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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 1 / Phase 2INTERVENTIONAL

A Study of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in Pediatric Participants With an Advanced Solid Tumor or Lymphoma (MK-3475-051/KEYNOTE-051)

A Phase I/II Study of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in Children With Advanced Melanoma or a PD-L1 Positive Advanced, Relapsed or Refractory Solid Tumor or Lymphoma (KEYNOTE-051)

A Study of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in Pediatric Participants With an Advanced Solid Tumor or Lymphoma (MK-3475-051/KEYNOTE-051) (NCT02332668) is a Phase 1 / Phase 2 interventional studying Melanoma and Lymphoma, sponsored by Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

Researchers are looking for new ways to treat children with different types of melanoma (skin cancer), solid tumors, and lymphomas (blood cancers) that are any of these: * Advanced, which means cancer spread in the body or cannot be removed with surgery * Relapsed, which means cancer has come back after it had responded to previous treatment (responded means it stopped growing, gets smaller, or disappeared) * Refractory, which means cancer did not respond to previous treatment Pembrolizumab is an immunotherapy, which is a treatment that helps the immune system fight cancer. Researchers want to learn if different doses of pembrolizumab can cause at least 1 of the types of cancer to get smaller or go away. With Amendment 8, enrollment of participants with solid tumors and participants 6 months to under 12 years old with melanoma were closed. With Amendment 13, enrollment was closed for participants with relapsed refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma (rrCHL), microsatellite instabilty-high (MSI-H) solid tumors, tumor-mutational burden-high (TMB-H) solid tumors, and participants 12 years old to \<18 years old with advanced melanoma.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 1 trials test a new treatment for the first time in humans, focusing on safety, dosing, and how the body processes the drug. For Melanoma, a Phase 1 study typically enrolls a small number of participants — often healthy volunteers or patients who have exhausted standard treatment options. Phase 1 results determine whether a treatment moves into larger Phase 2 efficacy studies.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

A target enrollment of 370 participants makes this a sizable late-stage trial. Studies in this range typically have enough power to detect clinically meaningful differences from a comparator and to characterize less-common side effects.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: - Between 6 months and \<18 years of age on day of signing willing to sign a consent form is documented. - Histologically- or cytologically-documented, locally-advanced, or metastatic solid malignancy or lymphoma that is incurable and has failed prior standard therapy, or for which no standard therapy exists, or for which no standard therapy is considered appropriate - Any number of prior treatment regimens - Tissue (or lymph node biopsy for rrcHL participants) available from an archival tissue sample or, if appropriate, a newly obtained core or excisional biopsy of a tumor lesion not previously irradiated - Advanced melanoma or PD-L1-positive advanced, relapsed, or refractory solid tumor or lymphoma - Measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1 (Or based on IWG \[Cheson, 2007\] \[i.e., measurement must be \>15 mm in longest diameter or \>10 mm in short axis\] for rrcHL participants) - Participants with neuroblastoma with only metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG)-positive evaluable disease may be enrolled - Lansky Play Scale ≥50 for participants from 6 months up to and including 16 years of age; or Karnofsky score ≥50 for participants \>16 years of age - your organs (liver, kidneys, etc.) are working well enough based on blood tests - Female participants of childbearing potential should have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 72 hours before the first dose of study medication - Female participant is not a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP) or is a WOCBP who is abstinent from heterosexual intercourse or using contraception during the intervention period and for at least 120 days after the last dose of study intervention - Contraceptive use by men should be consistent with local regulations regarding the methods of contraception for those participating in clinical studies. - Demonstrate your organs (liver, kidneys, etc.) are working well enough based on blood tests. Who Should NOT Join This Trial: ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: * Between 6 months and \<18 years of age on day of signing informed consent is documented. * Histologically- or cytologically-documented, locally-advanced, or metastatic solid malignancy or lymphoma that is incurable and has failed prior standard therapy, or for which no standard therapy exists, or for which no standard therapy is considered appropriate * Any number of prior treatment regimens * Tissue (or lymph node biopsy for rrcHL participants) available from an archival tissue sample or, if appropriate, a newly obtained core or excisional biopsy of a tumor lesion not previously irradiated * Advanced melanoma or PD-L1-positive advanced, relapsed, or refractory solid tumor or lymphoma * Measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1 (Or based on IWG \[Cheson, 2007\] \[i.e., measurement must be \>15 mm in longest diameter or \>10 mm in short axis\] for rrcHL participants) * Participants with neuroblastoma with only metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG)-positive evaluable disease may be enrolled * Lansky Play Scale ≥50 for participants from 6 months up to and including 16 years of age; or Karnofsky score ≥50 for participants \>16 years of age * Adequate organ function * Female participants of childbearing potential should have a negative urine or serum pregnancy test within 72 hours before the first dose of study medication * Female participant is not a woman of childbearing potential (WOCBP) or is a WOCBP who is abstinent from heterosexual intercourse or using contraception during the intervention period and for at least 120 days after the last dose of study intervention * Contraceptive use by men should be consistent with local regulations regarding the methods of contraception for those participating in clinical studies. * Demonstrate adequate organ function. Exclusion Criteria: * Currently participating and receiving study therapy in, or has participated in a study of an investigational agent and received study therapy or used an investigational device within 4 weeks of the date of allocation/randomization * Diagnosis of immunodeficiency or receiving systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the date of allocation/randomization * Prior systemic anti-cancer therapy including investigational agent within 2 weeks prior to study Day 1 or not recovered from adverse events due to a previously administered agent * Prior radiotherapy within 2 weeks of start of study treatment * Known additional malignancy that is progressing or requires active treatment with the exception of basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ (eg, breast carcinoma, cervical carcinoma in situ) with potentially curative therapy, or in situ cervical cancer * Known active central nervous system (CNS) metastases and/or carcinomatous meningitis * Tumor(s) involving the brain stem * Severe hypersensitivity (≥ Grade 3) to pembrolizumab and/or any of its excipients * Active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in past 2 years; replacement therapy (such as thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency) is acceptable * Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or current pneumonitis. * Active infection requiring systemic therapy * Pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the trial through 120 days after the last dose of study medication * Prior therapy with an anti-programmed cell death (PD)-1, anti-PD-ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1), anti-PD-L2 agent, or any agent directed to another stimulatory or inhibitory T-cell receptor (eg, cytotoxic lymphocyte associated protein-4 \[CTLA-4\], OX-40, CD137) * Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) * Hepatitis B or C * Known history of active tuberculosis (TB; Bacillus tuberculosis) * Received a live vaccine within 30 days of planned start of study medication * Has undergone solid organ transplant at any time, or prior allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation within the last 5 years. (Participants who have had an allogeneic hematopoietic transplant \>5 years ago are eligible as long as there are no symptoms of Graft Versus Host Disease \[GVHD\].) * History or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality, or known severe hypersensitivity to any component or analog of the trial treatment, that might confound the results of the trial, or interfere with the participant's participation for the full duration of the study * Known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with the requirements of the study

Treatments Being Tested

BIOLOGICAL

Pembrolizumab

IV infusion

Locations (17)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

Call for Information (Investigational Site 0019)
Aurora, Colorado, United States
Call for Information (Investigational Site 0026)
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Call for Information (Investigational Site 0031)
New York, New York, United States
Call for Information (Investigational Site 0070)
Fargo, North Dakota, United States
Call for Information (Investigational Site 0032)
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Call for Information (Investigational Site 0071)
Sioux Falls, South Dakota, United States
Call for Information (Investigational Site 0054)
Dallas, Texas, United States
MSD Brasil
São Paulo, Brazil
MSD France
Paris, France
MSD Sharp & Dohme GmbH
München, Germany
Merck Sharp & Dohme Co. Ltd.
Hod HaSharon, Israel
MSD Italia S.r.l.
Rome, Italy
Merck Sharp & Dohme BV
Haarlem, Netherlands
Merck Sharp & Dohme Lda.
Paço de Arcos, Portugal
MSD Korea LTD
Seoul, South Korea
MSD Sweden
Stockholm, Sweden
Merck Sharp & Dohme Ltd.
London, United Kingdom

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT02332668), the sponsor (Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT02332668 clinical trial studying?

Researchers are looking for new ways to treat children with different types of melanoma (skin cancer), solid tumors, and lymphomas (blood cancers) that are any of these: * Advanced, which means cancer spread in the body or cannot be removed with surgery * Relapsed, which means cancer has come back after it had responded to previous treatment (responded means it stopped growing, gets smaller, or disappeared) * Refractory, which means cancer did not respond to previous treatment Pembrolizumab is an immunotherapy, which is a treatment that helps the immune system fight cancer. Researchers want … The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT02332668?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT02332668?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT02332668. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT02332668. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-05-08 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.