Latest Cancer TreatmentsDr. Mohammadreza Dabiri
Dr. Mohammadreza Dabiriفارسی
Treatment regimen

Carboplatin, paclitaxel and pembrolizumab (KEYNOTE-407)

Metastatic squamous lung cancer

Updated: 28 October 20261 min read2 references

Summary for doctors

  • First line in metastatic squamous lung cancer [1].
  • 4 cycles of chemotherapy, then pembrolizumab for up to 35 cycles [1].

Dose and schedule

Carbo/Pac/Pembro

Metastatic squamous lung cancer, first lineCycle length: Every 21 days

Metastatic squamous lung cancer, first line

DrugDoseRouteSchedule
Phase 1: 4 cycles
Pembrolizumab200 mgIVDay 1
CarboplatinAUC 6IVDay 1
Paclitaxel (or nab-paclitaxel 100 mg/m² on days 1, 8 and 15)200 mg/m²IV over 3 hoursDay 1
Phase 2
Pembrolizumab200 mgIVDay 1
Cycle length
Every 21 days
Duration
Pembrolizumab up to 35 cycles

Doses as in KEYNOTE-407 [1].

Dose source: [2].

Doses follow the trial protocol, guideline or official drug label (source given in the notes of each regimen). Before prescribing, check blood counts, renal and hepatic function, drug interactions and the patient’s condition, and adjust the dose according to the drug label.

Premedication and supportive care

  • Paclitaxel premedication (dexamethasone and H1 and H2 antihistamines); three-drug antiemetics for carboplatin AUC 6.

Monitoring and dose adjustment

  • Blood counts before each cycle; neuropathy; TSH, glucose, liver enzymes and creatinine at baseline and every 6 weeks; immune-related toxicity as in the immunotherapy toxicity lesson.

Main evidence

Show detailsHide

KEYNOTE-407: median overall survival 15.9 vs 11.3 months with chemotherapy alone [1].

Related cancer types

Lung cancer

Treatment regimens (physicians)

Trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd, Enhertu): dose and monitoringCarboplatin, pemetrexed and pembrolizumab (KEYNOTE-189)Carboplatin-etoposide with atezolizumab or durvalumab in small cell lung cancerDurvalumab after chemoradiotherapy in stage 3 lung cancer (PACIFIC)Pembrolizumab alone in lung cancer with high PD-L1 (KEYNOTE-024)Osimertinib with pemetrexed and platinum (FLAURA2)Amivantamab with lazertinib (MARIPOSA)Adjuvant alectinib after surgery for ALK-positive lung cancer (ALINA)

Physician tools and lessons

Khorana Score (Cancer-Associated Thrombosis Risk)Should I Be Screened for Lung Cancer? (Pack-Year Calculator)10 cheap steps that save patients' livesManagement of brain metastasesMalignant pleural effusion: drainage, pleurodesis or an indwelling catheter

References

2 references
Show all referencesClose the reference list

Numbers in the text, such as [1], refer to these sources. Sources with a “Study card” button are summarised in the site’s evidence library.

  1. 1
    Pembrolizumab plus Chemotherapy for Squamous Non-Small-Cell Lung CancerPaz-Ares L, Luft A, Vicente D, et al · N Engl J Med · 2018;379:2040-2051
    DOIPubMed Back to text: 1 2 3 4
  2. 2
    KEYTRUDA (PEMBROLIZUMAB) — Prescribing InformationMerck Sharp & Dohme LLC · FDA label · 2026
    Source Back to text

This page is based on reputable scientific sources and was last updated on 28 October 2026. The content of this website is for educational and informational purposes only and does not replace consultation, diagnosis or treatment by a specialist physician. Consult your treating physician about any treatment decision.

Printed from the website; the full and up-to-date version: https://drdabiri.com/en/regimens/carboplatin-paclitaxel-pembrolizumab/

Related pages

27 October 2026 FOLFOX (mFOLFOX6): dose, schedule and side effects Dose and schedule of mFOLFOX6 (oxaliplatin 85, leucovorin 400, fluorouracil 400 bolus and 2400 as a 46-hour infusion), length of adjuvant treatment, premedication, neuropathy and dose adjustment. 27 October 2026 CAPOX (XELOX): dose, schedule and side effects Dose and schedule of CAPOX or XELOX (oxaliplatin 130 and capecitabine 1000 twice daily, days 1 to 14), length of adjuvant treatment, renal adjustment and side effects. 27 October 2026 FOLFIRI regimen: dose, schedule and side effects Dose and schedule of FOLFIRI (irinotecan 180, leucovorin 400, fluorouracil 400 bolus and 2400 as a 46-hour infusion), diarrhoea control, UGT1A1 and dose adjustment.