Pembrolizumab + Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer
Trial Summary
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial protocol does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, if you are on certain treatments like systemic steroids or investigational agents, you may need to stop them before starting the trial. It's best to discuss your specific medications with the trial team.
What data supports the effectiveness of the drug Pembrolizumab + Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer?
Research shows that liposomal doxorubicin, a component of the treatment, is effective in treating breast cancer and has a better safety profile compared to non-liposomal forms. Additionally, the combination of paclitaxel and doxorubicin in liposomal form has shown promise in controlling breast cancer and lung metastasis in animal models.12345
Is the combination of pembrolizumab and chemotherapy safe for breast cancer patients?
The combination of pembrolizumab with paclitaxel or capecitabine has been shown to be safe in a clinical trial for breast cancer, with most patients able to complete treatment without severe side effects. However, both regimens can reduce white blood cell counts, which are important for fighting infections.678910
What makes the drug combination of Pembrolizumab, Capecitabine, Liposomal Doxorubicin, and Paclitaxel unique for breast cancer treatment?
This drug combination is unique because it combines Pembrolizumab, an immune therapy that helps the body's immune system fight cancer, with chemotherapy drugs like Capecitabine, Liposomal Doxorubicin, and Paclitaxel, which are designed to kill cancer cells. The use of Liposomal Doxorubicin is particularly notable as it is less harmful to the heart compared to traditional forms, and it may enhance the immune response when used with Pembrolizumab.1251112
What is the purpose of this trial?
The safety and efficacy of pembrolizumab plus the investigator's choice of chemotherapy will be assessed compared to placebo plus the investigator's choice of chemotherapy in the treatment of chemotherapy-candidate hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) locally recurrent inoperable or metastatic breast cancer.The primary hypotheses are that the combination of pembrolizumab and chemotherapy is superior to placebo and chemotherapy in regards to Progression-Free Survival (PFS) in participants with programmed cell death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) combined positive score (CPS) ≥1.
Research Team
Medical Director
Principal Investigator
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Eligibility Criteria
This trial is for adults with HR+/HER2- breast cancer that's locally recurrent and inoperable or has spread (metastatic), who haven't had chemotherapy for this condition before, but have progressed after endocrine therapy. They should be candidates for chemotherapy, have a certain level of PD-L1 protein on their tumor cells, good organ function, measurable disease per RECIST 1.1 criteria, and an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants receive pembrolizumab or placebo plus chemotherapy
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment
Treatment Details
Interventions
- Capecitabine
- Liposomal Doxorubicin
- Paclitaxel
- Pembrolizumab
Capecitabine is already approved in European Union, United States, Canada, Japan for the following indications:
- Colorectal cancer
- Breast cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Breast cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Breast cancer
- Colorectal cancer
- Breast cancer
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
Lead Sponsor
Chirfi Guindo
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
Chief Medical Officer
Engineering degree from Ecole Centrale de Paris, MBA from New York University Stern School of Business
Robert M. Davis
Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp.
Chief Executive Officer since 2021
J.D. from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Bachelor's in Finance from Miami University
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Lead Sponsor
Chirfi Guindo
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Chief Marketing Officer since 2022
Degree in Engineering from Ecole Centrale de Paris, MBA from New York University Stern School of Business
Robert M. Davis
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Chief Executive Officer since 2021
JD from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law, MBA from Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management, Bachelor's in Finance from Miami University