Experimental triple combo for tough breast cancer shows early promise but trial stops short

NCT ID NCT04095689

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This Phase 2 trial tested a combination of chemotherapy (docetaxel), an immunotherapy drug (pembrolizumab), and a gene therapy (IL-12) in 8 women with triple negative breast cancer that had stopped responding to standard anthracycline treatment. The goal was to see if the combination could shrink or eliminate tumors. The study was terminated early, so the full safety and effectiveness picture is not available.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

docetaxel, pembrolizumab, and interleukin-12 gene therapy

What this could lead to

If successful, this combination could offer a new treatment option for patients with hard-to-treat triple negative breast cancer that no longer responds to standard chemotherapy.

What could go wrong

This trial was terminated early with only 8 participants, so results are very limited. The combination of chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and gene therapy may cause significant side effects, and it is unclear if it works better than existing treatments.

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.

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

  • Houston Methodist Cancer Center

    Houston, Texas, 77030, United States