Immunotherapy-Chemo cocktail shows promise in tough breast cancer

NCT ID NCT03213041

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This phase II trial tested whether combining the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) with the chemotherapy carboplatin could help people with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer that has spread. The 12 participants had cancer cells in their blood and had already tried other treatments. The goal was to see if the combo could slow cancer growth or improve survival.

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) combined with carboplatin chemotherapy

What this could lead to

If successful, this combination could offer a new treatment option for people with HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer that has not responded to prior therapies.

What could go wrong

This is a very small, early-phase trial with only 12 participants and no placebo group. The results may not apply to all patients, and the combination may cause significant side effects.

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.

breast cancer breast carcinoma breast neoplasm estrogen-receptor negative breast cancer Her2-receptor negative breast cancer 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

  • Northwestern University

    Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States