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Updated May 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 3INTERVENTIONAL

Duration of Anti-PD-1 Therapy in Metastatic Melanoma

A Randomized Phase III Trial of the Duration of Anti-PD-1 Therapy in Metastatic Melanoma

Duration of Anti-PD-1 Therapy in Metastatic Melanoma (NCT02821013) is a Phase 3 interventional studying Unresectable/Metastatic Melanoma, sponsored by Canadian Cancer Trials Group. 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

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects on patients with metastatic melanoma of taking a government approved and paid-for PD-1 inhibitor intermittently, with taking the same type of agent continuously. Researchers want to see if the two ways of giving this type of treatment work equally well in extending the life of patients with melanoma, or not.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 3 trials confirm efficacy and safety in large patient groups (often 300–3,000+) and form the evidence base for an FDA approval submission. For Unresectable/Metastatic Melanoma, Phase 3 studies typically randomize participants between the investigational treatment and either a placebo or current standard of care. A successful Phase 3 result is the threshold most treatments need to clear before regulatory approval.

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 614 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)

Minimum age 18 or as specified in the Product Monograph and eligible for public funding. Who May Qualify: - diagnosed by tissue sample (biopsy-confirmed) melanoma that is unresectable / metastatic (stage III or stage IV). - Eligible to receive treatment with a government approved and publically-funded PD-1 inhibitor, according to the guidance / indications described in the Product Monograph / Provincial Formulary. - Patients must have evidence of unresectable / metastatic disease, that is considered evaluable by the investigator and can be followed, but measurable disease is not mandatory. - Patients with brain metastases are allowed, provided they are stable according to the following definitions: 1. Without evidence of progression for at least four weeks prior to randomization and have no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases. 2. Treated with surgery and without evidence of progression prior to randomization and have no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases. 3. Treated with stereotactic radiosurgery and without evidence of progression prior to randomization and have no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases. - Patient is able (i.e. sufficiently fluent) and willing to complete the quality of life and health utility questionnaires in either English or French. The baseline assessment must be completed within required timelines, prior to randomization. Inability (lack of comprehension in English or French, or other equivalent reason such as cognitive issues or lack of competency) to complete the questionnaires will not make the patient ineligible for the study. However, ability but unwillingness to complete the questionnaires will make the patient ineligible. - Patient consent must be appropriately obtained in accordance with applicable local and regulatory requirements. Each patient must sign a consent form prior to enrollment in the trial to document their willingness to participate. ...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
Minimum age 18 or as specified in the Product Monograph and eligible for public funding. Inclusion Criteria: * Histologically confirmed melanoma that is unresectable / metastatic (stage III or stage IV). * Eligible to receive treatment with a government approved and publically-funded PD-1 inhibitor, according to the guidance / indications described in the Product Monograph / Provincial Formulary. * Patients must have evidence of unresectable / metastatic disease, that is considered evaluable by the investigator and can be followed, but measurable disease is not mandatory. * Patients with brain metastases are allowed, provided they are stable according to the following definitions: 1. Without evidence of progression for at least four weeks prior to randomization and have no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases. 2. Treated with surgery and without evidence of progression prior to randomization and have no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases. 3. Treated with stereotactic radiosurgery and without evidence of progression prior to randomization and have no evidence of new or enlarging brain metastases. * Patient is able (i.e. sufficiently fluent) and willing to complete the quality of life and health utility questionnaires in either English or French. The baseline assessment must be completed within required timelines, prior to randomization. Inability (lack of comprehension in English or French, or other equivalent reason such as cognitive issues or lack of competency) to complete the questionnaires will not make the patient ineligible for the study. However, ability but unwillingness to complete the questionnaires will make the patient ineligible. * Patient consent must be appropriately obtained in accordance with applicable local and regulatory requirements. Each patient must sign a consent form prior to enrollment in the trial to document their willingness to participate. * Patients must be accessible for treatment and follow-up. Investigators must assure themselves the patients randomized on this trial will be available for complete documentation of the treatment, adverse events, and follow-up. * Patients must be randomized prior to the start of, or within 16 weeks from, the initiation of PD-1 inhibitor treatment. For patients who are being randomized before the start of treatment, the PD-1 inhibitor should be started within 5 working days after randomization. Patients who initiate treatment with combination anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 therapies who experience toxicity may be randomized at the time prior to starting single-agent PD-1 inhibitor. Repeat imaging must be done within 50 days prior to randomization to ensure the patient has no evidence of disease progression Exclusion Criteria: * Patients not willing to stop anti-PD-1 therapy, if randomized to the intermittent arm. * Patients with any contraindications to PD-1 inhibitors, as described in the Product Monograph or Provincial Formulary, and/or not eligible to receive anti-PD-1 therapy.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Intermittent PD-1 inhibitor therapy

DRUG

Continuous PD-1 inhibitor therapy

Locations (20)

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.

Coffs Habour Health Campus - NCCI
Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia
Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital
Waratah, New South Wales, Australia
Westmead Hospital
Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
Sunshine Coast University Hospital
Birtinya, Queensland, Australia
Cairns Hospital
Cairns, Queensland, Australia
Gold Coast University Hospital
Southport, Queensland, Australia
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital
Woodville, South A., Australia
Monash Medical Centre
Clayton, Victoria, Australia
Alfred Hospital
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Mildura Base Public Hospital
Mildura, Victoria, Australia
Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital
Herston, Australia
Cross Cancer Institute
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
BCCA - Surrey
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
BCCA - Vancouver
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
BCCA - Victoria
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
Horizon Health Network
Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada
Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre
Barrie, Ontario, Canada
Health Sciences North
Greater Sudbury, Ontario, Canada
Juravinski Cancer Centre at Hamilton Health Sciences
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Kingston Health Sciences Centre
Kingston, Ontario, Canada

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT02821013), the sponsor (Canadian Cancer Trials Group), 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 NCT02821013 clinical trial studying?

The purpose of this study is to compare the effects on patients with metastatic melanoma of taking a government approved and paid-for PD-1 inhibitor intermittently, with taking the same type of agent continuously. Researchers want to see if the two ways of giving this type of treatment work equally well in extending the life of patients with melanoma, or not. The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT02821013?

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 NCT02821013?

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 NCT02821013. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT02821013. 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.