Cancers & treatments·Regimen libraryFirst line

Pembrolizumab monotherapy

Checked 2026-09-09

Adjuvant melanoma stage IIB-IV (1 year); PD-L1 TPS 50% or above NSCLC; MSI-high tumours; recurrent head and neck (CPS 1 or above)

One cycle

every 21 days

21-day cycle, up to 35 cycles (2 years); 17 cycles adjuvant melanomaIntravenous

Components

Drug	Dose	Route	Days	Note
Pembrolizumab Monoclonal antibody (anti-PD-1)	200 mg every 3 weeks or 400 mg every 6 weeks	IV	D1

Cycles

up to 35 cycles (2 years); 17 cycles adjuvant melanoma

21-day cycle

Emetogenicity

Minimal (<10%)

G-CSF

Not routine

Used in

Melanoma Non-small-cell lung cancer Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma Colorectal cancer Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma Merkel cell carcinoma

Trials

KEYNOTE-006 KEYNOTE-716 KEYNOTE-024 & KEYNOTE-189 KEYNOTE-177 KEYNOTE-048

Products

Pembrolizumab

Source

KEYNOTE-006, NEJM 2015; FDA label (flat dosing)

Reference doses for a typical adult from the cited protocol or label. Doses are adjusted for renal and hepatic function, age, performance status and prior toxicity, and institutional protocols vary. Verify against the current label and your local protocol before treating. Not medical advice.