Patients with High Number of Genetic Changes (Microsatellite Instability High) Solid Tumors

Trial Status: closed to accrual

This phase II trial studies how well pembrolizumab works in treating patients with microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H) circulating tumor deoxyribonucleic acid (ctDNA) positive solid tumors after surgery. MSI-H tumor cells have a greater than normal number of genetic markers called microsatellites. Microsatellites are short, repeated, sequences of DNA. Cancer cells that have large numbers of microsatellites may have defects in the ability to correct mistakes that occur when DNA is copied in the cell. These MSI-H cancer cells may be circulating in patients’ blood. An investigational blood test will show if residual tumor cells are present in the blood even though tumor was removed. Having ctDNA in the blood may increase the risk of cancer coming back after surgical removal of tumor. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. This trial studies if the study drug, pembrolizumab, can remove leftover tumor cells in the blood and prevent cancer from coming back after tumor was surgically removed.