Study of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) Plus Enzalutamide Versus Placebo Plus Enzalutamide in Participants With Metastatic Castration-resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC) (MK-3475-641/KEYNOTE-641)
This completed study (KEYNOTE-641) tested adding the immunotherapy pembrolizumab to enzalutamide in men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer who had not yet had chemotherapy. It looked at whether the combination extended survival.
SponsorMerck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Study typeInterventional
Started2019-07-28
Primary completion2022-12-12
Planned enrolment1244
Sites1 Acıbadem · 258 other
A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-blind Trial of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) Plus Enzalutamide Versus Placebo Plus Enzalutamide in Participants With Metastatic Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer (mCRPC) (KEYNOTE-641)
What this study is about
The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety of the combination of pembrolizumab (MK-3475) and enzalutamide in the treatment of men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) who have not received chemotherapy for mCRPC, are abiraterone-naïve, or are intolerant to or progressed on abiraterone acetate. There are two primary study hypotheses.
Hypothesis 1: The combination of pembrolizumab plus enzalutamide is superior to placebo plus enzalutamide with respect to Overall Survival (OS).
Hypothesis 2: The combination of pembrolizumab plus enzalutamide is superior to placebo plus enzalutamide with respect to Radiographic Progression-free Survival (rPFS) per Prostate Cancer Working Group (PCWG)-modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as assessed by blinded independent central review.
Conditions
Prostatic Neoplasms
Interventions
Pembrolizumab
Enzalutamide
Placebo
Primary outcome measures
Overall Survival (OS) — Up to 40 months (through database cut-off date of 12-Dec-2022)
Radiographic Progression-free Survival (rPFS) Per Prostate Cancer Working Group (PCWG)-Modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors Version 1.1 (RECIST 1.1) as Assessed by Blinded Independent Central Review — Up to 40 months (through database cut-off date of 12-Dec-2022)
Who can take part
SexMALEAge18 Years to no upper limitHealthy volunteersNo
Inclusion
The main inclusion and
Exclusion
include but are not limited to the following:
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 randomization
* 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 met one of the following criteria with regard to abiraterone acetate exposure: (1) is abiraterone-naïve; (2) received prior abiraterone acetate for the treatment of mHSPC or mCRPC, for a minimum of 4 weeks and not progressed while on treatment; or (3) received prior abiraterone acetate for the treatment of mHSPC or mCRPC and progressed on treatment after a minimum of 8 weeks treatment (minimum 14 weeks for those with bone progression)
* 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 90 days after the last dose of enzalutamide: Refrain from donating sperm, plus EITHER be abstinent OR must agree to use male condom
* 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 (noninfectious) pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease that required steroids or current pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease
* Has known active human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), concurrent active hepatitis B virus (HBV) or known active hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection
* Has known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis
* Has hypersensitivity to pembrolizumab and/or enzalutamide and/or any of their excipients
* Has a history of seizure or any condition that may predispose to seizure
* Has a history of loss of consciousness within 12 months of screening
* Has hypotension (systolic blood pressure \<86 millimeters of mercury \[mmHg\]) or uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure \>170 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure \>105 mmHg) at the screening visit
* Has bradycardia (heart rate of \<50 beats per minute) on the screening electrocardiogram (ECG)
* Has history of prostate cancer progression on ketoconazole
* Has had prior treatment with enzalutamide, apalutamide, darolutamide or cytochrome P450 (CYP) 17 inhibitor other than abiraterone acetate
* 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 coinhibitory T-cell receptor
* Has received prior treatment with radium or other therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals for prostate cancer
* Has received prior treatment with docetaxel or another chemotherapy agent for mCRPC
* Has had a prior anti-cancer monoclonal antibody (mAb) prior to randomization
* Has used herbal products that may have hormonal anti-prostate cancer activity and/or are known to decrease PSA levels (eg, saw palmetto) prior to randomization
* Has received a live or live attenuated vaccine within 30 days prior to randomization
* 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 90 days after the last dose of enzalutamide
* Has had an allogenic tissue/solid organ transplant
Criteria are written for physicians. Do not rule yourself out: send your reports and the study team will check.
Acıbadem study sites
Acıbadem Maslak Hastanesi ( Site 0660), Istanbul
Also running at 258 other sites in 28 countries.
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03834493 · last updated 2026-07-09 · View registry record ↗