Trial results for the neoadjuvant combination of lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab in Merkel cell carcinoma were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2026-04-08. The study demonstrated a pathological complete response rate of 57.7% among participants. Additionally, 92.3% of participants were able to complete both neoadjuvant cycles of therapy and planned surgical resection.
Background
The trial investigated the combination of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab as a neoadjuvant treatment for participants with Merkel cell carcinoma, also known as neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin or trabecular carcinoma of the skin.
Trial design
The study (NCT04869137) was a Phase 2, single-arm trial that enrolled 26 participants. It investigated the neoadjuvant combination of lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab in individuals diagnosed with Merkel cell carcinoma, neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin, or trabecular carcinoma of the skin.
Key results
The trial reported the following key measurements for the lenvatinib plus pembrolizumab group:
- Pathological Complete Response: 57.7% of participants achieved this outcome.
- Percentage of Patients Able to Complete Both Neoadjuvant Cycles of Trial Therapy and Able to Complete Planned Surgical Resection: 92.3% of participants achieved this outcome.
What this means
The results suggest that the neoadjuvant combination of lenvatinib and pembrolizumab may offer a promising pathological complete response rate in patients with Merkel cell carcinoma. The high percentage of participants able to complete both therapy cycles and subsequent surgical resection indicates good treatment tolerability and feasibility within a neoadjuvant setting. These findings warrant further investigation into this combination therapy for Merkel cell carcinoma.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for study NCT04869137, titled "Neoadjuvant Lenvatinib Plus Pembrolizumab in Merkel Cell Carcinoma," were posted on 2026-04-08 on clinicaltrials.gov.