Definition

A drug that binds to the protein PD-1 to help immune cells kill cancer cells better and is used to treat many different types of cancer. These include cancers that express the protein PD-L1, that have certain mutations (changes) in genes involved in DNA repair, or that have a high number of tumor mutations. Keytruda is used alone or with other drugs to treat certain types of biliary tract cancer (including bile duct cancer and gallbladder cancer), breast cancer, cervical cancer, classic Hodgkin lymphoma, colorectal cancer, endometrial cancer, esophageal cancer, gastroesophageal junction cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), hepatocellular carcinoma (a type of liver cancer), non-small cell lung cancer, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, renal cell carcinoma (a type of kidney cancer), skin cancer (SCC of the skin, Merkel cell carcinoma, and melanoma), stomach cancer, urothelial carcinoma (a type of bladder or urinary tract cancer), and other solid tumors. It is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. Keytruda may block PD-1 and help the immune system kill cancer cells. It is a type of monoclonal antibody and a type of immune checkpoint inhibitor. Also called pembrolizumab.