Physician Sentiment on KEYTRUDA®

Compiled and reviewed by the KOL Pulse research team, led by Brian Shields, Founder, KOL Pulse. Last updated 2026-07-13. KOL Pulse reports the physician conversation and does not endorse any product.

Trial 1 · NCT03036488

What do oncologists think of the KEYNOTE-522 trial (KEYTRUDA®)?

KEYNOTE-522 — High-risk early-stage triple-negative breast cancer — neoadjuvant + adjuvant

FDA APPROVED · Jul 2021FDA-approved July 26, 2021, for high-risk early-stage triple-negative breast cancer in combination with chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment, then continued as a single agent as adjuvant treatment after surgery.

Physicians are broadly favorable, with real nuance on KEYNOTE-522: 31% of 55 verified physician voices positive, 7% nuanced (praising the result while flagging a caveat), 62% neutral, 0% critical.

31%

62%

Positive 31% Nuanced 7% Neutral 62% Critical 0%

Denominator: 55 distinct verified physician voices across 102 oncologist posts, 2019-12-13 to 2026-05-30. Sponsor: Merck Sharp & Dohme (Merck)

See full KEYNOTE-522 conference coverage & trial data →

Primary sources: ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT03036488 · NEJM 2022 — KEYNOTE-522 event-free survival

FDA approval (July 26, 2021): pembrolizumab for high-risk early-stage triple-negative breast cancer, in combination with chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment then as single-agent adjuvant treatment (based on KEYNOTE-522, NCT03036488).

Physician voices — verbatim

Representative positive voice

This is amazing and will likely become the new SoC… but… how I wish there was that third arm to tell us how much benefit there is from postOP IO (same struggle in TNBC (KN522👇), NSCLC (AEGEAN 👇), soon in bladder cancer (NIAGARA 👇) and now MATTERHORN! #OncTwitter https://t.co/5WLh38Xj0C

Oncology Brothers

@OncBrothers

Representative nuanced voice

Peter Schmid presents the OS data from KN522 #ESMO24 publl now in NEJM. >6 year FU: 9% EFS benefit, 5% ⬆️OS with pembro pre/post op for TNBC. Pts with PCR had 95% survival +/-pembro but 6% ⬆️OS in nonPCR + pembro. Safety same. Huge advance for TNBC. Need biomarkers! @OncoAlert

Hope Rugo

@hoperugo

Full physician voice list (55)

Physician	Comment (verbatim)	Sentiment	Impressions
Oncology Brothers @OncBrothers	This is amazing and will likely become the new SoC… but… how I wish there was that third arm to tell us how much benefit there is from postOP IO (same struggle in TNBC (KN522👇), NSCLC (AEGEAN 👇), soon in bladder cancer (NIAGARA 👇) and now M…	Positive	26,669
Dr. Antonio Calles 🫁🚭 @Tony_Calles	⭐️ Mind blowing results of immunotherapy across different tumor types presented #ESMO24 now at @NEJM - Melanoma (CM 067) 10 years FU Nivo, Nivo-Ipi. - TNBC (KEYNOTE-522): 5y OS perioperative chemo+pembro - Bladder cancer (NIAGARA): Peri…	Positive	20,062
Paolo Tarantino @PTarantinoMD	OS results of KN-522 out in @NEJM. Terrific news: adding pembro to neoadjuvant chemo for TNBC saves lives (5% 5-year Δ). Bad news: we’re stuck with giving 5 drugs to all patients with stage II-III TNBC, with permanent toxicity for many. Bio…	Neutral	18,001
Naoto T Ueno, MD, PhD @teamoncology	Fantastic. But I still believe there is a fraction of people who do not benefit immunotherapy. We need a biomarker driven approach. #ASCO24 #Oncoalert	Positive	16,950
Sara Tolaney @stolaney1	very important news! Overall Survival seen in KN522!!!	Positive	11,584
Harold J. Burstein, MD, PhD, FASCO @DrHBurstein	After turkey and all the trimmings, have a gander at this editorial on IO in TNBC. Immunotherapy for Early-Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer \| New England Journal of Medicine	Neutral	10,890
Hope Rugo @hoperugo	Peter Schmid presents the OS data from KN522 #ESMO24 publl now in NEJM. >6 year FU: 9% EFS benefit, 5% ⬆️OS with pembro pre/post op for TNBC. Pts with PCR had 95% survival +/-pembro but 6% ⬆️OS in nonPCR + pembro. Safety same. Huge advance …	Nuanced	7,196
Stephanie Graff, MD, FACP, FASCO @DrSGraff	Final Analysis at 94 months for KEYNOTE-522 @JavierCortesMD @OncoAlert #ASCO26	Neutral	6,200
Bertrand Delsuc @BertrandBio	Merck $MRK Announces Phase 3 KEYNOTE-522 Met its OS Endpoint in High-Risk Early-Stage TNBC pembro+CT neoadj then pembro mono (adj) => stat sig & clinically meaningful improvement in OS vs pre-operative CT https://t.co/Q8F1ruCrmV	Neutral	6,136
Dr Sarah Sammons @drsarahsam	Interesting to see where ADCs will go in neoadjuvant TNBC. 4 cycles sacituzumab=pCR rate 30% 4 cycles Dato-Dxd + Durva = pCR rate ? How can these compete with Keynote 522= pCR rate >60%	Neutral	5,812
Dr Amol Akhade @SuyogCancer	Keynote 522 . Pembrolizumab in early stage TNBC shows OS benifit. We will love to see the OS data in with those with PCR and those who did not achieve PCR and Based Upon RCB . Remember the EFS benifit was maximum in RCB -2 and RCB -3…	Neutral	5,485
Abeid Athman (Omar). @bin_abeid	Marleen Kok with very thoughtful discussion on the design of the KN522, : do all patients need adjuvant pembrolizumab; the irAEA especially in young women who would like to get pregnant. #ESMO2024 @OncoAlert @myESMO @kevinpunie @matteolambe…	Neutral	5,370
Yakup Ergün @dr_yakupergun	The first day of #SABCS25 was largely dominated by studies evaluating the role of carboplatin in TNBC. Since most patients with TNBC now receive neoadjuvant therapy (as in KN-522), the proportion of those undergoing upfront surgery and the…	Neutral	5,072
Toni Choueiri, MD @DrChoueiri	OS with IO on the perioperative setting in breast cancer —big news ! @stolaney1 @OncoAlert @DFCI_BreastOnc	Positive	3,704
Kazuki Nozawa, MD @kazuki_nozawa	KEYNOTE-522 Final Analysis #ASCO26 8-year follow-up data confirms the enduring survival benefit of pembrolizumab in high-risk early-stage TNBC. Overall Survival at ~84 months: Pembro + Chemo/Pembro: 85.1% Placebo + Chemo/Placebo: 77.2% → …	Neutral	3,539
Erika Hamilton, MD @ErikaHamilton9	This is really important and so encouraging to see. Especially in #HER-2 and #TNBC, it's clear DDFS is a surrogate for OS. Now we have to figure if we can give immunotherapy with less chemo than KN522. This can be a tough regimen for many.…	Positive	3,426
Dr Rishabh Jain @DrRishabhOnco	#ASCO26 🚨 KEYNOTE-522 Final Analysis Nearly 8 years later, the pembrolizumab story in early-stage TNBC keeps getting stronger. Adding neoadjuvant + adjuvant pembrolizumab to chemotherapy delivered durable survival gains in high-risk early…	Neutral	3,412
Rodrigo Sánchez-Bayona @Rodrosb	We did it! KN522 trial demonstrates an OS benefit with pembrolizumab + NACT in TN eBC It’s encouraging to see what we, as Oncology community, can achieve @myESMO #ESMO24 #ESMOAmbassadors	Positive	3,254
Matteo Lambertini, MD PhD @matteolambe	Fully agree with super @lab_kok: more @myESMO annual congresses in #Barcelona !!! #ESMO24 #ESMOAmbassadors @OncoAlert @RebeccaDSing	Neutral	3,121
Alizée Camps - - Maléa @acampsmalea	📣 Exploratory Biomarker Analysis of the Phase 3 KEYNOTE-522 Study of Neoadjuvant Pembrolizumab or Placebo Plus Chemotherapy Followed by Adjuvant Pembrolizumab or Placebo for Early-Stage TNBC At #SABC24 @OncoAlert #OncoAlertAF	Neutral	2,764
Giampaolo Bianchini @BianchiniGP	Terrific discussion by ⁦@lab_kok⁩ about OS benefit in TNBC achieved in the KEYNOTE 522 trial 🔥We cure more TNBC patients❗️ How to build on this wonderful achievement? Which is the knowledge gap? ⁦@myESMO⁩ ⁦@RebeccaDSing⁩ ⁦@OncoAlert⁩ #…	Positive	1,984
Jame Abraham, MD, FACP @jamecancerdoc	Overall survival improvement with Immunotherapy in neoadjuvant- triple negative breast cancer ! KEYNOTE 522	Positive	1,738
Tatiana Prowell, MD @tmprowell	#SABCS24 #bcsm #OncTwitter Dr. J O’Shaughnessy presents prespecified exploratory biomarker analysis of KN522 trial of pembro in #breastcancer (see pics ⬇️ for conclusions & link or QR code for full results) https://t.co/PEwLhBVYev @Onc…	Neutral	1,679
Elisa Agostinetto @ElisaAgostinett	Today’s press release by Merck: KEYNOTE-522 met its overall survival endpoint in high-risk early TNBC Excellent news for our #breastcancer patients @OncoAlert	Positive	1,418
Philippe Aftimos, MD  @aftimosp	💥The addition of pembrolizumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy improved overall survival for patients with early-stage TNBC in the KEYNOTE-522 randomised phase 3 trial Concomitant publication in NEJM: https://t.co/wKzIN8pZ1K #ESMO24 #ESMOAm…	Neutral	1,327
Michail ignatiadis @MIgnatiadis	Excellent discussion by ⁦@BianchiniGP⁩ at #SABCS24 on the differences between Keynote 522 and GeparDouze outcomes! More research is needed to move beyond the Keynote 522 regimen with both deescalating and escalating approaches ⁦@OncoAlert⁩ …	Positive	1,315
Luca Arecco, MD @Lucarecco	At 2nd #ESMO24 presidential presented OS results of Keynote522: At median follow-up of 75 mo, 5-yr OS rate was 86.6% in Pembro arm vs 81.7% in Placebo arm. Benefit on OS was consistent across subgroups. @OncoAlert	Neutral	1,193
Atsushi Fushimi, MD PhD @A_Fushimi_MD	#ASCO26 to watch — #507 KEYNOTE-522 Final analysis (median FU ~7.8 years): 7-year EFS and OS for neoadj pembro + chemo in high-risk early TNBC. The longest follow-up of an ICI in curative-intent BC. Discussion points:	Neutral	1,123
Alan Tan @alantanmd	Keynote-522 meets key secondary OS endpoint in neoadjuvant pembro chemo followed by pembro TNBC #ESMO24 Marked improvement with pCR	Neutral	1,097
VIRGINIA KAKLAMANI @VKaklamani	Significant OS benefit of pembro. Now questions are: do we need that much chemo; do we need adj pembro after pCR; is there signature of response; what do we do with T1c? Great discussion below. @SABCSSanAntonio @stolaney1 @KateIdaLathrop #s…	Positive	1,054
Nicole Kuderer, MD, MS, FASCO 🌎🇺🇸🇪🇺🇺🇦🌏 @NicoleKuderer	So true. The toxicity of KN522 gets to the limits of what many patients can reasonably endure… 🙏🏻 Biomarkers are key to avoid unhelpful drugs’ physical & financial toxicities… 🙏🏻 @gary_lyman @IBCResearch @raalbany @chemobrainfog @double_wh…	Neutral	1,049
Icro Meattini @Icro_Meattini	Neoadjuvant pembrolizumab or placebo plus chemotherapy for triple negative #breastcancer - Overall Survival results from the KEYNOTE-522 phase 3 trial #ESMO24 @NEJM @myESMO #OncoAlert @OncoAlert	Neutral	1,012
Roberto Borea @RobertoBoreaMD	Presidential symposium with @lab_kok discussing update OS analysis of #KEYNOTE522 📈💥 KN522 changed eTNBC clinical practice but we still need biomarker to tailor treatment! @myESMO @OncoAlert #ESMO24	Nuanced	837
Elisabetta Bonzano MD, PhD @to_be_elizabeth	Presidential Symposium II: Practice-changing trials 🔛 📌 Neoadjuvant pembrolizumab or placebo plus chemotherapy followed by adjuvant pembrolizumab or placebo for high-risk early-stage TNBC: Overall survival results from the phase Ill KEYNOT…	Positive	822
Timothée Olivier, MD @Timothee_MD	Great and balanced discussion by @lab_kok after the presentation of the KEYNOTE-522 overall survival results (peri-op pembro in early-TNBC) Many unanswered questions and important caveats were brought to attention. Refreshing!#ESMO2024 #…	Nuanced	728
Aya Mohamed, MD MSc 🎗 @Dr_Oncologista	📌Overall survival data from one of the most important studies in the history of #BreastCancer. ▶️treatment TN: Keynote 522. It was the study that introduced immunotherapy into the treatment before surgery for these patients. #ESMO24 @On…	Neutral	669
Evandro de Azambuja, MD, PhD @E_de_Azambuja	Important Overall Survival results in KEYNOTE-522. Important advance for our patients with #early TNBC, but we are still waiting biomarker analyses for this trial... @FDAOncology @OncoAlert @Merck #bcsm #research	Nuanced	668
Elad Sharon @EladSharonMD	Overall survival advantage for the use of pembrolizumab in breast cancer from the Keynote-522 trial. Exciting to see this key secondary endpoint reported!	Positive	591
Barts and The London, Queen Mary @QMULBartsTheLon	Today, Prof Peter Schmid of @QMBCI presented the findings of the Phase III KEYNOTE-522 trial at #ESMO24, with the results published in the @NEJM below. The findings are a major breakthrough for the treatment of triple-negative breast cance…	Neutral	448
Noah Richardson @Noah_Onc	The FDA approval label is simply pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy as neoadjuavnt therapy. We’re not restricted to the Keynote 522 regimen as the addition of any specific chemotherapy agent wasn’t tested, being in both arms.	Neutral	416
M. Bolton @5_utr	Yes at exactly 175 mutations the cancer cell says ok now I’m going behave totally different than 174 mutations 🤦‍♂️ #dichotomania	Neutral	308
Aditi Hazra, PhD, MPH 👩🏻‍🔬 @aditihazra	Thank you Dr. Roberto Salgado for the masterclass on #TILs at @SABCSSanAntonio. Key takeaway: “TILs are for TNBC (and HER2) what grade is for luminal disease.” #bcsm #SABCS24 #TILs #KN522 @TILsWorkGroup	Neutral	288
José Sandoval @JLSandoval	maybe could be interesting to find those that benefit most from pembro and for whom we could maybe de-escalate chemo intensity (e.g. anthracyclines)	Neutral	278
Nirmal Raut @oncologician	#ESMO24 Peter Schmid dicscusses KEYNOTE 522 - Neoadjuvant pembrolizumab VS placebo and chemotherapy f/b adjuavnt pembrolizumab in high risk TNBC. Overall survival is much better with Pembro (HR-0.66, p= 0.00156)	Neutral	240
Carmen Criscitiello @CarmenCriscit	Exciting news! The Phase 3 KEYNOTE-522 trial met its OS endpoint in high-risk early-stage TNBC patients. This confirms the therapy's extraordinary potential in saving lives. #bcsm #TNBC	Positive	235
Isabel ALAK @ALACIsabel	We need, may be, another approach to discover predictive biomarkers to know who benefit more from what.	Neutral	201
José Márcio Barros de Figueiredo MD, MSc @josemarciofigu1	🚨🎗️ ASCO26 \| KEYNOTE-522 Confirms Long-Term Benefit of Pembrolizumab in High-Risk Early TNBC Presenter: Sarah Sammons With nearly 8 years of follow-up, KEYNOTE-522 continues to demonstrate durable benefit from the addition of pembrolizuma…	Neutral	178
Carlo Palmieri @cancermedic	KEYNOTE-522: Significant improvement in Overall survival (HR: 0.66 (95% CI, 0.50-0.87), p=0.00150. 5-yr rate Pembro: 86.6% (84.0-88.8) vs Placebo: 81.7% (77.5-85.2). 👍🏻👍🏻One key question Is do patients with a pCR need pembro in adjuvant ph…	Neutral	139
Elvina Almuradova @Elvina49746200	Day 3 and Presidential Session 2 🎈Final OS results from the KEYNOTE-522 trial highlight the benefit of neoadjuvant adjuvan pembrolizumab in early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients: -✅ 5-year OS: 86.6% for neoadjuvant pe…	Neutral	88
Sushil @Sushilberiwal	how do we identify subset which will achieve pCR with chemo alone to avoid morbidity of pembro for all	Neutral	79
Alper Topal, MD @dralpertopal	Merck Announces Phase 3 KEYNOTE-522 Trial Met its Overall Survival (OS) Endpoint in Patients With High-Risk Early-Stage Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) ✅	Neutral	71
Edgar Simmons @sciencensmiles	Congratulations, Elisa! The success of KEYNOTE-522 in improving OS for early-stage TNBC is a remarkable leap forward in cancer treatment. This is truly inspiring progress. Kudos to Merck and the research team! #oncology	Positive	39
Noelle Girard @GirardWellness	Excellent results from KEYNOTE-522! Critical to now review the full data to potentially reduce chemo burden in treatment plans. #BreastCancer #TNBC	Positive	31
Pedro Exman MD, PhD @PedroExman	Great questions. I would add: how about dose-dense. Should we skip it ?	Neutral	14
Melinda Telli, M.D. @melindatelli	KEYNOTE 522 neoadjuvant #tnbc data on path response by RCB in first 600 pts. RCB 0/I 👉74.1% with pembro vs. 63.6% with placebo. Delta 10.5%. Very high rates in both arms. Underscores need to understand who really benefits from PD-1 addition…	Neutral	0

See full KEYNOTE-522 conference coverage & trial data →

Trial 2 · NCT03142334

What do oncologists think of the KEYNOTE-564 trial (KEYTRUDA®)?

KEYNOTE-564 — Adjuvant renal cell carcinoma — intermediate-high / high risk after nephrectomy

FDA APPROVED · Nov 2021FDA-approved November 17, 2021, for the adjuvant treatment of renal cell carcinoma at intermediate-high or high risk of recurrence following nephrectomy, or following nephrectomy and resection of metastatic lesions.

Physicians are broadly favorable, with real nuance on KEYNOTE-564: 31% of 81 verified physician voices positive, 16% nuanced (praising the result while flagging a caveat), 44% neutral, 9% critical.

31%

16%

44%

Positive 31% Nuanced 16% Neutral 44% Critical 9%

Denominator: 81 distinct verified physician voices across 181 oncologist posts, 2023-06-21 to 2026-05-29. Sponsor: Merck Sharp & Dohme (Merck)

See full KEYNOTE-564 conference coverage & trial data →

Primary sources: ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT03142334 · Merck / FDA — KEYNOTE-564 adjuvant RCC approval (Nov 2021)

FDA approval (Nov 17, 2021): pembrolizumab for the adjuvant treatment of renal cell carcinoma at intermediate-high or high risk of recurrence after nephrectomy (based on KEYNOTE-564, NCT03142334).

Physician voices — verbatim

Representative positive voice

KN564: Pembro was approved for high risk adj RCC in Nov 2021 based off this study. Now on @NEJM w/ OS benefit. - DFS HR: 0.72 and OS HR: 0.62 - At 48 mos, OS 91.2% w/ #Pembrolizumab vs 86% - @DrChoueiri @TiansterZhang @tompowles1 et al. 👏👏👏 #OncTwitter #MedTwitter #GUSM https://t.co/TqfN17mV4Q

Oncology Brothers

@OncBrothers

Representative nuanced voice

Big problem of IO access in control arm as trial was performed in countries lacking access. 40% of patients in control arm who got systemic therapy at relapse didn’t get IO. Censoring also an issue. The “positive” OS isn’t real. More info here…..https://t.co/gPi4pwUhCf

Daniel Goldstein MD

@drdgoldstein

Representative critical voice

Keynote-564 is another problematic study Something is wrong in oncology #GU24

Vinay Prasad MD MPH

@VPrasadMDMPH

Full physician voice list (81)

Physician	Comment (verbatim)	Sentiment	Impressions
Toni Choueiri, MD @DrChoueiri	1/ The long-awaited OS results from #KEYNOTE-564 are out @NEJM! The 1st phase 3 trial to demonstrate a survival benefit for adjuvant treatment in #RCC. https://t.co/8hGQjmqZr6	Neutral	105,635
Vinay Prasad MD MPH @VPrasadMDMPH	Keynote-564 is another problematic study Something is wrong in oncology #GU24	Negative	24,173
Tom Powles @tompowles1	With a median FU up of ~5 yrs adjuvant pembro= 38% reduction in risk of death. The benefit is across subgroups (T stage etc). Subsequent therapy in 80% is relapses. The 1st +ve OS adjuvant PD1 study, making adjuvant pembro more attractive. …	Neutral	18,327
Earle Burgess @EarleFBurgess	If you think the OS results of the Keynote-564 trial presented at #GU24 solidified the role for adjuvant pembrolizumab in high risk, resected kidney cancer, @VPrasadMDMPH has a perspective worth considering about the potential impact of pos…	Negative	15,282
Jeff Ryckman @jryckman3	There appears to be a straightforward solution. If the funding sponsor produces the drug, and it is 1L at time of enrollment in M1, why aren't they supplying it and ensuring its availability to patients who progress on the control arm? I'm …	Neutral	13,156
Bishal Gyawali @oncology_bg	This is precisely why I advocate for “mandatory” crossover to be built into the trial design for such trials. There is no point in saying crossover will be “allowed” “permitted” “encouraged” etc., it should be mandated. More here in @NatRev…	Negative	8,610
Sumanta K. Pal, MD, FASCO @montypal	A historic day for #kidneycancer & the field of #oncology as a whole at @ASCO #GU24. @DrChoueiri @DanaFarber & colleagues present the 1st randomized phase 3 study to show a survival advantage w adjuvant PD1 inhibition, reinforcing this appr…	Neutral	8,134
Oncology Brothers @OncBrothers	KN564: Pembro was approved for high risk adj RCC in Nov 2021 based off this study. Now on @NEJM w/ OS benefit. - DFS HR: 0.72 and OS HR: 0.62 - At 48 mos, OS 91.2% w/ #Pembrolizumab vs 86% - @DrChoueiri @TiansterZhang @tompowles1 et al. 👏👏…	Positive	7,969
Daniel V. Araujo @dvaraujomd	KEYNOTE-564 ctDNA analysis at #ASCO26 (Abstr 4502, oral): can ctDNA detect recurrence and refine risk in adjuvant clear cell RCC? In ccRCC at increased risk post-nephrectomy (n=994; 736 evaluable at baseline), tumor-informed, WES-based ctD…	Neutral	7,399
Neeraj Agarwal, MD, FASCO @neerajaiims	Ab#4502 @ASCO #ASCO26 by @DrChoueiri👉 https://t.co/SZg3hfw1wU👉ctDNA analysis from KEYNOTE-564 trial #kidneycancer👉ctDNA+ associated w/ worse DFS👉ctDNA clearance was higher in pembro arm👇@tompowles1 @OncoAlert @urotoday @kidneyCAN	Neutral	6,726
Daniel Heng @DrDanielHeng	KEYNOTE 564 is huge. 38% OS difference which solidifies pembro’s position in the adjuvant setting. In the placebo group 70% of pts had subsequent IO which is good. M0 subgroup is significant on its own as well. Impressed! @ASCO @Oncoalert @…	Positive	6,348
Alex Friedlaender @DralexGva	The concept of evidence based medicine has largely been overtaken by ego based medicine in oncology. And what could possibly flatter an ego more than standing ovations and blind cheerleading during presentations of flawed pharma-run trials?	Positive	5,795
Daniel Goldstein MD @drdgoldstein	Big problem of IO access in control arm as trial was performed in countries lacking access. 40% of patients in control arm who got systemic therapy at relapse didn’t get IO. Censoring also an issue. The “positive” OS isn’t real. More info h…	Nuanced	5,725
Vivek Subbiah, MD @VivekSubbiah	⭐️@DrChoueiri & @tompowles1 strike again with this amazing @NEJM publication with an editorial by @MVossMD & @motzermd @OncoAlert	Positive	5,326
John W. Ayers PhD MA @JohnWAyersPhD	Something is wrong in academic medicine. The goal of most researchers is to inflate their CV. The entire enterprise is not aligned with patients, and academic medicine continues to devolve into "me first" medicine. It explains cancer, covi…	Negative	5,172
Dr Amol Akhade @SuyogCancer	Adjuvant Pembrolizumab shows OS benifit in RCC 👍👍. Keynote 564 . 1- 101 pts out of 210 pts who had recurrence ( less than 50 % ) on placebo arm got IO on recurrence ( assuming along with TKI as per current soc ) 2 - Main benifit is fo…	Neutral	5,122
Santhosh Ambika @RenoHemonc	All oncologists should read this excellent editorial about adj Rx trial design fallacies extrapolating from KN 564..	Neutral	5,098
Brian Shuch, MD @KidneyCancerDoc	Great work ⁦@DrChoueiri⁩ Keynote564- still RFS benefit, but only 48% of placebo got salvage PD1inh. For granularity- need KM or forest plot of those treated appropriately at salvage for a fair eval @HHammersMD⁩ ⁦@montypal⁩ ⁦@neerajaiims⁩ ⁦@…	Nuanced	4,660
Emre Yekedüz @yekeduz_emre	🚨📢Just published! The first trial that showed an overall survival benefit in patients with renal cell carcinoma in the adjuvant setting (KEYNOTE-564) out in @NEJM 🚨 ⭐️💫 @DrChoueiri @DanaFarber @tompowles1 @OncoAlert @DanaFarber_GU https…	Neutral	4,302
David Braun @BraunMDPhD	Big day @asco #GU24. @DrChoueiri presenting the OS data from KN564. First adjuvant trial in RCC history ro show an OS benefit, with nearly 5y followup. Benefit across all subgroups. Supports adjuvant pembro for RCC patients that meet crite…	Neutral	3,892
Tian Zhang, MD, MHS @TiansterZhang	Overall survival has been hard to show in #kidneycancer. Grateful to have contributed to #Keynote564 while @DukeGUCancer and on pub w @DrChoueiri @tompowles1 @HHammersMD and global team!! Congrats ultimately to our patients who were on the …	Positive	3,336
Nicole Kuderer, MD, MS, FASCO 🌎🇺🇸🇪🇺🇺🇦🌏 @NicoleKuderer	Thanks @oncology_bg for being such a clear voice on this issue of suboptimal trial design/ control arms that inflate efficacy RCT results 🙏🏻🙏🏻 Informed censoring:OS⬆️ ⬆️despite a DFS similar as neg- RCT👇? @PavlosMsaouel @pash22 @drdgoldste…	Nuanced	2,936
Yakup Ergün @dr_yakupergun	Overall Survival with Adjuvant Pembrolizumab in Renal-Cell Carcinoma: KEYNOTE-564 @OncoAlert https://t.co/WTeL61qDha	Neutral	2,854
Zach Klaassen @zklaassen_md	OS results from the Ph 3 KEYNOTE-564 RCT of adjuvant Pembro vs PBO for ccRCC #GU24 @DrChoueiri @urotoday 1st RCT to show a statistically significant OS improvement with an adjuvant therapy in RCC 🟢n=496 Pembro vs n=498 PBO; med F/U 57.2 …	Neutral	2,826
Fabio Schutz @FabioSchutz78	Dr. @DrChoueiri presented the updated results of KeyNote-564 showing improvement in OS in favor of Pembrolizumab compared to Placebo, in the adjuvant RCC. Impressive results woth 38% reduction in the risk of death (HR 0.62). #GU24	Positive	2,658
Axel S. Merseburger @amerseburger	Congrats to @DrChoueiri at #GU24 presenting OS advantage in KEYNOTE-564 Pembro adjuvant #mRCC	Positive	2,504
Timothée Olivier, MD @Timothee_MD	KEYNOTE-564 (adj pembro renal) show OS benefit BUT➡️Post-recurrence therapy is KEY in interpreting OS. Post-recurrence care in KEYNOTE-564 was clearly suboptimal. Would the benefit be seen with optimal post-recurrence care : that's the Q❗…	Nuanced	2,472
Gil Morgan, MD @weoncologists	JUST OUT on @NEJM by our amazing @OncoAlert 🚨Faculty @DrChoueiri 🇺🇸, @tompowles1 🇬🇧and Team 💥OS for the Phase III KEYNOTE 564 🗝️	Positive	2,453
Yüksel Ürün @DrYukselUrun	Debate: Adjuvant Therapy for Some or All? in RCC? @tompowles1 for all! Right time to be in favor of all when you have recent @NEJM paper with OS benefit! @DrChoueiri @KidneyCancer @MichaelStaehler @salvolarosa @AlbigesL @crisuarez08 @RCCad…	Positive	2,444
Adam R. Metwalli, MD @AdamRMetwalli	Another Problematic Trial: What You Can Learn - Keynote - 564 https://t.co/HVC8Pcyyl5 via @YouTube Wow! Thought provoking criticisms. What’s your opinion of this take @KGBurology @gupta_go @KidneyCancerDoc @cancerdrlane @markballmd @Ka…	Neutral	1,997
Patrick Kenney @PatrickKenneyMD	No one sleepy this morning thanks to @DrChoueiri and Keynote-564. Great to hear a round of applause this morning in Moscone. @OncoAlert @KidneyCancer @kidneycan @ASCO #GU24	Positive	1,995
Chadi Hage Chehade @chadihc98	Stellar talk by @DrChoueiri @ASCO #GU24 reporting the first-ever adjuvant Rx to show OS benefit in pts w/ RCC #kidneycancer in KEYNOTE-564 🌟At median f/u of 57 mo👉HR for OS 0.62 🌟HR for DFS 0.72 (consistent w/ previous analyses) @neerajaiim…	Neutral	1,904
Marc-Olivier Timsit, MD, PhD @UrologieParis	Adjuvant pembro in RCC 38% risk reduction of death in KN564 presented by @DrChoueiri @ASCO #GU24. This great outcome is NOT artificially driven by sarcomatid features or M1 NED or N+ patients. How do you explain sex disparity (with 38 ev…	Neutral	1,852
Dra. María Natalia Gandur Quiroga @nataliagandur	🌟📢🔝🔝🔝🎓 @ASCO #GU25 \| Adjuvant Therapy in RCC: A Practical Guide Presented by: @AlbigesL, @GustaveRoussy @OncoAlert 🔹 👏👏👏🔝Exceptional presentation as always, providing clear guidance on adjuvant therapy in RCC! 🔹 Key insights: ✅ KEYNOTE-56…	Positive	1,759
Maite Bourlon @BourlonMaite	Just at #gu2024 @ASCO 🔹Keynote 564! Adjuvant pembrolizumab in resected high risk RCC has OS benefit! @DrChoueiri 🔸@PBarataMD discussed the data & highlighted our ASCO Daily News of What to do in patients recurring after adjuvant pembroli…	Neutral	1,690
Ravindran Kanesvaran @ravikanesvaran	And it reached the finish line ! Congrats @DrChoueiri and team on the positive OS data for Keynote-564 ! @OncoAlert	Positive	1,544
Bradley McGregor @BradMcG04	Excellent discussion by @PBarataMD placing KN564 data in context - a win for our patients! Looking forward to ongoing trials and building on success with STRIKE - pembro with or without tivozanib for high risk resected localized RCC @ALLIA…	Positive	1,474
Arnab Basu @arnabguonc	ctDNA 🧬analysis from #KN564 from @DrChoueiri and colleagues at #ASCO26 showing only 10-15% sensitivity and near perfect specificity using #WES baseline testing. https://t.co/RS8ZOpXSzv This is expected. RCC recurs much slower than UC, ma…	Neutral	1,433
Karl Semaan, MD, MSc @KarlSemaan	In Awe mentee alert: Exceptional @DrChoueiri changing #RCC history with 1st adjuvant therapy in RCC trial in 51 years, yielding positive results for overall survival with a remarkable HR=0.62 #KEYNOTE564 Another victorious step in the ongo…	Positive	1,349
Martín Angel @Martin_AngelMD	OS results from t KEYNOTE-564 study of adjuvant pembrolizumab for the treatment of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) By @DrChoueiri #GU24 🥇fisrt study to demostrate OS improvement!!!🙌🙌🙌 HR: 0.62😱	Positive	1,314
Laura Bukavina @LauraBukavinaMD	KN564 results presented by @DrChoueiri showing ⬆️ OS .. 38% reduced risk of death post nx as 1️⃣study to show diff in OS in our kidney cancer patients . No OS benefit seen in sarcomatoid and >65 in subgroup analysis #GU24	Nuanced	1,301
Marc Machaalani @MarcMachaalani	Historic moment as @DrChoueiri presents the first adjuvant trial to show an OS benefit in RCC with HR=0.62 using pembro! #KEYNOTE564 @ASCO #GU24	Neutral	1,278
Niraj Shenoy, MD, PhD, MS @NirajShenoy	While the LMIC exploitation component is perhaps debatable (if one considers the flawed argument of local SoC), that the knowingly inferior control arms constitute a mockery of science is not.	Neutral	1,078
Elad Sharon @EladSharonMD	Wonderful to see this increase in overall survival noted on an important adjuvant trial (#KN564). As @FDAOncology’s #HarpreetSingh recently noted, OS is our most important endpoint in oncology (https://t.co/Lwg6f4LsOF). Congrats @DrChoueir…	Positive	1,058
Álvaro Pinto @dralvaropinto	Overall survival results from the phase 3 KEYNOTE-564 study of adjuvant pembrolizumab versus placebo for the treatment of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). #GU24	Neutral	1,022
Roberto Iacovelli @DrIacovelli	Different results from 2 phase 3 studies (CM914 and KN564) on adjuvant IO for mRCC in similar but not equal populations at #GU24. What's the reason? @DrChoueiri @tompowles1 @drenriquegrande @gippo27 @montypal @ciccarese_c @OncoAlert @onco…	Nuanced	1,001
Jose C. Tapia @TapiaJC1	Great slide. We can discuss anti -PD1 vs -PDL1, but -from my POV- it is + about drug portfolios: trial design, populations, decision-making, and timing. For example, re-defining risk categories in KN564 was a home run and global pop CM274 (…	Nuanced	986
Sergio Vázquez @OncoLucus	Why CheckMate 914 is a negative trial and KEYNOTE-564 is a positive one? Histology, drug, duration of treatment, risk, sarcomatoid histology, discontinuation rates…excellent discussion by @PBarataMD #RenalCancer #GU24	Negative	911
Maria Nirvana Formiga, MD, PhD @nirvanaformiga	Exciting results #keynote564 adjuvant trial in #kidneycancer with presentation of super @DrChoueiri and expert insights of @PBarataMD. #GU24	Positive	734
Ziad Bakouny, MD, MSc @ZiadBakouny	Such important data for patients with RCC! #KEYNOTE564 Congratulations @DrChoueiri @tompowles1 and all investigators! @NEJM	Positive	699
Jason Brown @JasonBrownMDPhD	The Kaplan-Meier curve that got 👏 at #GU24. Keynote564 positive for OS with pembrolizumab for adjuvant RCC. @DrChoueiri	Positive	677
Ali Hajj Ali @AliHajjAli4	Outstanding presentation by @DrChoueiri at #ASCO26 on ctDNA in KEYNOTE-564: baseline ctDNA positivity was associated with worse DFS, while adjuvant pembro led to higher rates of ctDNA clearance. #RCC #KidneyCancer	Neutral	530
evacomperat @evacomperat	Pr Bex with a critical and thoughtful analysis #EAU24 on keynote-564	Neutral	527
Carlos Alvarez @duemed	Discussion of CheckMate-914 (part B) and KEYNOTE-564 @PBarataMD #GU24 Some history from adjuvant RCTs in RCC to put in context the results of KEYNOTE-564	Neutral	516
MV Chandrakanth @ChandrakanthMv	RCC may simply be a poor ctDNA-shedding tumor. In KEYNOTE-564, current ctDNA assays detected <15% of future recurrences before clinical relapse. So in RCC: ctDNA positivity is prognostic — but ctDNA negativity may be poorly reassuring. #…	Nuanced	460
ウロミーゴズ @uromigosjapan	#ASCO26 ctDNA in KEYNOTE-564（adj Pem for ccRCC) abstract 4502 ✅術後ctDNA +veは5.4-8.2%と低頻度 ✅ctDNA +veはworse DFSに関連 ✅ctDNA +veはhigh specificity (98%)だが、low sensitivity (12-15%) @DrChoueiri	Neutral	415
Javier Puente @docjavip	#ASCO26 @DrChoueiri shows KEYNOTE-564 ctDNA analysis and provides further evidence that molecular residual disease matters in RCC. ctDNA positivity identified patients at substantially higher risk of recurrence, while pembrolizumab improv…	Neutral	412
Bijoy Telivala @BijoyTelivala	Very valid points In my mind If progression on adj Pembro - then would use TKI alone ( probably Cabo ) More then 1 yr post I/O - then I/O + TKI Less then 1 yr - anyone’s guess is right & wrong	Neutral	398
Wafik S. El-Deiry, MD, PhD, FACP @weldeiry	Overall Survival with Adjuvant Pembrolizumab in Renal-Cell Carcinoma https://t.co/Rs15bGh2rm Congrats @DrChoueiri and KEYNOTE 564 investigators. "The estimated overall survival at 48 months was 91.2% in the pembrolizumab group, as compared…	Positive	394
Jun Gong @jgong15	exploratory @NateraOncology #ctDNA analysis of PhIII KN-564 trial of adj pembro in resected #ccRCC ➡️ baseline #ctDNA+ associated w/worse #DFS but DFS in favor of adj pembro, low sensitivity but high specific of assay in this population #…	Nuanced	284
MJosé Juan @mjuanfi81	Keynote-564 showed statistically benefit in terms of DFS at first interim analysis. Now…a winner in the room: OS (HR 0,62;p=0.002). You needed, you got it. Discussion is coming…	Neutral	265
Stephanie Berg @bergsa83	A032201/STRIKE in development and will be an important addition to KN-564 esp for those with early progression (IMP) @AVEOOncology @ALLIANCE_org @NCIResearchCtr #GU24	Neutral	204
Karine Tawagi MD @DrKarineTawagi	MultiD mgmt of RCC by @maughanonc w/ insightful pt perspective 🌀using risk calculators like ASSURE to counsel pts on recurrence & benefit of adj pembro #KN564 🌀selective role of cytoreductive nephrectomy 🌀counseling on irAEs -35% on ip…	Neutral	164
Gopal Gupta @gupta_go	Great vid. Lots to examine, post treatment therapy is never discussed, but this trial point out how important it is to consider. Not sure OS would stand up if the trial had better PTT per the video	Nuanced	158
Ryan Rilinger @ryan_rilinger	An amazing project by many talented investigators! KEYNOTE-564 was one of the first trials I was assigned as a Clincial Research Coordinator at @BIDMChealth - I am so grateful to have had that opportunity to learn from stellar minds in RCC …	Positive	150
Shilpa Gupta @shilpaonc	Huge congrats @DrChoueiri @tompowles1 & entire KN564 team for this 1st praactice changing adjuvant trial in RCC!	Positive	150
Mario Balsa @MarioBalsaMD	🩸 ctDNA analysis in KEYNOTE-564 (adjuvant pembrolizumab in RCC) #ASCO2026 💥 ctDNA+ predicted poorer DFS 🎯 Positivity rate only 5–8% ▪️ Specificity 96–99%; sensitivity 10–15% ✅ Benefit from pembrolizumab regardless of ctDNA status Not ever…	Neutral	150
Martin ZapataLaguado @zapatalaguadomd	#ASCO25 update data on KN564 maintain benefit on OS, all patients in the trial benefit from Pembro adjuvant, however we lack more biomarkers perhaps a measure in KIM1 would be outstanding @oncodaily @OncoAlert @achoHematoYOnco @SCUColombia …	Nuanced	132
serge ginzburg @sginzbu	Ovation for update on Keynote 564, presented by @DrChoueiri , demonstrating significant response to adj pembro in RCC w/ high risk of recurrence #GUASCO24	Neutral	119
Zain Khalpey, MD, PhD, FACS @ZainKhalpey	Phase 3 KEYNOTE-564 trial found that adjuvant pembrolizumab significantly improved overall survival compared to placebo after surgery. Key findings at 4 years: - 91% of pembrolizumab-treated patients were alive - vs 86% in the placebo grou…	Positive	109
David McCune @davidemccune	I think we need a single, independent, oncology-specific scientific review committee for any pharma trial. Your typical IRB does not have the expertise to evaluate these issues. IRBs can handle the local implementation and human subjects pr…	Negative	104
José Sandoval @JLSandoval	Or that the prevented DFS events may have smaller impact in mortality (e.g. local Vs metastatic recurrences in BC), hence the importance of reporting disaggregated data of the difference DFS events. The KOLs know the game is often rigged..a…	Negative	84
Jose Manuel LOPEZ VEGA @Dr_JMLV	When looking at the survival curves with placebo/sunitinib (Motzer 2018, left) and placebo/pembrolizumab (Choueiri 2024, right), it seems difficult to see what "high risk" means, exactly, in a context of cost-effectiveness concerns.	Neutral	83
Pedro C Barata, MD MSc FACP @PBarataMD	amazing work cooperative is doing with @BradMcG04 @bergsa83 and many others for next generation adjuvant studies RCC	Positive	70
Martín Lázaro @mlazqui	ctDNA in the KeyNote-564 study: highlights the limitations of the low cDNA positivity rate in high-risk resected clear cell RCC and does not support the routine use of current cDNA technology (exome-based) to select patients @DrChoueiri #A…	Neutral	68
Arpita Desai @adesaioncmd	🧬 Don't miss this at #ASCO26! Elegant ctDNA analysis from KEYNOTE-564 by @DrChoueiri & team — interrogating liquid biopsy as a tool for recurrence risk in high-risk ccRCC after nephrectomy 🔬🩸 What stood out to me 👇 📊 Baseline ctDNA detecta…	Neutral	67
Giuseppe Procopio @gippo27	In my opinion duration of therapy is one of the reason.Nivo and pembro are so different in activity?I dont'think so.	Neutral	65
Michiel Strijbos @StrijbosMichiel	Poor power of the nivo trial. Only 60%.	Neutral	57
Clark Henegan @ClarkHenegan	When you write “censoring also an issue” - are you referring to the 3:1 (30 vs 11) imbalance in censoring for DFS between the intervention vs control arm for the first 15 months of Keynote 564? (Figure 2 in Lancet article)	Nuanced	55
Dr Bettayeb D @BettayebDr	So at 1 Year, there no difference in survival... but we kind see difference 2 or 3 years after stopping pembrolizumab ! ... I don't know what to do with this... some would say let gave 2 more years of keytruda maybe!	Nuanced	53
Reuben Ben-David @ReubenBenDavid1	Great work and accomplishment! The first drug to prove such benefit in RCC after multiple trials. Yet, novel biomarkers should be considered in future trials informing on minimal residual disease, of such, ctDNA. This will allow a better pa…	Positive	49

See full KEYNOTE-564 conference coverage & trial data →

Trial 3 · NCT03425643

What do oncologists think of the KEYNOTE-671 trial (KEYTRUDA®)?

KEYNOTE-671 — Resectable NSCLC — perioperative (neoadjuvant + adjuvant)

FDA APPROVED · Oct 2023FDA-approved October 16, 2023, with platinum-containing chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment, then continued as a single agent as adjuvant treatment after surgery, for resectable (tumors >=4 cm or node-positive) non-small cell lung cancer.

Physicians are broadly favorable, with real nuance on KEYNOTE-671: 30% of 50 verified physician voices positive, 14% nuanced (praising the result while flagging a caveat), 48% neutral, 8% critical.

30%

14%

48%

Positive 30% Nuanced 14% Neutral 48% Critical 8%

Denominator: 50 distinct verified physician voices across 99 oncologist posts, 2023-03-01 to 2026-03-29. Sponsor: Merck Sharp & Dohme (Merck)

See full KEYNOTE-671 conference coverage & trial data →

Primary sources: ClinicalTrials.gov · NCT03425643 · FDA — KEYNOTE-671 perioperative NSCLC approval (Oct 2023)

FDA approval (Oct 16, 2023): pembrolizumab with platinum-containing chemotherapy as neoadjuvant treatment, then as single-agent adjuvant treatment, for resectable NSCLC (based on KEYNOTE-671, NCT03425643).

Physician voices — verbatim

Representative positive voice

🚨 KEYNOTE-671 @HwakeleeMD 👉🏽 Perioperative pembrolizumab appears promising for pts w/ resectable stage II-IIIB NSCLC ➕EFS benefit HR 0.58 ➕ early OS benefit HR 0.73 @OncoAlert @OncBrothers @LungCancerRx #ASCO23 #lcsm

Eric K. Singhi, MD

@esinghimd

Representative nuanced voice

Great discussion of KEYNOTE 671 by Dr. @DrMarkAwad at #ASCO23. Notes challenges of comparing studies given differences in populations. But EFS curves do appear to widen over time and plateau - perhaps more than CM816. And data more reassuring with longer f/u than AEGEAN. #LCSM

Stephen V Liu, MD

@StephenVLiu

Representative critical voice

Essentially, parallels KEYNOTE-671 & AEGEAN, now w/nivo. Would have been far more surprised (& disappointed) if it didn't show significant EFS benefit. Another trial that includes adjuvant ICI but can't isolate benefit of post-op; we're left to do cross-trial comp vs CM-816.

H. Jack West, MD

@JackWestMD

Full physician voice list (50)

Physician	Comment (verbatim)	Sentiment	Impressions
Dr. Antonio Calles 🫁🚭 @Tony_Calles	💥Merck Announces Pivotal KEYNOTE-671 Trial Meets Dual Primary Endpoint of Overall Survival (OS) in Resectable Stage II, IIIA or IIIB Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)	Neutral	32,919
Nathan A. Pennell MD, PhD, FASCO @n8pennell	Based on the CM 816, Aegean and now KN 671, for stage 2/3 resectable NSCLC with no genomic alterations, do you give: #ASCO23	Neutral	32,093
Stephen V Liu, MD @StephenVLiu	Great discussion of KEYNOTE 671 by Dr. @DrMarkAwad at #ASCO23. Notes challenges of comparing studies given differences in populations. But EFS curves do appear to widen over time and plateau - perhaps more than CM816. And data more reassuri…	Nuanced	29,476
Eric K. Singhi, MD @esinghimd	🚨 KEYNOTE-671 @HwakeleeMD 👉🏽 Perioperative pembrolizumab appears promising for pts w/ resectable stage II-IIIB NSCLC ➕EFS benefit HR 0.58 ➕ early OS benefit HR 0.73 @OncoAlert @OncBrothers @LungCancerRx #ASCO23 #lcsm	Positive	27,108
Jonathan Spicer MD PhD @DoctorJSpicer	Finally, the first phase 3 trial in over a decade to show a statistically significant OS benefit in a non-biomarker selected population of resectable NSCLC pts. It’s been a long time coming! #LCSM @IASLC @myESMO @ASCOPost @AATSHQ @thoracic …	Positive	24,495
Paolo Tarantino @PTarantinoMD	Three phase 3 trials of neoadjuvant IO for NSCLC with survival data. 2-year EFS was: - 63.8% with neoadjuvant only nivo (CM816, 4 cycles of IO) - 62.4% with neoadjuvant + adjuvant pembro (KN671, 17 cycles of IO) - 63.3% with neoadjuvant + …	Neutral	23,080
Toni Choueiri, MD @DrChoueiri	JUST IN: KEYNOTE-671 OS + for EFS AND OS!!!! -NSCLC Stage II, IIIA or IIIB (T3-4N2) -Pembrolizumab is the first PD1 drug with OS in a perioperative setting! -Initially presented at #ASCO23 -Update at #ESMO23 https://t.co/rvGAQCu1yI @Onco…	Positive	19,846
Lei Deng, MD (He/Him) @LeiDeng3	While debating on Adj IO after Neoadj ChemoIO in NSCLC w/ #CM816, #AEGEAN, #KN671 data, the ❓ is probably not a simple ✅or❎. Rather, the ❓probably should start w/ Who. Our Periop Gastric Chemo data suggest Preop Response may inform Postop T…	Neutral	15,841
Aɴᴛᴏɴɪᴏ Pᴀssᴀʀᴏ @APassaroMD	#ASCO23 #LCSM - KEYNOTE-671 @HwakeleeMD 𝗡𝗲𝗼𝗮𝗱𝗷 𝗽𝗹𝘂𝘀 𝗮𝗱𝗷 𝗣𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗿𝗼 𝗶𝗻 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗡𝗦𝗖𝗟𝗖 Primary endpoint: EFS & OS With a mFU of 25.2m EFS at 24m: 62.4% vs 40.6% (HR 0.58) Estimated 24m OS rate: 80.9 vs 77.6% pCR 18.1 vs 4.0% MPR 30.2 vs 11.0% The…	Neutral	13,941
H. Jack West, MD @JackWestMD	Essentially, parallels KEYNOTE-671 & AEGEAN, now w/nivo. Would have been far more surprised (& disappointed) if it didn't show significant EFS benefit. Another trial that includes adjuvant ICI but can't isolate benefit of post-op; we're l…	Negative	13,293
Fawzi Abu Rous, MD @FawziAbuRous	🚨KEYNOTE-671 peri-op #Pembro for resectable stage II-IIIB by @HwakeleeMD ➡️1ry endpoints EFS/OS ➡️N 797 ➡️EFS HR 0.58 (across all subgroups) ➡️OS HR 0.73 ➡️pCR 18 vs 4% @OncoAlert @LungCancerRx @ASCO #ASCO23 #LCSM	Neutral	11,731
Hidehito HORINOUCHI @HHorinouchi	🔥KEYNOTE-671 OS 🎙️@DoctorJSpicer 🎯OS HR 0.72 (95% CI 0.56-0.93). Pembro is the first drug with dual positive in EFS and OS in perioperative strategies. ✅Phase III RCT, double-blind ✅Primary: EFS & OS ✅Stage II to IIIB (N) NSCLC ✅NCT03425643…	Positive	11,241
Patrick Forde @FordePatrick	Does comparing Pacific 2 (100% stage 3 L curve) to KN671 (70% stage 3 R curve) give us some guidance on whether pts with truly “resectable” stage IIIA & B lung cancer should have neoadj chemo-IO or definitive CRT upfront? Lots of such pts a…	Neutral	9,071
Dr Riyaz Shah @DrRiyazShah	KEYNOTE671: Double blind RCT; only cisplatin regimens 🙁; 3/4 completed 4cycles; About 20% never operated☹️; 40% completed 1y; pneumonectomy rate same; 2yEFS landmark 62% seems same as Aegean and CM816. Makes me doubt the post op IO adds muc…	Neutral	8,130
Balazs Halmos @DrSteveMartin	Running the @PTarantinoMD truck test- i do see a truck parking in there Plus- isn’t nicer to see a flattening OS curve vs a flattening tire?😉	Positive	7,525
Dipesh Uprety MD FACP @DipeshUpretyMD	KEYNOTE-671 #ESMO23 Pts with resectable stage II-IIIA (IIIB) randomized to neoadj pembro vs placebo plus chemo followed by adjuvant pembro vs placebo First trial to demonstrate OS with perioperative Immunotherapy. HR 0.72 (0.56-0.93) #LCSM …	Neutral	7,114
Ivy Riano, M.D. @IvyLorena_Md	PUBLISHED: Our editorial about KEYNOTE-671 trial along other key phase 3 trials in perioperative immunotherapy in early-stage NSCLC. Translational Lung Cancer Research (TLCR) journal #LCSM @jdphillipsMD https://t.co/0Ith4jyBgH	Neutral	6,797
Eric K. Singhi, MD @lungoncdoc	🚦 pCR + MRD in periop NSCLC: 🔴 MRD+ = worst prognosis ▫️Will adj IO be enough? 🟡 MRD– / no pCR (~80%) = gray zone ▫️Who actually benefits (and is IO ‘right’)? 🟢 pCR + MRD– = best prognosis ▫️Overtreatment risk v false-negative MRD #ELCC…	Neutral	5,134
Christine Lovly, MD, PhD, FASCO @christine_lovly	More news in early stage #lungcancer: @Merck announces Ph3 KEYNOTE-671 study results: Neoadj pembro/chemo ➡️ adju pembro ⬆️ EFS + ⬆️ MPR vs. neoadj chemo alone in stage II, IIIA, IIIB. #LCSM @OncoAlert	Neutral	4,912
Dr Amol Akhade @SuyogCancer	Keynote 671 . Perioperative Pembrolizumab gets OS in early stage NSCLC . Press release. First IO to show OS in early NSCLC . Intresting Data to look forward in @myESMO #esmo23 @ADesaiMD @StephenVLiu @JackWestMD @FordePatrick @PatelOncolo…	Neutral	4,405
Timothée Olivier, MD @Timothee_MD	#ESMO23 KEYNOTE 671 if you want to prove "earlier is better than later" : check if the later part is appropriate ! In KN 671, 50% of pts who recurred did not received immunotherapy❗️ Survival results may be driven by this suboptimal care…	Negative	4,114
Uğur Özkerim @UOzkerim	This is not just about EFS anymore. We are finally seeing OS signals with neoadjuvant + perioperative IO in NSCLC 👀 📊 CheckMate-816 → HR 0.72 📊 KEYNOTE-671 → HR 0.74 📊 RATIONALE-315 → HR 0.65 Different strategies, different designs… 👉 sam…	Neutral	3,844
F Haroun, MD @Cancer_talks	#Keynote671 Presented at #ASCO23 by Dr. Mark Awad #LCSM EFS, trend toward OS benefit of this neoadj/adj chemo/io strategy vs neoadj chemo alone is impressive- pCR rates of 18% vs 4% HR 0.42 PDL1>50%, HR 0.51 1-49% and HR0.77 in PDL1 neg (…	Positive	3,795
Dr Clarisse Audigier-Valette🫁🩻🏥 @CAudigierValett	1️⃣🔬Exciting news from #ASCO23! The KEYNOTE-671 study investigated pembrolizumab with platinum-based chemotherapy for early-stage NSCLC. 🎗️💊 This promising combination could be a game-changer in cancer treatment. 💡	Positive	3,771
Yakup Ergün @dr_yakupergun	#ASCO23 Perioperative Pembrolizumab for eNSCLC: Keynote-671 Neoadjuvant 4cycles pembro plus ChT ➡️surgery➡️13 cycles pembro ⬆️pCR: 18% vs 4% ⬆️MPR: 30% vs 11% ⬆️2y EFS: 62.4% vs 40.6% ↔️2y OS: 81.9% vs 77.6% (not mature) @NEJM @OncoAlert…	Nuanced	2,289
Dr Rishabh Jain @DrRishabhOnco	🔥 Does pCR translate into long-term benefit? #ELCC26 5-year outcomes from KEYNOTE-671 in early-stage NSCLC answer this 👇 🧬 Study population • Resectable stage II–IIIB (N2) NSCLC • Perioperative approach 💊 Arms • 🔵 Pembrolizumab + chemo →…	Positive	2,280
Giannis Mountzios @g_mountzios	#ELCC26 @MartinReck2 on KN671 exploratory analysis of patients without pCR 5-year EFS 43% vs 25% , HR =0,69, 95%CI 0.57-0.83)	Neutral	1,983
Ryan Gentzler, MD @ryangentzler	KEYNOTE-671 meets overall survival (OS) endpoint for neoadjuvant chemo + pembrolizumab, surgery and 1 year of pembro for stage II-IIIB (T3-4N2) NSCLC. Nice to see these results as OS is gold standard for curative intent peri-operative studi…	Positive	1,767
Dr. Estela Rodriguez @Latinamd	#ASCO23 KEYNOTE-671: EFS Benefit With Neoadjuvant Pembro Plus Chemo Followed by Resection and Adjuvant Pembro in Early-Stage NSCLC https://t.co/f1EGaFoAva #lcsm	Neutral	1,682
Alfredo Addeo MD @Alfdoc2	What it is disappointing is that all these trials have OS as secondary endpoints except keynote 671. I wonder what would happen if keynote 671 showed OS benefit? Would that persuade all of us about the time of adjuvant post neoadju pembro?	Negative	1,631
gilberto lopes @GlopesMd	KEYNOTE-671: EFS Benefit With Neoadjuvant Pembro Plus Chemo Followed by Resection and Adjuvant Pembro in Early-Stage NSCLC https://t.co/Spl7KB9fxg growing body of evidence that neoadjuvant chemoIO is here to stay for #LCSM time to start the…	Neutral	1,386
Bartomeu Massuti @bmassutis	Keynote 671 results published today at ⁦@NEJM⁩ and presented at #ASCO23 adds Pembrolizumab as a new player for neoadjuvant chemoimmunotherapy in resectable lung cancer @ASCO ⁦@OncoAlert⁩	Neutral	1,241
Jeff Ryckman @jryckman3	Yes, but the issue is, we don’t know if NA(C)-ICI—> surgery or NA(C)-ICI—> CCRT is superior for more advanced patients (e.g., multi-station N2, endobronchial involvement, central tumors… or patients req more advanced resections such as slee…	Nuanced	1,240
Antonious Z. Hazim, MD @AHazimMD	The treatment of lung cancer is quickly changing! Very exciting! Keynote 671 now with OS benefit! @OncoAlert @LungCancerRx #asco	Positive	1,128
R. Bryan Bell, MD, DDS, FACS, FRCS(Ed) @rbryanbell	Looks like another win for Neoadjuvant immunotherapy & patients: @Merck Announces Phase 3 KEYNOTE-671 Trial Met Primary Endpoint of EF Survival in Patients With Resectable Stage II, IIIA or IIIB Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer ⁦⁦@RachelSanbornM…	Positive	1,028
Noemi Reguart @NReguart	#WCLC24 Association of Pathologic Regression with EFS in the KEYNOTE-671. Median % RVT 29.5% pembro arm vs 52% in the plb. As expected higher % RVT associated with poorer EFS.	Neutral	968
Chul Kim @chulkimMD	Great discussion by Dr. @DrMarkAwad on KEYNOTE-671 putting the findings into context. Many factors (e.g. genomic features, clinical and pathologic characteristics) to consider when choosing the best IO approch for patients. Multi-D discussi…	Positive	821
Bijoy Telivala @BijoyTelivala	Biggest problem in community and many academic centers Trials included " resectable pts " These days so many unresectable pts offered neoadj- than cant get surgery or get bad surgery and than get chemo/xrt- pacific protocol When we abandom …	Negative	801
Elliot Servais, MD, FACS @ElliotServaisMD	Results for stage III, including T4 (30% in KEYNOTE-671 for example), undergoing induction chemo-IO & surgery are excellent. The fear of resectable T4 post chemo-IO is not supported by recent data. We should avoid extrapolating PACIFIC re…	Neutral	790
D. Ross Camidge @DRCamidge	1:1 official randomization to get periop io, but then placebo arm almost same odds of getting io if relapse. More gross bias as explanation for os effect. Means can’t compare os across trials in my book. Doesn’t show neoadjuvant alone infer…	Nuanced	536
Jaskirat Randhawa @Jaskirat__SR	Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and #Immunotherapy in #NSCLC – Unveiling the Treatment Landscape #ESMO23 #lungcancer - important results from checkmate 816, Aegean trial, checkmate 77T, keynote 671 https://t.co/u8kLoyNJFO	Neutral	476
Ken Kehl @kenlkehl	I guess the Keynote-671 data in adjuvant NSCLC must be impactful, since the top two entries in my Twitter feed are ads for the Checkmate-816 and IMPower-010 regimens	Neutral	399
Hirva Mamdani @HirvaMamdani	Great presentation and discussion of KEYNOTE 671 by @HwakeleeMD and @DrMarkAwad at #ASCO23 Another evidence in support of neoadjuvant Chemo-IO for patients with resectable NSCLC (stage II-IIIb AJCC 8). EFS curves suggest possible contribut…	Positive	365
Surbhi Singhal @SurbhiSinghalMD	Happening now in Hall D1 @ASCO23. @HwakeleeMD delivering update on KEYNOTE-671. Perioperative pembro + chemotherapy had both a statistically significant and clinically meaningful benefit in EFS compared to chemo + placebo in patients with e…	Positive	359
Thoracic Oncology Frontier @IONCOLOGYLung	#ELCC26 Day3 Mini Oral @MartinReck2 presented "Exploratory Analysis of Participants Without Pathological Complete Response (pCR) in the KEYNOTE-671 Study of Perioperative Pembrolizumab (Pembro) in Early-Stage #NSCLC After 5 Years of Follow-…	Neutral	305
Rohit Malde @roxboxfix	Very Promising Results indeed. 22% absolute Improvement in EFS @ 2y OS @2 years ( Absolute Improvement = 3.3% ) but good thing is the curves are widening for sure.. Median OS for Placebo = 45.2 months, however not yet reached and will hop…	Nuanced	168
Drew Moghanaki 🐕 @DrewMoghanaki	Are we sure these patients have worse outcomes than if they had received upfront CRT with planned immunotherapy later?	Neutral	159
OncoDaily Lung @OncodailyLung	At #ELCC2026, long-term data from #KEYNOTE671 continue to redefine expectations in early-stage NSCLC. https://t.co/sbyxVDydQp What happens beyond pCR? 🔬 Even patients who did not achieve pCR still derived meaningful benefit from perioper…	Positive	139
thomas tucker @tommytuckermd	I'd love to see this regimen compared to the same regimen but with XRT in place of surgery.	Nuanced	110
andrew robinson @drandrewrob	Agree the decision to have EFS and OS coprimary made more sense than pcr and EFS for the large trials. The total “n” of the peri may make for a much tighter CI around the hazard ratio over the CM816, but whether that increased “certainty”…	Nuanced	99

See full KEYNOTE-671 conference coverage & trial data →

Regulatory

KEYTRUDA® — FDA status

FDA APPROVEDKEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) is FDA-approved across many cancers — including melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, triple-negative and other breast cancers, renal cell carcinoma, head and neck, bladder, gastric, and numerous additional solid-tumor and biomarker-defined indications. For the full, current list of FDA indications and prescribing information, see keytruda.com or FDA label (DailyMed). KOL Pulse indexes the physician conversation; the label is owned and maintained by the manufacturer.

Frequently Asked

KEYTRUDA® sentiment — FAQ

KEYNOTE-522

What do oncologists think of the KEYNOTE-522 trial (KEYTRUDA®)?

Across 55 verified physician voices in KOL Pulse's index for KEYNOTE-522, 31% expressed positive sentiment, 7% were nuanced (praising the result while flagging a caveat), 62% were neutral, and 0% were critical. Positive voices highlight the event-free-survival and pathologic-complete-response benefit of adding pembrolizumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, then continuing it adjuvantly, in high-risk early-stage TNBC; nuanced and critical voices flag which patients truly need the immunotherapy, adjuvant-phase and immune-related toxicity, and treatment de-escalation questions.

Where can I find the KEYNOTE-522 trial data for KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab)?

KEYNOTE-522 is registered as NCT03036488 and studied KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in High-risk early-stage triple-negative breast cancer — neoadjuvant + adjuvant. For the full KEYNOTE-522 trial data and conference coverage, see the KOL Pulse KEYNOTE-522 trial profile at kolpulse.com/kol-pulse-trial-profile-keynote522.

KEYNOTE-564

What do oncologists think of the KEYNOTE-564 trial (KEYTRUDA®)?

Across 81 verified physician voices in KOL Pulse's index for KEYNOTE-564, 31% expressed positive sentiment, 16% were nuanced (praising the result while flagging a caveat), 44% were neutral, and 9% were critical. Positive voices highlight the first adjuvant immunotherapy to improve disease-free survival — and, on longer follow-up, overall survival — in high-risk RCC after nephrectomy; nuanced and critical voices flag patient selection, the DFS-vs-OS maturity at the time of approval, and overtreatment of lower-risk patients.

Where can I find the KEYNOTE-564 trial data for KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab)?

KEYNOTE-564 is registered as NCT03142334 and studied KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in Adjuvant renal cell carcinoma — intermediate-high / high risk after nephrectomy. For the full KEYNOTE-564 trial data and conference coverage, see the KOL Pulse KEYNOTE-564 trial profile at kolpulse.com/kol-pulse-trial-profile-keynote564.

KEYNOTE-671

What do oncologists think of the KEYNOTE-671 trial (KEYTRUDA®)?

Across 50 verified physician voices in KOL Pulse's index for KEYNOTE-671, 30% expressed positive sentiment, 14% were nuanced (praising the result while flagging a caveat), 48% were neutral, and 8% were critical. Positive voices highlight the event-free and overall-survival benefit of adding perioperative pembrolizumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in resectable NSCLC; nuanced and critical voices flag the neoadjuvant-vs-adjuvant contribution question and overlap with competing perioperative immunotherapy regimens.

Where can I find the KEYNOTE-671 trial data for KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab)?

KEYNOTE-671 is registered as NCT03425643 and studied KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) in Resectable NSCLC — perioperative (neoadjuvant + adjuvant). For the full KEYNOTE-671 trial data and conference coverage, see the KOL Pulse KEYNOTE-671 trial profile at kolpulse.com/kol-pulse-trial-profile-keynote-671.

Regulatory

Is KEYTRUDA® (pembrolizumab) FDA approved?

KEYTRUDA® is FDA-approved. KOL Pulse organizes this page by clinical trial and links out to the manufacturer's brand site and the FDA label for the full, current list of FDA indications and prescribing information — the label is owned and updated by the manufacturer, so we point to it rather than reproducing it.

Methodology

How this index is built

KOL Pulse indexes verbatim posts from verified oncology physicians and rolls sentiment up per clinical trial. Each physician is counted once per trial, at their highest-reach post. Sentiment is classified from the verbatim text (positive / nuanced / neutral / critical), where "nuanced" marks a voice that praises the result while flagging a substantive caveat (immature overall survival, toxicity, or trial-design/selection concerns). Institutional, media, finance, and non-physician accounts are excluded from the denominator. Quotes are reproduced verbatim and attributed to the physician's public post. KOL Pulse organizes this page by clinical trial — the maintainable unit — and links out to the manufacturer's brand site and the FDA label for the full indication list, which the manufacturer owns and updates. Trial efficacy figures are held for medical-expert verification before publication. This page reports the physician conversation; it is not medical advice and does not endorse any product.