Pembrolizumab: 145 Real Stories

145 stories match pembrolizumab. 140 of them mention immunotherapy.

A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Lung Adenocarcinoma With Immune-Related Abdominal Inflammation and Later Bone Progression

Patient Info: Anonymized, male | Stage IV

Biomarkers: PD-L1 30%; KRAS G13X mutation; EGFR/ALK/ROS1 negative

Metastatic Site: bone

After several periods of response or stability, lymph-node progression recurred and bone progression was documented in July 2024. Another treatment line was being planned.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSetback / Progression
TB
Breast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer in remission after chemotherapy and pembrolizumab

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 50s

Biomarkers: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-negative

Triple-negative breast cancer was in remission, with PET-CT showing no new primary or secondary tumors, while pembrolizumab-related adrenal insufficiency required ongoing endocrine management.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Pulmonary large cell neuroendocrine cancer treated with airway procedures and pembrolizumab

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+ | Stage IV

Biomarkers: EGFR negative, ALK negative, ROS1 negative, TP53 negative, PD-L1 <1%, TMB 28.3 mut/Mb

Metastatic Site: bilateral lungs

Pembrolizumab-based treatment produced a complete remission, but multiple intrapulmonary metastases recurred in October 2021 after an 18-month progression-free interval. Further local airway treatment was performed and pembrolizumab continued.

PubMed Central
OutcomeSetback / Progression
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung CancerLung Cancer

Primary Lung Cancer That Spread to Both Breasts and the Adrenal Gland

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: PD-L1 negative; EGFR, ALK, ROS1, RET, MET exon 14, NTRK and BRAF wild type

Metastatic Site: both breasts, subcutaneous tissue, adrenal gland

After the lung origin was established, she was in good general condition and asymptomatic while first-line systemic therapy was being planned.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage 4 lung cancer: immunotherapy plus particle therapy halts progression

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 70+ | Stage IV

Biomarkers: PD-L1 90%; high tumor mutational burden; PIK3CA ; TP53 mutation; MET mutation

Metastatic Site: left proximal femur

Stage IV oligometastatic NSCLC had good CT response to carboplatin, pemetrexed, and pembrolizumab, then no disease progression 6 months after PULSAR radiotherapy plus pembrolizumab; grade 2 pneumonitis improved with prednisone.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer: partial response to immunotherapy combination

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: Initial tumor: ER-negative; PR-negative; HER2-negative; Ki-67 >80%

Metastatic Site: left lung, neck lymph nodes, mediastinal lymph nodes

Metastatic triple-negative breast cancer had a partial response after 9 months of pembrolizumab plus MK-4830, with reduced tumor burden, decreased lung and mediastinal metastases, and no new metastatic lesions; immunotherapy continued after prednisone controlled a grade 2 lichenoid eruption.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
Nick, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

Stage IV Colorectal Adenocarcinoma: Nick's Patient Story

Patient Info: Nick Sprague, Male, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: distant lymph nodes in abdomen/near aorta and left…

As of July 2024, Nick was living with Stage IVA colon cancer and receiving Keytruda/pembrolizumab with fewer side effects than chemotherapy; no NED status had been reached.

The Patient Story
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung Squamous Cell CarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage 4 lung cancer: complete response to chemo-immunotherapy combo

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male, 40s | Stage IV

Metastatic Site: right hilar lymph nodes, mediastinal lymph nodes

Stage IVA lung squamous cell carcinoma achieved complete response at 12 months. Pembrolizumab was stopped after immune-related RS3PE and likely colitis; 8 months after glucocorticoid initiation, there was no relapse of lung cancer or RS3PE.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage II Breast CancerBreast Cancer

Stage II Breast Cancer Treatment Complicated by Scleroderma-Like Skin Changes

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 50s | Stage II

Biomarkers: ER low-positive; PR-negative; HER2-negative

Her cancer remained stable during combination treatment. After morphea-like skin changes developed during therapy, treatment was modified and the skin condition improved 6 months after docetaxel was stopped.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
Lenny, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Lenny's Survivor Story

Patient Info: Lenny, Male, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: PD-L1 expression positive

Metastatic Site: right femur; brain/cerebellum

As of July 2024, Lenny described himself as NED/no evidence of disease after surgery, CyberKnife radiation, chemotherapy, and Keytruda-based immunotherapy.

The Patient Story
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage 3 breast cancer: pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, Under 40

Biomarkers: ER-positive, PR-negative, HER2-negative breast cancer with very high Ki-67. MammaPrint high-risk/basal type; hereditary testing negative.

Free of recurrence at last follow-up after neoadjuvant pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy, breast-conserving surgery with RCB-0/pathologic complete response, adjuvant radiation, and adjuvant pembrolizumab.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage II Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

Stage 2 triple-negative breast cancer: pathologic complete response to chemotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, Female, 40s | Stage II

Biomarkers: Triple-negative breast cancer, with pathogenic PALB2 c.1451T>A variant found in blood/buccal/tumor testing.

As of May 2024, more than 1 year after surgery, she was well and free of cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, mastectomy, reconstruction, and preventive adnexectomy.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage 4 lung adenocarcinoma: complete response on immunotherapy combination

Patient Info: Anonymized, Male | Stage IV

Biomarkers: No targetable mutation found. Tissue showed TP53/ARID1A; liquid biopsy added KEAP1, and SMARCA4. PD-L1 not evaluable.

Metastatic Site: bilateral lung nodules, left adrenal gland

As of May 2024, metastatic lung adenocarcinoma had a complete radiologic response lasting more than 14 months on pembrolizumab maintenance, and a new PET-avid lung nodule was benign inflammation rather than cancer.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IV lung adenocarcinoma with brain metastases and an aortic blood clot

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 60s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: KRAS ; EIF1AZ mutation; PD-L1 30%

Metastatic Site: brain

She remained in active care after whole-brain radiation, with systemic chemo-immunotherapy planned for Stage IV lung adenocarcinoma.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Invasive Ductal CarcinomaBreast Cancer

MSI-High Metastatic Hormone-Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Responding to Pembrolizumab

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 40s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: ER-positive; PR-positive; HER2-negative; MSI-high; BRCA mutation-negative

Metastatic Site: bone, para-aortic lymph nodes, brain

Pembrolizumab produced marked improvement in metastatic bone and nodal disease. After 1 year it was stopped because of appetite loss; 8 months later she was symptom-free and back at work on endocrine therapy, although asymptomatic brain metastases were documented.

PubMed Central
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Lung AdenocarcinomaLung Cancer

Stage IV BRAF-mutated lung adenocarcinoma responding to second-line chemo-immunotherapy

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, Under 40 | Stage IV

Biomarkers: BRAF exon 15 p.T599dup; PD-L1 5%

Metastatic Site: pleura, pericardium

After progression on BRAF/MEK-targeted therapy, second-line chemo-immunotherapy produced a partial response that was still ongoing after about 1 year of second-line treatment.

PubMed Central
OutcomeResponding Well
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Ovarian CancerOvarian Cancer

Ovarian Cancer Spreads to the Breast During Platinum-Resistant Recurrence

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: BRCA1/2-negative; HRD-positive; PD-L1-positive; folate receptor alpha-positive

Metastatic Site: right breast, right axillary lymph nodes, cervical…

She remained alive with stable disease about 2 years after the breast metastasis was diagnosed while receiving seventh-line mirvetuximab-soravtansine.

PubMed Central
OutcomeStable Disease
Tim, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung CancerLung Cancer

Stage IV Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Tim's Patient Story

Patient Info: Tim Monds, Male, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: High PD-L1 expression

Metastatic Site: Other lung lobes / lung nodules

As of March 2024, Tim Monds was identified as a Stage IV lung cancer survivor involved in discussion of the PaCES early palliative-care project and broader lung cancer advocacy.

Lung Cancer Voices
OutcomeLiving With Cancer
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

Pembrolizumab led to complete response before surgery for metastatic dMMR colon cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, male, 70+ | Stage IV

Biomarkers: dMMR/MSI-H; MLH1 loss; PMS2 loss; BRAF mutation; heterozygous MUTYH p. pathogenic variant

Metastatic Site: liver

The 2023 liver resection showed a pathological complete response with no residual tumor, and he entered follow-up without additional therapy.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

Pembrolizumab produced a complete response in unresectable dMMR colon cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 70+

Biomarkers: dMMR/MSI-H; MLH1 loss; MSH2 loss; RAS/BRAF wild type; MLH1 promoter hypermethylation

Surgery found a pathological complete response with no residual cancer in the colon or 58 lymph nodes, and follow-up showed no relapse.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

Pembrolizumab enabled complete response and surgery for unresectable dMMR colon cancer

Patient Info: Anonymized, male, 60s

Biomarkers: dMMR/MSI-H; MLH1 loss; PMS2 loss; BRAF mutation; MLH1 promoter hypermethylation

The surgical specimen showed a pathological complete response with no residual cancer and 0 of 43 lymph nodes involved, and follow-up showed no relapse.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCancer-Free / NED
A patient, who was diagnosed with Stage IV Colorectal AdenocarcinomaColorectal Cancer

Pembrolizumab and surgery for metastatic dMMR colorectal cancer with major response

Patient Info: Anonymized, female, 50s | Stage IV

Biomarkers: dMMR/MSI-H; MLH1 loss; PMS2 loss; BRAF/RAS wild type; RET::NCOA4 fusion; MLH1 promoter hypermethylation

Metastatic Site: non-regional lymph nodes

Surgery showed a major pathological response with less than 10% viable tumor. Pembrolizumab was restarted after surgery, and no relapse had been documented.

PubMed Central
OutcomeCare Ongoing