Keytruda 100 mg in 4 mL Injection
RxNorm 1657751

Pembrolizumab Injection

Pembrolizumab injection is used: to treat melanoma (a type of skin cancer) that cannot be treated with surgery or has spread to other parts of the body, or in combination with other chemotherapy medications to treat and prevent the return of melanoma after surgery to remove it and any affected lymph nodes; to treat certain types of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that cannot be treated with surgery, other chemotherapy medications, or radiation therapy or that has spread to other parts of the body or worsened during or after it was treated with platinum containing chemotherapy medications (cisplatin, carboplatin), or in combination with other chemotherapy medications (paclitaxel, pemetrexed) to treat certain types of NSCLC that has spread to other parts of the body; to treat a certain type of head and neck cancer that keeps coming back or has spread to other parts of the body and cannot be removed by surgery. It can also be used in combination with fluorouracil and a platinum containing chemotherapy medications (cisplatin, carboplatin) to treat a certain type of head and neck cancer that keeps coming back or has spread to other parts of the body and cannot be treated with surgery. Pembrolizumab is also used to treat a certain type of head and neck cancer that has worsened or spread to other parts of the body during or after treatment with chemotherapy medications; to treat a certain type of Hodgkin's lymphoma (Hodgkin's disease) in children and adults that did not get better with other chemotherapy treatments or got better but returned after treatment with other chemotherapy medications and in children after being treated two or more times with other chemotherapy medications; to treat a certain type of primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL; non-Hodgkin lymphoma) in children and adults that did not get better with other chemotherapy treatments or returned after being treated two or more times with other chemotherapy medications; to treat a certain type of urothelial cancer (cancer of the lining of the bladder and other parts of the urinary tract) that has spread to nearby tissues or other parts of the body in people who cannot receive platinum containing chemotherapy medications (cisplatin, carboplatin), or whose cancer worsened during or after it was treated with these chemotherapy medications; to treat a certain type of bladder cancer in people who did not get better with another medication (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin; BCG therapy) and who are unable to or who have decided not to be treated by surgery to remove the bladder; to treat certain types of colorectal cancer (cancer that begins in the large intestine) and certain types of solid tumors as a first treatment in children and adults that cannot be treated by surgery or that has spread to other parts of the body or in those that worsened after it was treated with other chemotherapy medications; to treat certain types of gastric cancer (cancer of the stomach) or cancer located in the area where the stomach meets the esophagus (the tube between the throat and stomach) that has returned or that has spread to other parts of the body during or after 2 or more chemotherapy treatments; to treat a certain type of esophageal cancer that has returned and has spread to nearby tissues or other parts of the body after treatment with one or more other chemotherapy medications and cannot be treated with surgery or radiation therapy; to treat certain types of cervical cancer (cancer that begins in the opening of the uterus [womb]) that has returned or has spread to other parts of the body during or after treatment with another chemotherapy medication; to treat certain types of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; a type of liver cancer) in people who were previously treated unsuccessfully with sorafenib (Nexafar); to treat Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC; a type of skin cancer) in children and adults that has returned and spread to nearby tissues or other parts of the body; in combination with axitinib (Inlyta) to treat advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC; a type of cancer that begins in the kidneys); in combination with lenvatinib (Lenvima) to treat a certain type of cancer of the endometrium (lining of the uterus) that has spread to other parts of the body or worsened during or after treatment with chemotherapy medications or that cannot be treated with surgery or radiation therapy; to treat certain types of solid tumors that has spread to other parts of the body or cannot be treated by surgery in adults and children who were previously treated unsuccessfully with another chemotherapy medication and do not have other satisfactory treatment options; to treat certain types of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC; skin cancer) that has returned or has spread to other parts of the body and cannot be treated with surgery or radiation therapy; and in combination with chemotherapy to treat a certain type of breast cancer that has returned to nearby tissues or has spread to other parts of the body and cannot be treated with surgery.Pembrolizumab injection is in a class of medications called monoclonal antibodies. It works by helping your immune system to slow or stop the growth of cancer cells.
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Cancer Chemotherapy

Normally, your cells grow and die in a controlled way. Cancer cells keep growing without control. Chemotherapy is drug therapy for cancer. It works by killing the cancer cells, stopping them from spreading, or slowing their growth. However, it can also harm healthy cells, which causes side effects.

You may have a lot of side effects, some, or none at all. It depends on the type and amount of chemotherapy you get and how your body reacts. Some common side effects are fatigue, nausea, vomiting, pain, and hair loss. There are ways to prevent or control some side effects. Talk with your health care provider about how to manage them. Healthy cells usually recover after chemotherapy is over, so most side effects gradually go away.

Your treatment plan will depend on the cancer type, the chemotherapy drugs used, the treatment goal, and how your body responds. Chemotherapy may be given alone or with other treatments. You may get treatment every day, every week, or every month. You may have breaks between treatments so that your body has a chance to build new healthy cells. You might take the drugs by mouth, in a shot, as a cream, or intravenously (by IV).

NIH: National Cancer Institute

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