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Pembrolizumab for Resectable Merkel Cell Carcinoma

This study is testing a drug called pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy that helps your immune system fight cancer) in people with Merkel cell carcinoma (a rare and aggressive type of skin cancer) that can be removed by surgery. The main goal is to see how well the cancer responds to pembrolizumab before surgery and if it helps prevent the cancer from coming back. Researchers will also look at any side effects that happen when pembrolizumab is given before and after your standard surgery. You may be able to join if you have stage I-III Merkel cell carcinoma that can be surgically removed and enough tumor tissue for research. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status and plans to enroll 15 participants.

Study design
This is an interventional study, meaning participants will receive a specific treatment. It plans to enroll 15 participants.
What's involved
Not specified in the trial record.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The primary response is measured at approximately 3 weeks.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05496036

Neoadjuvant PD-1 Blockade in Resectable Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Recruiting
PHASE2Ages 18+InterventionalTreatment
Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine
~15 participants
Updated 2026-02-18 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Pembrolizumab

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
: Pathologic Response Rate
Measured over Approximately 3 weeks

Conditions

Merkel Cell Carcinoma

Explore related trials

Merkel Cell Carcinoma

NCT05496036

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Penn Medicine

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvaniastudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • John Miura, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Penn Medicine

Who to contact

Lydia Giles, BSN, RN
[email protected]
2156626389
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Subjects who is HBsAg positive is eligible if they have received HBV antiviral therapy for at least 4 weeks and have undetectable HBV viral load prior to randomization.
Subject should remain on anti-viral therapy throughout study intervention and follow local guidelines for HBV anti-viral therapy post completion of study intervention. 11. Subject with history of Hepatitis C (HCV) infection are eligible if HCV viral load is undetectable at screening. Subject must have completed curative anti-viral therapy at least 4 weeks prior to randomization.

What this trial measures

  • : Pathologic Response RateApproximately 3 weeks

    The number of subjects with pathologic complete response (CR) or near CR defined by less than 10% viable tumor cells will be determined for subjects who received 1 dose of neoadjuvant pembrolizumab and underwent definitive surgery. PathCR/nearCR rate is defined as the percentage of treated subjects who achieve PathCR/nearCR