ClinicalTrials.gov posted results on 24 August 2026 from a Phase 2 study evaluating pembrolizumab before surgery in BRAF-mutant, resectable stage III melanoma. The registry reported pathological response counts for three treatment strategies, with the largest listed count being 10 participants in the concurrent dabrafenib, trametinib, and pembrolizumab group.

Background

The study evaluated pembrolizumab, dabrafenib, and trametinib in people with melanoma that was BRAF mutant, resectable, and stage III. The neoadjuvant treatment was given before surgery. According to the registry summary, the study aimed to determine which of three drug combinations best reduced tumour size before surgery and prevented melanoma recurrence after surgery.

Trial design

This was a Phase 2 study with 60 participants. Its condition was melanoma, and the registered interventions were dabrafenib, trametinib, and pembrolizumab. The study compared three strategies: pembrolizumab alone; sequential dabrafenib and trametinib followed by pembrolizumab; and concurrent dabrafenib and trametinib with pembrolizumab. The overall study status was active, not recruiting.

Key results

The posted measurements were all labelled “Pathological Response Rate” and reported participant counts rather than percentages. The registry lists three sets of counts for the treatment groups, without identifying time points or additional grouping details in the supplied record.

  • Pembrolizumab only: 6 participants, 2 participants, and 3 participants.
  • Sequential dabrafenib and trametinib, then pembrolizumab: 3 participants, 3 participants, and 4 participants.
  • Concurrent dabrafenib and trametinib with pembrolizumab: 10 participants, 1 participant, and 5 participants.

The supplied data do not provide percentages, measures of dispersion, confidence intervals, p-values, or a statistical comparison between the groups. They also do not include an adverse-event summary.

What this means

The results posting provides pathological response counts for three pembrolizumab-based neoadjuvant strategies in resectable stage III melanoma. The concurrent combination had the highest count in one of the three listed sets, while the pembrolizumab-only group had the highest count in another set. Because the record does not identify the timing or denominators for these repeated measurements, the counts cannot be used here to establish which strategy was superior. The posting also does not establish a new approval or provide a safety conclusion.

Source

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov, trial-results record for NCT02858921, posted 24 August 2026. The registry record is available at clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT02858921.