Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42373128›Full record

ArticleJournal for immunotherapy of cancer2026

Pharmacokinetic variability with pembrolizumab dosage switching and its impact on immune-related adverse events in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Ryoko Inaba Higashiyama, Tatsuya Yoshida, Shigehiro Yagishita, Mayu Ohuchi, Yoshihiro Masui, Ken Masuda, Yuki Shinno, Yuji Matsumoto, Tomonori Mizutani, Yusuke Okuma and 6 more

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal for immunotherapy of cancer, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors.

Ryoko Inaba HigashiyamaDepartment of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Tatsuya YoshidaDepartment of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan tatyoshi@ncc.go.jp.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4896-5824
Shigehiro YagishitaDivision of Molecular Pharmacology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Mayu OhuchiDepartment of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Fundamental Innovative Oncology Core, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Yoshihiro MasuiDepartment of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Ken MasudaDepartment of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Yuki ShinnoDepartment of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Yuji MatsumotoDepartment of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Tomonori MizutaniDepartment of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Yusuke OkumaDepartment of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5743-0149
Yasushi GotoDepartment of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Hidehito HorinouchiDepartment of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Shohei KoyamaDepartment of Immunogenomic Medicine, National Cancer Center Japan, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6897-9417
Noboru YamamotoDepartment of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0787-2851
Akinobu HamadaDivision of Molecular Pharmacology and Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Fundamental Innovative Oncology Core, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Chuo-ku, Japan.
Yuichiro OheDepartment of Thoracic Oncology, National Cancer Center Hospital, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPembrolizumab 400 mg every 6 weeks (Q6W) was approved based on population pharmacokinetic (pop-PK) modeling rather than pharmacokinetic measurements, leaving real-world concentrations insufficiently characterized. The impact of concentration changes when switching from 200 mg every 3 weeks (Q3W) to Q6W on immune-related adverse events (irAEs) remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the change in pembrolizumab dosage and irAE occurrence.

methodsWe retrospectively identified patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who switched pembrolizumab from Q3W to Q6W between March 2017 and September 2023. Serum concentrations were quantified; pop-PK analysis estimated maximum concentration (eC

results79 patients switched, and pop-PK analysis was feasible in 66 patients. The median age was 70 years, 50 were male, and 62 had a smoking history. The median Q3W cycles were 6, and the median follow-up period after switching was 463 days. After switching, 45 events occurred new or worsened irAEs, with 19 pneumonitis, and 22 had early irAEs, with 13 early pneumonitis.Among the 64 patients who received ≥2 cycles of Q3W, those who developed irAEs after switching showed higher %CV-eC

conclusionsHigh intercycle eC

Indexed as

Antibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedAntineoplastic Agents, ImmunologicalCarcinoma, Non-Small-Cell LungDrug-Related Side Effects and Adverse ReactionsLung NeoplasmsAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedAntineoplastic Agents, ImmunologicalpembrolizumabImmune Checkpoint InhibitorImmune related adverse event - irAELung CancerPharmacokinetics - PKPneumonitis

Identifiers

PMID42373128
PMCPMC13331044

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.