Study of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) Plus Docetaxel Versus Placebo Plus Docetaxel in Chemotherapy-naïve Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC) (MK-3475-921/KEYNOTE-921)
Prostatic Neoplasms

About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Prostatic Neoplasms focused on measuring Programmed Cell Death 1 (PD 1, PD-1), Programmed Cell Death 1 Ligand 1 (PDL 1, PD-L1), Programmed Cell Death 1 Ligand 2 (PDL 2, PD-L2)
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Has histologically- or cytologically-confirmed adenocarcinoma of the prostate without small cell histology
- Has prostate cancer progression while on androgen deprivation therapy (or post bilateral orchiectomy) within 6 months prior to screening
- Has current evidence of metastatic disease documented by either bone lesions on bone scan and/or soft tissue disease by computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging (CT/MRI)
- Has received prior treatment with one (but not more than one) NHA (eg, abiraterone acetate, enzalutamide, apalutamide, or darolutamide) for metastatic hormone-sensitive prostate cancer (mHSPC) or castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) and either a) progressed through treatment OR b) has become intolerant of the drug
- Has ongoing androgen deprivation with serum testosterone <50 ng/dL (<2.0 nM)
- Participants receiving bone resorptive therapy (including, but not limited to, bisphosphonate or denosumab) must have been on stable doses prior to randomization
- Participants must agree to the following during the study treatment period and for at least 120 days after the last dose of pembrolizumab or for at least 180 days after the last dose of docetaxel (whichever is longer): Refrain from donating sperm PLUS Use contraception unless confirmed to be azoospermic (vasectomized or secondary to medical cause)
- Participants must agree to use male condom when engaging in any activity that allows for passage of ejaculate to another person of any sex
- Has provided newly obtained core or excisional biopsy (obtained within 12 months of screening) from soft tissue not previously irradiated (samples from tumors progressing in a prior site of radiation are allowed). Participants with bone only or bone predominant disease may provide a bone biopsy sample
- Has an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 assessed within 7 days of randomization
Exclusion Criteria:
- Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment in the last 3 years
- Has an active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years
- Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy
- Has undergone major surgery including local prostate intervention (excluding prostate biopsy) within 28 days prior to randomization and not recovered adequately from the toxicities and/or complications
- Has a gastrointestinal disorder affecting absorption or is unable to swallow tablets/capsules
- Has an active infection (including tuberculosis) requiring systemic therapy
- Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or current pneumonitis
- Has known active human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection
- Has known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis
- Has severe hypersensitivity (≥Grade 3) to pembrolizumab and/or any of its excipients
- Has symptomatic congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association Class III or IV heart disease)
- Has had a prior anti-cancer monoclonal antibody (mAb) prior to randomization or who has not recovered (i.e., Grade ≤1 or at baseline) from AEs due to mAbs
- Has used herbal products that may have hormonal anti-prostate cancer activity and/or are known to decrease PSA levels (e.g. saw palmetto) prior to randomization
- Has received prior treatment with radium or other therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals for prostate cancer
- Has received prior therapy with an anti-programmed cell death-1 (anti-PD-1), anti-programmed cell death-ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1), or anti PD-L2 agent or with an agent directed to another stimulatory or co-inhibitory T-cell receptor (e.g., cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 [CTLA-4], OX-40, CD137)
- Has received prior treatment with docetaxel or another chemotherapy agent for mCRPC
- Has hypersensitivity to docetaxel or polysorbate 80
- Is currently receiving either strong or moderate inhibitors of cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4 that cannot be discontinued for the duration of the study
- Has received prior targeted small molecule therapy or abiraterone acetate, enzalutamide, apalutamide, or darolutamide within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study treatment, or has not recovered (i.e., Grade ≤1 or at baseline) from AEs due to a previously administered agent
- Has received prior radiotherapy to within 2 weeks of start of study treatment. Participants must have recovered from all radiation-related toxicities, not require corticosteroids, and not have had radiation pneumonitis
- Has received a live vaccine within 30 days prior to randomization
- Has received treatment with 5α reductase inhibitors (eg, finasteride or dutasteride), estrogens, and/or cyproterone within 4 weeks prior to randomization
- Has received prior treatment with ketoconazole for prostate cancer
- Is currently participating in or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or has used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study treatment
- Has a "superscan" bone scan
- Is expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the study, starting with the screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of study treatment
- Has had an allogenic tissue/solid organ transplant
Sites / Locations
- University of South Alabama, Mitchell Cancer Institute ( Site 0065)
- St. Joseph Heritage Healthcare ( Site 0069)
- University of Southern California Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center ( Site 0061)
- USC Norris Oncology Hematology Newport Beach ( Site 0093)
- University of California San Francisco ( Site 0023)
- University of Colorado Cancer Center ( Site 0022)
- Yale Cancer Center ( Site 0038)
- Moffitt Cancer Center ( Site 0080)
- Georgia Cancer Center at Augusta University ( Site 0026)
- Mount Sinai Hospital Medical Center ( Site 0042)
- Methodist Hospital- Merriillville ( Site 0008)
- Karmanos Cancer Institute ( Site 0077)
- Henry Ford Health System ( Site 0039)
- Cancer & Hematology Centers of Western Michigan ( Site 0013)
- Washington University School of Medicine ( Site 0057)
- St. Vincent Frontier Cancer Center ( Site 0016)
- Nebraska Cancer Specialists ( Site 0034)
- Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada ( Site 0092)
- John Theurer Cancer Center at Hackensack University Medical Center ( Site 0004)
- Associated Medical Professionals of NY ( Site 0060)
- Duke Cancer Center ( Site 0010)
- W. G. Bill Hefner VA Medical Center ( Site 0029)
- University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center ( Site 0036)
- Oregon Health Sciences University ( Site 0031)
- Carolina Urologic Research Center ( Site 0070)
- Inova Schar Cancer Institute ( Site 0006)
- Virginia Cancer Institute ( Site 0052)
- Blue Ridge Cancer Care ( Site 0086)
- Centro de Oncologia e Investigacion Buenos Aires COIBA ( Site 1013)
- Instituto de Investigaciones Clinicas ( Site 1000)
- Centro de Diagnostico Urologico ( Site 1008)
- Hospital Britanico de Buenos Aires ( Site 1006)
- Sanatorio Parque ( Site 1002)
- Instituto de Investigaciones Metabolicas [Buenos Aires, Argentina] ( Site 1011)
- Hospital Aleman ( Site 1004)
- Instituto Medico Alexander Fleming ( Site 1010)
- CEMAIC ( Site 1014)
- St George Hospital ( Site 0157)
- Macquarie University ( Site 0151)
- Port Macquarie Base Hospital ( Site 0153)
- Calvary Mater Newcastle ( Site 0148)
- Redcliffe Hospital ( Site 0161)
- John Flynn Hospital & Medical Centre ( Site 0164)
- Hollywood Private Hospital ( Site 0163)
- Ordensklinikum Linz GmbH Elisabethinen ( Site 0373)
- Medizinische Universitat Graz ( Site 0374)
- SCRI-CCCIT GesmbH ( Site 0371)
- Medizinische Universitaet Wien ( Site 0375)
- Hospital de Caridade de Ijui ( Site 1038)
- Uniao Brasileira de Educacao e Assistencia Hospital Sao Lucas da Pucrs ( Site 1021)
- Centro de Novos Tratamentos Itajai - Clinica de Neoplasias Litoral ( Site 1035)
- Hospital de Base de Sao Jose de Rio Preto ( Site 1022)
- A.C. Camargo Cancer Center ( Site 1026)
- Nova Scotia Health Authority QEII-HSC ( Site 0114)
- Hamilton Health Sciences-Juravinski Cancer Centre ( Site 0116)
- Grand River Hospital ( Site 0120)
- Lakeridge Health ( Site 0117)
- Sunnybrook Research Institute ( Site 0108)
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre ( Site 0107)
- CIUSSS du Bas Saint Laurent - Hopital Regional de Rimouski ( Site 0102)
- CIUSSS de l Estrie - CHUS - Centre Hosp. Univ. Sherbrooke ( Site 0105)
- CHU de Quebec-Universite Laval-Hotel Dieu de Quebec ( Site 0103)
- Centro Investigación del Cáncer James Lind ( Site 1041)
- Rey y Oreilly Limitada ( Site 1048)
- Fundacion Arturo Lopez Perez ( Site 1049)
- Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile ( Site 1047)
- Bradford Hill Centro de Investigaciones Clinicas ( Site 1044)
- Centro de Investigaciones Clinicas Vina del Mar ( Site 1042)
- Peking University First Hospital ( Site 1303)
- The Fifth Medical Center of PLA General Hospital ( Site 1307)
- Beijing Cancer Hospital ( Site 1305)
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Xiamen University ( Site 1319)
- Sun Yat Sen Memorial Hospital ( Site 1323)
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University ( Site 1330)
- Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital ( Site 1326)
- Henan Cancer Hospital ( Site 1321)
- Hubei Cancer Hospital ( Site 1329)
- Hunan Cancer Hospital ( Site 1320)
- Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital ( Site 1312)
- Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center ( Site 1300)
- Zhongshan Hospital Fudan University ( Site 1301)
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine ( Site 1309)
- Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital ( Site 1310)
- Hospital Pablo Tobon Uribe ( Site 1066)
- Biomelab S A S ( Site 1067)
- Clinica de la Costa Ltda. ( Site 1073)
- Sociedad de Oncología Y Hematología del Cesar S.A.S. ( Site 1068)
- Oncomedica S.A. ( Site 1057)
- Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia E.S.E ( Site 1061)
- Clinica Colsanitas S.A. Sede Clinica Universitaria Colombia ( Site 1062)
- Oncologos del Occidente S.A. ( Site 1072)
- Centro Medico Imbanaco de Cali S.A ( Site 1064)
- Hemato Oncologos S.A. ( Site 1065)
- C.H. de Saint Quentin ( Site 0481)
- Clinique Sainte Anne ( Site 0431)
- Centre Jean Perrin ( Site 0434)
- Centre Leon Berard ( Site 0422)
- Institut Paoli Calmettes. ( Site 0419)
- CHU Jean Minjoz ( Site 0423)
- CHU de Brest -Site Hopital Morvan ( Site 0441)
- Institut Bergonie ( Site 0421)
- Institut Claudius Regaud IUCT Oncopole ( Site 0418)
- Hopital Foch ( Site 0428)
- Institut De Cancerologie De L Ouest ( Site 0448)
- Centre Hospitalier Regional du Orleans ( Site 0430)
- Centre D Oncologie de Gentilly ( Site 0432)
- C.H.U. Lyon Sud ( Site 0436)
- CHU Amiens Picardie Site Sud Amiens ( Site 0438)
- Institut Gustave Roussy ( Site 0416)
- Institut Sainte Catherine ( Site 0447)
- Institut Mutualiste Montsouris ( Site 0446)
- Universitaetsklinikum Freiburg - Medizinische Klinik ( Site 0304)
- Universitaetsklinikum in Mannheim ( Site 0314)
- Studienpraxis Urologie ( Site 0309)
- Universitaetsklinik fuer Urologie ( Site 0307)
- Klinikum Rechts der Isar ( Site 0300)
- Universitaetsklinik der Paracelsus Medizinischen Privatuniversitaet ( Site 0318)
- Universitaetsklinikum Wuerzburg ( Site 0302)
- Universitaetsklinikum Goettingen ( Site 0345)
- Uniklinik RWTH Aachen ( Site 0308)
- Universitaetsklinikum des Saarlandes ( Site 0348)
- Universitaetsklinikum Jena ( Site 0305)
- Charite Universitaetsmedizin Berlin ( Site 0301)
- Cork University Hospital ( Site 0727)
- Tallaght University Hospital ( Site 0730)
- Mid Western Cancer Centre ( Site 0728)
- Soroka Medical Center ( Site 0548)
- Assaf Harofeh MC ( Site 0547)
- Rambam Medical Center ( Site 0543)
- Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center ( Site 0546)
- Meir Medical Center ( Site 0544)
- Rabin Medical Center ( Site 0545)
- Chaim Sheba Medical Center ( Site 0541)
- Sourasky Medical Center ( Site 0542)
- Istituto Clinico Humanitas Research Hospital ( Site 0452)
- Azienda Ospedaliera Cannizzaro ( Site 0458)
- A.O. Universitaria di Modena ( Site 0454)
- Istituto Nazionale Tumori IRCCS Fondazione Pascale ( Site 0457)
- Azienda Ospedaliera San Camillo Forlanini ( Site 0455)
- Azienda Ospedaliera Santa Maria Terni ( Site 0456)
- Presidio Ospedaliero Santa Chiara ( Site 0451)
- National Cancer Center Hospital East ( Site 0702)
- Toho University Sakura Medical Center ( Site 0703)
- National Hospital Organization Shikoku Cancer Center ( Site 0716)
- Kanazawa University Hospital ( Site 0701)
- Kitasato University Hospital ( Site 0705)
- Yokohama City University Medical Center ( Site 0706)
- Nara Medical University Hospital ( Site 0715)
- Kindai University Hospital ( Site 0714)
- Osaka University Hospital ( Site 0713)
- Saitama Medical University International Medical Center ( Site 0708)
- Dokkyo Medical University Saitama Medical Center ( Site 0707)
- Hamamatsu University Hospital ( Site 0720)
- Yamaguchi University Hospital ( Site 0717)
- Chiba Cancer Center ( Site 0704)
- Kyushu University Hospital ( Site 0718)
- University of Miyazaki Hospital ( Site 0721)
- Nagasaki University Hospital ( Site 0719)
- Toranomon Hospital ( Site 0711)
- Nippon Medical School Hospital ( Site 0709)
- Keio University Hospital ( Site 0710)
- National Cancer Center ( Site 0174)
- Seoul National University Bundang Hospital ( Site 0175)
- Seoul National University Hospital ( Site 0171)
- Asan Medical Center ( Site 0176)
- Samsung Medical Center ( Site 0172)
- Medisch Centrum Leeuwarden ( Site 0477)
- Ziekenhuis Gelderse Vallei ( Site 0485)
- Radboud University Medical Center ( Site 0470)
- VieCuri Medisch Centrum ( Site 0487)
- Jeroen Bosch Ziekenhuis ( Site 1200)
- Catharina Ziekenhuis ( Site 0472)
- Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Ziekenhuis ( Site 0480)
- Ziekenhuis Hilversum ( Site 0466)
- Ziekenhuisgroep Twente ( Site 0469)
- Reinier de Graaf Groep ( Site 0484)
- Hagaziekenhuis ( Site 1201)
- Chelyabinsk Regional Clinical Oncological Dispensary ( Site 0565)
- Krasnoyarsk Regional Clinical Oncological Dispensary ( Site 0585)
- SBIH City clinical hospital named after D.D. Pletniov ( Site 0575)
- Russian Scientific Center of Radiology ( Site 0559)
- Central Clinical Hospital with Polyclinic ( Site 0562)
- National Medical Research Radiological Center ( Site 0556)
- Volga District Medical Center Federal Medical and Biological Agency ( Site 0572)
- Omsk Clinical Oncology Dispensary ( Site 0568)
- SBHI Samara Regional Clinical Oncology Dispensary ( Site 0576)
- Clinical Research Center of specialized types medical care-Oncology ( Site 0570)
- Russian Scientific Center of Radiology and Surgical Technologies ( Site 0567)
- SPb SBHI City Clinical Oncological Dispensary ( Site 0571)
- Leningrad Regional Oncology Center ( Site 0588)
- Tomsk National Research Medical Center of Russian Academy of Sciences ( Site 0579)
- Instituto Catalan de Oncologia - ICO ( Site 0330)
- Hospital Consorci Sanitari Parc Tauli ( Site 0335)
- Hospital Universitario Marques de Valdecilla ( Site 0336)
- Hospital Josep Trueta ( Site 0321)
- Hospital del Mar ( Site 0333)
- Hospital Clinic ( Site 0323)
- Hospital Universitario Ramon y Cajal ( Site 0328)
- Hospital Clinico San Carlos ( Site 0324)
- Hospital Universitario HM Sanchinarro ( Site 0322)
- Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria ( Site 0337)
- Hospital Virgen del Rocio ( Site 0329)
- National Cheng Kung University Hospital ( Site 0134)
- China Medical University Hospital ( Site 0132)
- Taichung Veterans General Hospital ( Site 0133)
- National Taiwan University Hospital ( Site 0131)
- Taipei Veterans General Hospital ( Site 0135)
- University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust ( Site 0530)
- Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust ( Site 0540)
- Torbay Hospital ( Site 0532)
- Weston Park Hospital ( Site 0539)
- Royal Marsden Hospital ( Site 0526)
- Mount Vernon Cancer Centre ( Site 0536)
- Barts Cancer Institute ( Site 0483)
- University of North Midlands NHS Foundation Trust ( Site 0527)
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Placebo Comparator
Pembrolizumab+Docetaxel
Placebo+Docetaxel
Participants receive pembrolizumab 200 mg by intravenous (IV) infusion on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle (Q3W) for up to a maximum of 35 cycles (approximately 2 years) PLUS docetaxel 75 mg/m^2 by IV infusion Q3W for a maximum of 10 cycles (approximately 7 months). Participants also receive dexamethasone 8 mg by oral tablets at 12 hours, 3 hours, and 1 hour prior to docetaxel administration and prednisone 5 mg by oral tablets twice daily during each docetaxel cycle.
Participants receive placebo by IV infusion on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle (Q3W) for up to a maximum of 35 cycles (approximately 2 years) PLUS docetaxel 75 mg/m^2 by IV infusion Q3W for a maximum of 10 cycles (approximately 7 months). Participants also receive dexamethasone 8 mg by oral tablets at 12 hours, 3 hours, and 1 hour prior to docetaxel administration and prednisone 5 mg by oral tablets twice daily during each docetaxel cycle.