Pembrolizumab, a new promising drug for hematological cancers

Investigational Immunotherapy Trials for Hematological Cancers

The Keynote hematology clinical trials are studying an investigational drug, pembrolizumab, to see if it is safe and if it helps slow down or stop the growth of hematological cancers. These types of cancers (also known as blood cancers) begin in blood-forming tissues like the bone marrow or in the cells of the immune system. They include:

• Multiple Myeloma 
• Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
• Primary Mediastinal and Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma
• Richter Syndrome

Pembrolizumab is an investigational immunotherapy that may help the body’s immune system attack cancer cells. When a cancer cell binds to an immune cell, the immune cell can’t do its job. These trials want to see if pembrolizumab can block cancer cells from binding with immune cells to help allow the immune cells to work properly.
Participating in a clinical trial is an important decision. Anyone participating in a trial should know as much as possible about what is being studied, what risks are involved and what potential benefits may be gained before deciding to enroll. If you are interested in participating in a clinical trial, please talk to your doctor first.