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RecruitingNCT03449238Updated Mar 30, 2026

Pembrolizumab And Stereotactic Radiosurgery (Srs) Of Selected Brain Metastases In Breast Cancer Patients

A Phase 1/2 interventional study of Pembrolizumab in Metastatic Breast Cancer and Brain Metastases, sponsored by Weill Medical College of Cornell University. Recruiting at 3 sites in United States. Open to female participants aged 19 Years to 90 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-03-30.

Sponsored by Weill Medical College of Cornell University · Phase 1/2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 1/2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
41
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
19 Years to 90 Years
Sex
Female
01

Study summary

Patients with metastatic breast cancer with at least 2 brain metastases will receive pembrolizumab every 3 weeks. Patients will undergo stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) to one of the brain lesions. Pembrolizumab infusion will be given on Day 4 (+/-1) after SRS treatment at the standard dose of 200mg IV over 30 minutes and repeated every 3 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Read the detailed description

Patients with metastatic breast cancer with at least 2 brain metastases, eligible to receive SRS. Patients will complete radiation therapy within 1 week and Pembrolizumab may be continued every 3 weeks until evidence of brain progression or serious adverse toxicity. Patients will be followed until death.

Pembrolizumab infusion will be given on Day 4 (+/-1) after SRS treatment at the standard dose of 200mg IV over 30 minutes and repeated every 3 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

02

Conditions studied

  • Metastatic Breast Cancer
  • Brain Metastases
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
19 Years to 90 Years
Sexes eligible
Female
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Age older than 18
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1
  • Men and/or pre- or post-menopausal women with metastatic breast cancer with at least 2 intracranial untreated and measurable (≥ 3mm) metastases as visualized on brain MRI
  • A diagnostic contrast enhanced MRI demonstrating at least 2 lesions in the brain, (≥3mm in size), performed within two weeks prior to treatment
  • Maximum diameter of treated lesions should be \<4cm in size
  • Have measurable disease based on RECIST 1.1. Lesions situated in a previously irradiated area are considered measurable if progression has been demonstrated in such lesions.
  • Patient needs to be able to understand and demonstrate willingness to sign a written informed consent document
  • Prior SRS is permitted, however the lesions targeted for treatment on trial need to be previously untreated by SRS
  • Patients who have undergone prior subtotal resection are eligible providing that residual disease is \<4cm in maximum diameter: the cavity will be treated as standard of care.
  • Continuing a concurrent use of hormonal therapy or anti-Her2 neu therapy is allowed, if the patient exhibits brain metastases progression during these treatments
  • Enrolled patients should have a two-week washout period from last systemic treatment
  • The participant (or legally acceptable representative if applicable) provides written informed consent for the trial.
  • Contraception duration of 120 days
  • Adequate bone marrow reserve and liver function

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Active connective tissue disorders, such as lupus or scleroderma requiring flare therapy
  • Patients who have undergone complete resection of all known brain metastases
  • Inability to obtain histologic proof of breast cancer
  • Target lesion metastasis within 5mm of the optic apparatus so that some portion of the optic nerve or chiasm would be included in the SRS field
  • Has received prior radiotherapy within 2 weeks of start of study treatment. Participants must have recovered from all radiation-related toxicities, not require corticosteroids, and not have had radiation pneumonitis. A 1-week washout is permitted for palliative radiation (≤2 weeks of radiotherapy) to non-CNS disease.
  • Has received a live vaccine or live-attenuated vaccine within 30 days prior to the first dose of study drug. Administration of killed vaccines is allowed.
  • Is 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.
  • Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy (in dosing exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study drug.
  • Has a known additional malignancy (second primary) 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. cervical cancer in situ) that have undergone potentially curative therapy are not excluded.
  • Has severe hypersensitivity (≥Grade 3) to pembrolizumab and/or any of its excipients.
  • Has active autoimmune 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.
  • Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease that required steroids or has current pneumonitis.
  • Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy..Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
  • Has a known history of Hepatitis B (defined as Hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] reactive) or known active Hepatitis C virus (defined as HCV RNA [qualitative] is detected) infection. Note: no testing for Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C is required unless mandated by local health authority.
  • Has a known history of active TB (Bacillus Tuberculosis).
  • Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial.
  • Is pregnant or breastfeeding, or expecting to conceive or father children within the projected duration of the study, starting with the screening visit through 120 days after the last dose of trial treatment.
04

Study design

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

Study arms

  • Other
    Pembrolizumab and SRS

    Pembrolizumab infusion will be given on Day 4 (+/-1) after SRS treatment at the standard dose of 200mg IV over 30 minutes and repeated every 3 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

    Drug: Pembrolizumab

Interventions

  • DrugPembrolizumab

    Pembrolizumab infusion will be given on Day 4 (+/-1) after SRS treatment at the standard dose of 200mg IV over 30 minutes and repeated every 3 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Tumor response for non-irradiated brain lesions at 8 weeks according to RECIST1.1

    detect abscopal responses in non-irradiated brain metastases, followed at routine post SRS brain MRI (evaluated at 8 weeks post-treatment, +/- one week) according to Response Evaluation criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST1.1)

    Time frame: 8 weeks

  2. Correlation of abscopal responses with the radiation dose received

    Correlate potential abscopal responses with their radiation dose exposure

    Time frame: 1 year

  3. Overall survival - assessed from the start of study drug until death in non-irradiation metastases in the rest of the body by routine imaging.

    detect systemic objective responses in non-irradiated metastases in the rest of the body, by routine imaging

    Time frame: 3 years

Secondary outcomes

  1. Number of participants with abscopal response will be assessed.

    Evaluation of an abscopal effect elsewhere in the body. This will be assessed by serial CT based imaging performed every 3 months.

    Time frame: up to 12 weeks

06

Study locations

3 of 3 sites recruiting
  • Weill Cornell Medicine
    New York, New York 10065, United States
    Recruiting
  • Brooklyn Methodist Hospital - NewYork Presbyterian
    New York, New York 11215, United States
    • Izael Nino, M.S. · Contact · izn4001@med.cornell.edu · 929-470-9426
    • Hani Ashamalla, M.D. · Principal investigator
    Recruiting
  • New York Presbyterian Hospital - Queens
    New York, New York 11355, United States
    Recruiting
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03449238
Lead sponsor
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Collaborators
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Feb 28, 2018
Start date
Nov 15, 2018
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2028 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 31, 2030 (estimated)
Last update
Mar 30, 2026

Study contacts

Fabiana Gregucci, M.D.
Contact
fgr4002@med.cornell.edu
646-962-3110
Silvia Formenti, M.D.
principal investigator · Weill Cornell Medicine - New York Presbyterian Hospital

Oversight

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

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