Triple threat: radiation and immunotherapy before chemotherapy may boost breast cancer response

NCT ID NCT07188246

Recruiting now Disease control Sponsor: London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This phase 2 trial is testing whether giving a short course of radiation (SBRT) and two injections of the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) before standard chemotherapy can improve outcomes for people with stage 2 or 3 breast cancer. The study aims to see if this combination can prime the immune system to better attack the tumor, leading to a higher rate of complete cancer disappearance at the time of surgery. About 40 participants with high-risk breast cancer will be enrolled.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)
What this could lead to: If successful, this approach could improve the chance of eliminating all cancer before surgery, potentially reducing recurrence risk.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-phase trial (40 people) with no control group. The added radiation and immunotherapy may cause side effects like skin toxicity, and the benefit over standard chemotherapy alone is not yet proven.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

breast cancer breast neoplasm HER2 positive breast carcinoma invasive breast carcinoma invasive ductal breast carcinoma mixed lobular and ductal breast carcinoma triple-negative breast carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

BREAST CANCER BREAST CANCER INVASIVE BREAST CANCER STAGE II BREAST CANCER STAGE III BREAST CANCER TRIPLE NEGATIVE

Contacts and locations

Locations

St. Joseph's Health Care London
NOT_YET_RECRUITING

London, Ontario, N6A 4V2, Canada
St. Joseph's Health Care London
RECRUITING

London, Ontario, Canada

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