Keytruda (Pembrolizumab) for bladder cancer

Overview
Keytruda is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat certain types of bladder cancer. It is prescribed to treat advanced or metastatic (spreading) urothelial cancer, the most common type of bladder cancer, and nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) that has not responded to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) therapy. Keytruda can be used alone if an individual has not been able to receive standard chemotherapy or if their cancer has gotten worse after chemotherapy. It can also be used with another drug, enfortumab vedotin, to treat advanced urothelial cancer. Keytruda is also known by its generic name, pembrolizumab.

Keytruda works by helping the immune system fight cancer. It blocks a protein called PD-1, which normally stops the immune system from attacking certain cells. By blocking PD-1, Keytruda allows immune cells to recognize and attack cancer cells. When combined with enfortumab vedotin, the immune system’s attack is combined with targeted chemotherapy to destroy cancer cells.

How do I take it?
Prescribing information states that Keytruda is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion, meaning it is delivered through a needle into a vein. Each infusion takes about 30 minutes, and the medicine is usually given every three or six weeks, depending on the treatment plan. If used with enfortumab vedotin, both drugs are given by IV on a schedule decided by your doctor. The drug should be administered exactly as prescribed by a health care provider.

Side effects
Common side effects of Keytruda include feeling tired, muscle or joint pain, rash, diarrhea (loose or watery stools), nausea (feeling sick to your stomach), loss of appetite, itching, trouble breathing, stomach pain, constipation (difficulty having a bowel movement), and underactive thyroid (which may cause low energy or weight gain).

When Keytruda is taken with enfortumab vedotin, additional common side effects may include nerve damage (causing tingling or weakness), hair loss, dry eyes, changes in taste, weight loss, and skin rash.

Rare but serious side effects may include inflammation in the lungs (pneumonitis), intestines (colitis), liver (hepatitis), or kidneys (nephritis). Keytruda can also cause problems with hormone glands, which may affect how your body handles stress, energy, or other functions. Severe allergic reactions or complications in people who have had organ or stem cell transplants may also occur. When taken during pregnancy, Keytruda can cause harm to an unborn fetus.

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Label: Keytruda — Pembrolizumab Injection, Powder, Lyophilized, for Solution; Keytruda — Pembrolizumab Injection, Solution — DailyMed