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Checkpoint Inhibitor

Pembrolizumab for Breast Cancer

Phase 2
Waitlist Available
Led By Clinton Yam
Research Sponsored by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Did not achieve pathological complete response (pCR) to any chemotherapy that was given with the intention to induce best response prior surgery
Is HER2 normal
Must not have
Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy
Has an active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment within the past 3 months or a documented history of clinically severe autoimmune disease, or immunosuppressive agents
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up up to 24 months
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial looks at how well pembrolizumab works for treating patients with hormone receptor positive inflammatory breast cancer who are receiving hormone therapy and didn't achieve a pathological complete response to chemotherapy.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for patients with hormone receptor positive inflammatory breast cancer that hasn't spread, who didn't fully respond to chemotherapy and are on hormone therapy. Eligible participants must have a certain level of neutrophils, not be pregnant or become pregnant, have started radiation or endocrine therapy recently if applicable, and meet specific health criteria like normal organ function tests.
What is being tested?
The trial is testing pembrolizumab's effectiveness in these patients. Pembrolizumab is an immunotherapy drug that may boost the immune system's ability to fight cancer by blocking tumor growth. This phase II study will assess how well it works when other treatments haven't led to complete cancer removal.
What are the potential side effects?
Pembrolizumab can cause side effects such as fatigue, skin reactions, diarrhea, hormonal gland problems (like thyroid dysfunction), liver inflammation, lung issues (pneumonitis), and could potentially worsen autoimmune diseases.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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My cancer did not fully respond to chemotherapy before surgery.
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My cancer is not HER2 positive.
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I am fully active or can carry out light work.
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My breast cancer has been confirmed through tissue examination.
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My breast cancer is confirmed as inflammatory by international standards.
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My organ functions are within normal ranges according to recent tests.
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My cancer is positive for estrogen or progesterone receptors.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
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I have an immune system disorder or am on drugs that weaken my immune system.
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I have an autoimmune disease that needed treatment in the last 3 months.
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I have had pneumonitis treated with steroids or have it now.
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I have been treated with specific antibodies before.
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I have been diagnosed with HIV.
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I have an active Hepatitis B or C infection.
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I have had issues with my digestive system or a history of colitis.
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I need daily corticosteroids through pills or infusion.
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I am currently being treated for an infection.
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My breast cancer has spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes.
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I haven't had a heart attack or severe heart issues in the last 6 months.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~up to 24 months
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and up to 24 months for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Disease free survival (DFS)
Secondary study objectives
Incidence of adverse events
Overall survival (OS)

Side effects data

From 2024 Phase 3 trial • 804 Patients • NCT03040999
64%
Radiation skin injury
63%
Stomatitis
58%
Anaemia
56%
Nausea
48%
Dry mouth
45%
Constipation
45%
Weight decreased
44%
Dysphagia
42%
Neutrophil count decreased
33%
Dysgeusia
33%
Vomiting
32%
Fatigue
31%
White blood cell count decreased
28%
Hypomagnesaemia
26%
Decreased appetite
25%
Hypothyroidism
25%
Hypokalaemia
24%
Lymphocyte count decreased
24%
Platelet count decreased
23%
Oropharyngeal pain
23%
Blood creatinine increased
22%
Diarrhoea
22%
Odynophagia
20%
Hypoacusis
20%
Alanine aminotransferase increased
20%
Hyponatraemia
19%
Tinnitus
19%
Oral candidiasis
19%
Asthenia
16%
Pyrexia
16%
Cough
15%
Aspartate aminotransferase increased
15%
Rash
14%
Insomnia
13%
Acute kidney injury
13%
Pharyngeal inflammation
13%
Pruritus
12%
Dysphonia
12%
Gamma-glutamyltransferase increased
11%
Pneumonia
11%
Dehydration
10%
Hyperthyroidism
10%
Hypoalbuminaemia
10%
Hypocalcaemia
10%
Headache
10%
Productive cough
9%
Neck pain
9%
Peripheral sensory neuropathy
8%
Gastrooesophageal reflux disease
8%
Hiccups
8%
Hyperglycaemia
8%
Hyperuricaemia
8%
Dizziness
8%
Hypophosphataemia
7%
Urinary tract infection
7%
Ear pain
7%
Localised oedema
7%
Hyperkalaemia
7%
Erythema
7%
Oral pain
6%
Abdominal pain upper
6%
Arthralgia
6%
Anxiety
6%
Febrile neutropenia
6%
Dyspepsia
6%
Saliva altered
5%
Back pain
5%
Oedema peripheral
5%
Hypertension
5%
Dyspnoea
4%
Nasopharyngitis
4%
Alopecia
4%
Dry skin
3%
Sepsis
3%
Pneumonia aspiration
3%
Trismus
3%
Pneumonitis
3%
Laryngeal oedema
2%
Malnutrition
2%
Pharyngeal haemorrhage
2%
Cellulitis
1%
Septic shock
1%
Clostridium difficile colitis
1%
Systemic infection
1%
Cardiac arrest
1%
Death
1%
Bronchitis
1%
Hepatitis
1%
Immune-mediated hepatitis
1%
Oesophagitis
1%
General physical health deterioration
1%
Hypophagia
1%
Tumour haemorrhage
1%
Cerebrovascular accident
1%
Syncope
1%
Acute respiratory failure
1%
Aspiration
1%
Colitis
1%
Mouth haemorrhage
1%
Hypersensitivity
1%
Acute myocardial infarction
1%
Abscess neck
1%
Device related infection
1%
Stoma site infection
1%
Vascular device infection
1%
Wound infection
1%
Hypercalcaemia
1%
Pulmonary embolism
1%
Respiratory failure
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Study treatment Arm
Placebo + CRT Followed by Placebo
Pembrolizumab + CRT Followed by Pembrolizumab

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

1Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Treatment (pembrolizumab)Experimental Treatment1 Intervention
Patients receive pembrolizumab IV over 30 minutes on day 1. Cycles repeat every 21 days for up to 24 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Pembrolizumab
2017
Completed Phase 3
~2810

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

M.D. Anderson Cancer CenterLead Sponsor
3,063 Previous Clinical Trials
1,800,744 Total Patients Enrolled
147 Trials studying Breast Cancer
63,073 Patients Enrolled for Breast Cancer
National Cancer Institute (NCI)NIH
13,907 Previous Clinical Trials
41,012,107 Total Patients Enrolled
942 Trials studying Breast Cancer
1,443,255 Patients Enrolled for Breast Cancer
Clinton YamPrincipal InvestigatorM.D. Anderson Cancer Center
6 Previous Clinical Trials
1,193 Total Patients Enrolled

Media Library

Pembrolizumab (Checkpoint Inhibitor) Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT02971748 — Phase 2
Breast Cancer Research Study Groups: Treatment (pembrolizumab)
Breast Cancer Clinical Trial 2023: Pembrolizumab Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT02971748 — Phase 2
Pembrolizumab (Checkpoint Inhibitor) 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT02971748 — Phase 2
~4 spots leftby Dec 2025