This multi-institutional, phase 2 clinical trial is studying two doses of pembrolizumab
administered prior to surgery (neoadjuvant therapy) and 4 doses administered after surgery
(adjuvant therapy) for stage IB, II or IIIA non-small cell lung cancer. Pembrolizumab is a
type of immunotherapy that may enhance the ability of the immune system to fight off cancer.
The study will investigate the effects of pembrolizumab on the immune system and how certain
immune cells, called TILs (tumor infiltrating lymphocytes), respond to pembrolizumab.
Previous studies suggest that pembrolizumab could alter the immune cells in a way that the
the immune cells identify cancer cells. Pembrolizumab has been approved for the treatment of
advanced lung cancer, but is investigational in this setting.