PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:~I. To perform a steady-state PK study on patients who are taking monoclonal antibody therapy (25 patients starting pembrolizumab and 25 patients starting nivolumab for melanoma or non-small cell lung cancer).~II. Develop and validate a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay to measure pembrolizumab and nivolumab in serum.~III. Measure patient samples for pembrolizumab/nivolumab at various clinical time points.~IV. Use the pharmacokinetic data (drug concentrations) to determine the area under the curve (AUC), maximum observed serum concentration (Cmax), clearance, half-life (t1/2), and trough steady-state drug concentrations.~V. Compare the data to the clinical efficacy (defined using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors [RECIST] 1.1 criteria)1, as well as, presence of auto-immune side effects using multiple variable regression modeling in Statistical Analysis System (SAS) version (v)9.4 or other statistical software.~OUTLINE:~Patients undergo collection of blood samples and have medical records reviewed on study.
This early phase I study collects blood samples and monitors the levels of pembrolizumab and nivolumab as they move through the body in patients with melanoma and/or non-small cell lung cancer. Pembrolizumab and nivolumab are a monoclonal antibodies that may interfere with the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Studying samples of blood in the laboratory from patients receiving pembrolizumab and nivolumab may help doctors learn more about the effects of pembrolizumab and nivolumab on cells. It may also help doctors understand how well patients respond to treatment. Information from this study may be used in the future to guide physicians to make dosage adjustments based on serum concentrations of drug to minimize adverse side effects and maximize the effect of the drug.