ClinicalTrials.gg
Active, not recruitingNCT03366844Updated Apr 20, 2026Results posted

Breast Cancer Study of Preoperative Pembrolizumab + Radiation

A Phase 1/2 interventional study of Pembrolizumab and RT Boost in Breast Cancer, sponsored by Stephen Shiao. Active, not recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to female participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-04-20.

Sponsored by Stephen Shiao · Phase 1/2, Interventional, and Treatment

Help build ClinicalTrials.gg — short surveys, remote interviews or testing, in your language. Take part →

Phase
Phase 1/2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
66
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
Female
01

Where this study stands

Counted across the records on this site · 2026-11-14

Among 85 studies testing pembrolizumab in Breast Neoplasms — 22 open to participants now, 45 under way, 8 of them phase 3. pembrolizumab · Breast Neoplasms.

Enrollment
28th of 85
66 · median 44
Started
2017
with 15 others
Phase 1/2
13 of 85
2 open now
Primary completion
2025-02
later than 10 of 44 live
Registered
34th of 85
by date

Among the 85 studies testing pembrolizumab in Breast Neoplasms, this one is the 28th largest by enrollment, is one of 16 that started in 2017, is one of 13 in phase 1/2, reaches primary completion later than 10 of the 44 other live ones, and was the 34th registered.

Breast Neoplasms

14,832 studies on the registry are indexed under Breast Neoplasms; 3,320 are open to participants now.

Browse Breast Neoplasms studies →

Open to participants now

22 of the 85 studies testing pembrolizumab in Breast Neoplasms are open now, in 11 countries. Recruiting first, the newest first:

17 more — sign in →

By country, each count listing its studies:

All 22 open studies →

About pembrolizumab

pembrolizumab: first FDA approval 2014 (KEYTRUDA), first EMA approval 2015. What it is approved for, and how studies give it, is on its page →

Who these studies take

Of the 2,399 Breast Neoplasms studies recruiting now, 1,570 (65%) set no upper age limit and 592 (25%) stop at 75 or younger; 103 take children under 18; 215 take healthy volunteers.

This study: 18 Years and older · female · no healthy volunteers.

The full table on the hub →

This tab as a report to print or save as PDF → With an account.

Was this useful?
Watch this landscapeDownload CSVNarrow it in search →With an account: a weekly mail of what changed among 85 studies testing pembrolizumab in Breast Neoplasms, or all of them as a file.
02

Study summary

This study is being done to assess the feasibility of pembrolizumab (study drug) combined with standard radiation to the tumor (tumor boost) before patients undergo standard treatment that can consist of one or more of the following: breast-conserving surgery, radiation to the entire breast/chest wall after surgery, and chemotherapy.

Study participants will receive two doses of the study drug intravenously (through the vein) before their planned breast surgery or chemotherapy. The study drug will be administered three weeks apart. At the time of the second dose, radiation to the tumor in the affected breast will be given. This type of radiation treatment is called a "tumor boost", which is a standard part of radiation therapy for breast cancer that may occur either before or after planned breast-conserving surgery. Patients will receive breast surgery or begin chemotherapy approximately six weeks after your first dose of the study drug.

Read the detailed description

With more than 1 million new cases diagnosed yearly worldwide, breast cancer is a global public health burden. Over the past decade, molecular subtyping of breast cancer has identified intrinsic subtypes that may be at enhanced risk for both local and distant recurrence. This study focuses on the immunogenicity of high-risk breast cancer subtypes that are likely to display a dense lymphocytic infiltration including including TNBC and HR+/HER2- tumors.

Immune build up via immune co-stimulatory molecules permits the ensuing immune response to strengthen and destroy cancer systemically. Thus, the effect of the anti-tumor immune response initiated by the radiation to an intact tumor by combination with checkpoint blockade is increased.

Pembrolizumab is an optimal immunotherapy agent to study, as this agent has recently been FDA approved for use in multiple tumor types. It is therefore ready to be tested for efficacy in other disease sites and in combination with other treatments.

03

Conditions studied

  • Breast Cancer

Keywords

  • invasive adenocarcinoma of the breast
  • ER-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer
  • Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC)
  • immunotherapy
  • checkpoint inhibitor
  • HR-positive
04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

  • Confirmed histologic diagnosis of invasive adenocarcinoma of the breast, and
  • ER, PR and testing (on outside or Cedars-Sinai report), and

    • High-risk, ER-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer patients. ER-positive disease is defined as ER>10%, any PR and HER2-negative by ASCO CAP guidelines. High-risk disease will be defined by the presence of at least 2 of the following 3 criteria: histologic grade II-III, Ki-67 > 20%, ER expression \< 75% by IHC)
    • TNBC patients (defined as ER\<10%, PR\<10%, HER2-neu 0-1+ by IHC or FISH-negative; or as per MD discretion)
  • Operable tumor measuring ≥2 cm in maximal diameter as measured by any available standard of care imaging (mammogram, breast ultrasound, breast MRI)
  • Any nodal status
  • Multifocal disease is permitted; largest focus must measure ≥2 cm
  • Synchronous bilateral invasive breast cancer is permitted
  • No indication of distant
  • Breast-conserving therapy is planned
  • Tumor amenable to preoperative radiation therapy boost as determined by radiation oncologist
  • performance status score of 0 or 1
  • Screening laboratory values must meet the following criteria:

    i. White blood cells (WBCs) ≥ 2000/μL ii. (ANC) ≥ 1500/μL iii. ≥ 100 x 103/μL iv. ≥ 11.0 g/dL v. Serum creatinine ≤ 2 mg/dL (or ≥ 40 ml/min) vi. ≤ 2.5 x (ULN) vii. ALT ≤ 2.5 x ULN viii. Total within normal limits (except subjects with Gilbert's syndrome, who must have total bilirubin \< 3.0 mg/dL) ix. ≤ 1.5 x ULN unless participant is receiving anticoagulant therapy as long as PT or aPTT is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulant(s) x. Negative screening test xi. Negative screening tests for and . Patients with positive results that do not indicate true active or chronic infection may enroll after discussion and consensus agreement by the treating physician and principal investigator.

  • Women of (WOCBP) must be using an acceptable method of to avoid pregnancy throughout the study and for at least 4 months after the last dose of pembrolizumab in such a manner that the risk of pregnancy is minimized.
  • WOCBP must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 14 days prior to the first dose of pembrolizumab.
  • Women must not be breastfeeding.
  • Willingness to adhere to the study visit schedule and the prohibitions and restrictions specified in this protocol.
  • Willingness to undergo mandatory Week 4 research biopsy
  • Written obtained from subject and ability for subject to comply with the requirements of the study.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • -positive breast cancer defined as IHC3+ or IHC2+ with FISH>2 AND copy number >4 OR FISH \<2 AND copy number >6
  • Inflammatory breast cancer
  • (s) to breast-conserving therapy
  • Contraindication to radiation therapy or planned partial breast irradiation
  • Patients with cosmetic breast augmentations, specifically sub glandular implants with altered breast tissue, at the time of diagnosis
  • Evidence of disease.
  • Diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic therapy (in dosing exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study drug.
  • Known additional that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 3 years. Note: Participants with basal cell carcinoma of the skin, squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, or carcinoma in situ (e.g. breast carcinoma, cervical cancer in situ) that have undergone potentially curative therapy are not excluded.
  • Medical history and concurrent diseases

    • Active disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e. with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (eg., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment.
    • History of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that required steroids or has current pneumonitis.
    • Active infection requiring systemic therapy.
    • Any serious or uncontrolled medical disorder that, in the opinion of the investigator, may increase the risk associated with study participation or study drug administration, impair the ability of the subject to receive protocol therapy, or interfere with the interpretation of study results.
    • Known history of (HIV) (HIV 1/2 antibodies).
    • Known history of (e.g., HBsAg reactive) or known active (e.g., HCV RNA [qualitative] is detected).
  • Prohibited Treatments and/or Therapies

    • Chronic use of immunosuppressants and/or systemic corticosteroids (used in the management of cancer or non-cancer-related illnesses). However, use of corticosteroids is allowed for the treatment of immune related Adverse Events (irAEs), or adrenal insufficiency.
    • within 30 days prior to the first dose of study treatment and while participating in the study. Examples of live vaccines include, but are not limited to, the following: measles, mumps, rubella, varicella/zoster, yellow fever, rabies, BCG, and typhoid vaccine. Seasonal influenza vaccines for injection are generally killed virus vaccines and are allowed; however, intranasal influenza vaccines (eg, FluMist®) are live attenuated vaccines and are not allowed.
    • Prior treatment with an , anti-PD-L1, or anti PD L2 agent or with an agent directed to another stimulatory or co-inhibitory T-cell receptor (eg, CTLA-4, OX 40, CD137)
    • Prior systemic anti-cancer therapy including agents within 4 weeks prior to study start. Note: Participants must have recovered from all AEs due to previous therapies to ≤Grade 1 or baseline. Participants with ≤Grade 2 neuropathy may be eligible. Note: If participant received major surgery, they must have recovered adequately from the toxicity and/or complications from the intervention prior to starting study treatment.
    • Prior radiotherapy within 2 weeks of start of study treatment to sites outside the breast. Participants must have recovered from all radiation-related toxicities, not require corticosteroids, and not have had radiation pneumonitis.
    • Currently participating in or has participated in a study of an investigational agent or has used an investigational device within 4 weeks prior to the first dose of study treatment. Note: Participants who have entered the follow-up phase of an investigational study may participate as long as it has been 4 weeks after the last dose of the previous investigational agent.
  • For subjects who agree to the research breast MRI sub-study: Four or more previous gadolinium contrast scans due to the risk of brain deposits following repeated use of gadolinium-based contrast agents.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(26)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

HER2

HER2 is a protein, made from the ERBB2 gene, that drives the growth of some cancers. A study may look for a level of the protein, extra copies of the gene, or a particular change in it.

In breast cancer, protein tests are read as HER2-positive, HER2-low or HER2-negative; other cancers use their own rules. Check which test result the study requires.

Biopsy and archival tissue

A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.

Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.

Metastases

Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.

ECOG performance status

A scale of how much an illness limits everyday activity. For people being assessed to join a study, scores run from 0 (fully active) to 4; lower is more active.

0
Fully active, no restrictions.
1
Limited in strenuous activity, but walking and able to do light work, such as housework or office work.
2
Walking and able to look after yourself, but unable to work; up and about more than half of waking hours.
3
Able to look after yourself only in part; in bed or a chair more than half of waking hours.
4
Unable to look after yourself at all; in bed or a chair all day.

Studies most often ask for 0–1 or 0–2. Your doctor gives the score; the WHO scale uses the same steps. The full scale also has 5, which records death.

Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)

The number of neutrophils, white blood cells that help fight infection, in a given amount of blood. Too few raises the risk of infection.

It is a count, not a percentage of the white cells. Limits are written in units that mean the same: ≥ 1.5 × 10⁹/L is ≥ 1,500 per mm³ (µL). Each lab has its own reference range.

Platelets

Blood cells that help blood clot. Too few raises the risk of bleeding and bruising. A usual adult range is about 150–400 × 10⁹/L (150,000–400,000 per µL); each lab has its own reference range.

Hemoglobin (Hb)

The protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen. A low level is anaemia, which can cause tiredness and breathlessness. Measured in g/dL or g/L (9 g/dL is 90 g/L).

GFR and eGFR (kidney filtering)

GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is how much blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is usually estimated from a blood test — eGFR, by formulas such as CKD-EPI or MDRD — and some studies ask for it to be measured directly instead. Usually given in mL/min/1.73 m².

Check the method, the units and the minimum the study states. A value of 90 or above is in the normal-or-high range, but kidney damage can show in other tests too.

ALT and AST (liver enzymes)

Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.

Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.

ULN (upper limit of normal)

The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.

“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.

Bilirubin

A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.

Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.

INR, PT and aPTT (clotting tests)

Blood tests of how long blood takes to clot. The INR is the prothrombin time (PT) put on a common scale; about 1 is usual for someone not taking a blood thinner.

Criteria often make an exception for people on a blood thinner such as warfarin, whose INR is raised on purpose.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

Hepatitis B tests

Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. These are separate tests: HBsAg positive usually means a current infection (a recent vaccination can briefly cause it too); total anti-HBc (HBcAb) positive means an infection now or in the past; HBV DNA measures how much virus is in the blood.

Some studies accept a past infection if HBV DNA is undetectable, sometimes with antiviral medicine during the study. Check what this study allows.

Hepatitis C tests

Hepatitis C is a virus that infects the liver. An HCV antibody test can stay positive after an infection has cleared (and is occasionally positive without one); an HCV RNA test shows whether the virus is there now.

After treatment, hepatitis C counts as cured when HCV RNA is still undetectable 12 weeks or more after the treatment ended. Studies often accept people cured this way.

Childbearing potential

Able to become pregnant: from the first period until menopause, unless permanently unable to through surgery (removal of the womb, or of both ovaries or both fallopian tubes).

Criteria for people of childbearing potential usually ask for a negative pregnancy test and for contraception during the study and for a time after it.

Contraception

Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.

Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Contraindication

A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

Immunosuppression

A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.

Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.

Cancer (malignancy)

Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.

Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.

Autoimmune disease

A condition in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, type 1 diabetes or inflammatory bowel disease.

Immunotherapy studies often leave out active autoimmune disease, and some name exceptions, such as thyroid disease on replacement hormone. Check the exceptions this study lists.

Live vaccines

Vaccines made with a weakened form of the germ, such as measles–mumps–rubella (MMR), chickenpox and yellow fever. They can be risky when the immune system is weakened. Flu injections are not live; the nasal flu spray is.

PD-1, PD-L1 and checkpoint inhibitors

PD-1, PD-L1 and CTLA-4 are proteins that act as brakes on the immune system. Checkpoint inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab or nivolumab, block them so the immune system can attack a cancer.

PD-L1 can also be measured in a tumour sample. Some scores count stained tumour cells only (TPS); others also count certain immune cells (CPS). The study names the score and the minimum it uses.

Investigational drug or device

A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.

It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 1 / Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
66 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Pembrolizumab with RT Boost

    Study drug plus "tumor boost" before standard of care treatment

    Drug: Pembrolizumab · Radiation: RT Boost

Interventions

  • checkpoint inhibitor

    Also known as: Keytruda, MK-3475

  • RadiationRT Boost

    The second dose of pembrolizumab will be given in conjunction with an RT boost, consisting of 8 Gy for 3 fractions.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of Patients Who do Not Necessitate a Delay in Standard of Care Treatment After Receiving the Investigational Combination of Preoperative Pembrolizumab and Radiation

    Feasibility of preoperative radiation and Pembrolizumab in newly diagnosed, non-metastatic patients with triple negative breast cancer.

    Time frame: 8 weeks after trial initiation

  2. Changes in Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte Score (TILs)

    An increase in the tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte score (TILs) as measured by Salgado criteria. An increase in TILs is an indicator of immune system engagement (range is 0-100 in percent), therefore increase indicates better outcome. A lead in with pembrolizumab alone followed by the combination of pembrolizumab with RT will allow for serial assessment of TILs. This will establish the contribution of RT to the immune response generated by pembrolizumab. The working group's consensus for Salgado criteria is that TILs may provide more biological relevant information when scored as a continuous variable. The percentage of stromal TILs is a semi quantitative parameter for this assessment (0%-100%). No formal recommendation for a clinically relevant TIL threshold(s) can be given at this stage. The consensus was that a valid methodology is currently more important than issues of thresholds for clinical use, which will be determined once a solid methodology is in place.

    Time frame: 8 weeks after trial initiation

Secondary outcomes

  1. Pembrolizumab-related Adverse Events

    Treatment toxicities. Number of AEs attributed to Pembrolizumab (considered at least possibly related, probably related, or related).

    Time frame: 15 weeks after trial initiation

  2. Immune-related Adverse Events

    Treatment toxicities. Number of immune-related AEs (irAEs).

    Time frame: Assessed up to one year post-treatment

  3. Invasive Disease-free Survival After Preoperative Radiation and Pembrolizumab

    Disease-free survival, as described from time from occurrence of surgery to time from first recurrence from or death from breast cancer

    Time frame: From treatment start date until date of documented recurrence or death from breast cancer, assessed up to 19 weeks after start of treatment

  4. Pathological Complete Response Rate

    Absence of invasive disease in the breast and lymph nodes at the time of curative-intent surgery.

    Time frame: From treatment start date until the time of curative-intent surgery, approximately 8 weeks.

07

Results

Posted Apr 28, 2023
Limitations and caveats
Co-primary outcome for change in TILs is incomplete at the time of this results submission, as some TILs data not currently available. Current results for this outcome measure is reported according to current available data. Additional data may be reported at a later date.

Participant flow

The trial opened to accrual on 12/14/2017 with first subject enrolled on study 12/22/2017. A total of 85 patients consented, 10 subjects failed screening, 10 withdrew consent prior to starting study intervention and were replaced. 66 subjects completed study intervention but 6 were deemed unevaluable. Total target accrual of 60 subjects was met with the last subject off treatment as of 01/26/2022. Last data collection for all primary endpoints confirmed on February 6, 2025.

Participant flow — Overall Study
MilestonePembrolizumab With RT Boost
Started66
Phase 1b10
Phase ii50
Completed60
Not completed6
Withdrew: Physician decision1
Withdrew: Unevaluable for co-primary endpoint (did not complete all required biopsies)5

Outcome measures

PrimaryNumber of Patients Who do Not Necessitate a Delay in Standard of Care Treatment After Receiving the Investigational Combination of Preoperative Pembrolizumab and Radiation

Feasibility of preoperative radiation and Pembrolizumab in newly diagnosed, non-metastatic patients with triple negative breast cancer.

Time frame:
8 weeks after trial initiation
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Number of Patients Who do Not Necessitate a Delay in Standard of Care Treatment After Receiving the Investigational Combination of Preoperative Pembrolizumab and Radiation
ParticipantsPembrolizumab With RT Boost
Number of Patients Who do Not Necessitate a Delay in Standard of Care Treatment After Receiving the Investigational Combination of Preoperative Pembrolizumab and Radiation36
Statistical analysis
  • Pembrolizumab With RT Boost · Proportion: 0.60 · 95% CI 0.465 to 0.72495% confidence interval for one proportion were estimated using the Exact (Clopper-Pearson) method.
PrimaryChanges in Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte Score (TILs)

An increase in the tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte score (TILs) as measured by Salgado criteria. An increase in TILs is an indicator of immune system engagement (range is 0-100 in percent), therefore increase indicates better outcome. A lead in with pembrolizumab alone followed by the combination of pembrolizumab with RT will allow for serial assessment of TILs. This will establish the contribution of RT to the immune response generated by pembrolizumab. The working group's consensus for Salgado criteria is that TILs may provide more biological relevant information when scored as a continuous variable. The percentage of stromal TILs is a semi quantitative parameter for this assessment (0%-100%). No formal recommendation for a clinically relevant TIL threshold(s) can be given at this stage. The consensus was that a valid methodology is currently more important than issues of thresholds for clinical use, which will be determined once a solid methodology is in place.

Time frame:
8 weeks after trial initiation
Reported as:
Mean · score on a scale
Changes in Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte Score (TILs)
score on a scalePembroRT - Cohort: TNBCPembroRT - Cohort: HR+
Changes in Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte Score (TILs)-6.06 ± 29.85-0.11 ± 8.68
SecondaryPembrolizumab-related Adverse Events

Treatment toxicities. Number of AEs attributed to Pembrolizumab (considered at least possibly related, probably related, or related).

Time frame:
15 weeks after trial initiation
Reported as:
Count of units · Adverse Events (AEs)
Pembrolizumab-related Adverse Events
Adverse Events (AEs)Pembrolizumab With RT Boost
Pembrolizumab-related Adverse Events453
SecondaryImmune-related Adverse Events

Treatment toxicities. Number of immune-related AEs (irAEs).

Time frame:
Assessed up to one year post-treatment
Reported as:
Count of units · Adverse Eventss (AEs)
Immune-related Adverse Events
Adverse Eventss (AEs)Pembrolizumab With RT Boost
Immune-related Adverse Events17
SecondaryInvasive Disease-free Survival After Preoperative Radiation and Pembrolizumab

Disease-free survival, as described from time from occurrence of surgery to time from first recurrence from or death from breast cancer

Time frame:
From treatment start date until date of documented recurrence or death from breast cancer, assessed up to 19 weeks after start of treatment
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Invasive Disease-free Survival After Preoperative Radiation and Pembrolizumab
ParticipantsPembrolizumab With RT Boost
Invasive Disease-free Survival After Preoperative Radiation and Pembrolizumab53
SecondaryPathological Complete Response Rate

Absence of invasive disease in the breast and lymph nodes at the time of curative-intent surgery.

Time frame:
From treatment start date until the time of curative-intent surgery, approximately 8 weeks.
Reported as:
Count of participants · Participants
Pathological Complete Response Rate
ParticipantsPembroRT - Cohort: TNBCPembroRT - Cohort: HR+
Pathological Complete Response Rate223

Adverse events

Collected over From week 1 until week 19 for all AEs, and immune-related AEs (irAEs) up until 1 year post treatment, up to 14 months.. Non-serious events are listed at a 5% frequency threshold.

Adverse event summary by group
GroupDeathsSeriousOther
Pembrolizumab With RT Boost6/60 (10%)3/60 (5%)49/60 (81.7%)
Most frequent serious events
Showing 10 of 12
Most frequent serious events
EventPembrolizumab With RT Boost
Adrenal insufficiencyEndocrine disorders3/60
HyponatremiaMetabolism and nutrition disorders2/60
ColitisGastrointestinal disorders1/60
Febrile neutropeniaBlood and lymphatic system disorders1/60
FeverGeneral disorders1/60
HypotensionVascular disorders1/60
Lung infectionInfections and infestations1/60
PneumonitisRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders1/60
Rash maculo-papularSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders1/60
SepsisInfections and infestations1/60
Most frequent other events
Showing 10 of 60
Most frequent other events
EventPembrolizumab With RT Boost
FatigueGeneral disorders49/60
NauseaGastrointestinal disorders49/60
DiarrheaGastrointestinal disorders29/60
ConstipationGastrointestinal disorders26/60
Peripheral sensory neuropathyNervous system disorders26/60
Mucositis oralGastrointestinal disorders24/60
Rash maculo-papularSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders24/60
HeadacheNervous system disorders20/60
InsomniaPsychiatric disorders17/60
MyalgiaMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders15/60

Baseline characteristics

Age, Categorical
Age, Categorical(Participants)Pembrolizumab With RT Boost
<=18 years0
Between 18 and 65 years45
>=65 years15
Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Pembrolizumab With RT Boost
Median53 (31 to 93)
Age, Continuous
Age, Continuous(years)Pembrolizumab With RT Boost
Mean53 ± 14
Sex: Female, Male
Sex: Female, Male(Participants)Pembrolizumab With RT Boost
Female60
Male0
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Pembrolizumab With RT Boost
Hispanic or Latino9
Not Hispanic or Latino50
Unknown or Not Reported1
Race (NIH/OMB)
Race (NIH/OMB)(Participants)Pembrolizumab With RT Boost
American Indian or Alaska Native0
Asian7
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander0
Black or African American8
White42
More than one race2
Unknown or Not Reported1
Region of Enrollment
Region of Enrollment(participants)Pembrolizumab With RT Boost
United States60
08

Study locations

1 site
09

References and documents

Publications

  • Ho AY, Shiao S, Kobald SA, Chen J, Duda DG, Ly A, Bossuyt V, Cho HL, Arnold B, Knott S, Gupta GP, McAndrew P, Karlan S, Tighiouart M, Muzikansky A, Basho R, McArthur H. PEARL: A Phase Ib/II Biomarker Study of Adding Radiation Therapy to Pembrolizumab Before Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Negative Breast Cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2024 Dec 20;42(36):4282-4293. doi: 10.1200/JCO.24.00003. Epub 2024 Sep 19. PubMed 39298718 ↗

Study documents

PDFs hosted by the registry, ClinicalTrials.gov.

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

10

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reachedSimilar studies: half by the dot; the band is the middle halfHalf of similar studies reached it by the dot; the band is the middle half, from a quarter to three quarters

Ran from Dec 2017 to primary completion in Feb 2025, 85 months.

Of 166 non-industry phase 1/2 interventional studies under Breast Neoplasms, half reached primary completion within 67 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 45 and three quarters within 95. This study's 85 months is above that.

Counting every sponsor, half of 327 studies reached it within 61 months; a quarter within 45 and three quarters within 88.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Nov 25, 2017
First posted
Dec 8, 2017
StartActual
Dec 22, 2017
Primary completionActual
Feb 6, 2025
CompletionEst.
Dec 7, 2030
Results first posted
Apr 28, 2023
Last update
Apr 20, 2026
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Apr 20, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
11

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03366844
Lead sponsor
Stephen Shiao
Collaborators
United States Department of Defense
Responsible party
Stephen Shiao (Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology and Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Dec 8, 2017
Start date
Dec 22, 2017
Primary completion
Feb 6, 2025
Completion
Dec 7, 2030 (estimated)
Results posted
Apr 28, 2023
Last update
Apr 20, 2026

Study contacts

Stephen Shiao, MD, PHD
principal investigator · Cedars-Sinai Medical Center

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
Yes
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Apr 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

Follow this study

Get an email when the registry record changes — status, dates, results — or when someone posts here.

Sign in to follow

Discussion

Questions and observations about this study, from anyone following it. Not medical advice, and not a channel to the study team — their contact details are on the registry record.

Sign in to join the discussion. Reading takes no account; posting does. You choose a display name, and a pseudonym is the default.

Nothing here yet. If you are running this trial, taking part in it, or weighing whether to, this is the place to say so.

Studies of the drug tested here: Pembrolizumab

Start the discussion