New Vaccine-Immunotherapy combo targets breast cancer brain metastases

NCT ID NCT04348747

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This phase IIa trial tests a combination of a dendritic cell vaccine (targeting HER2/HER3 proteins) and the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) in 23 women with breast cancer that has spread to the brain. The vaccine aims to train the immune system to attack cancer cells, while pembrolizumab helps unleash the immune response. The study is currently recruiting and will measure how well the treatment shrinks brain tumors.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

dendritic cell vaccine (targeting HER2/HER3) and pembrolizumab (Keytruda)

What this could lead to

If it works, this could point toward a new treatment option for breast cancer that has spread to the brain, potentially shrinking tumors and improving outcomes.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-phase trial with only 23 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The combination therapy may cause side effects or fail to shrink brain metastases.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

brain cancer breast cancer HER2 positive breast carcinoma hormone receptor-positive breast cancer metastatic malignant neoplasm in the brain metastatic neoplasm triple-negative breast carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Moffitt Cancer Center

    ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING

    Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States

  • Roswell Park Cancer Institute

    RECRUITING

    Buffalo, New York, 14263, United States

    Contact

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • University of Virginia Comprehensive Cancer Center

    RECRUITING

    Charlottesville, Virginia, 22903, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact