New drug cocktail shows promise for Hard-to-Treat cancers

NCT ID NCT04042701

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

Summary

This early-stage trial is testing a combination of two drugs—trastuzumab deruxtecan (a targeted chemotherapy) and pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy)—in about 115 adults with advanced breast or non-small cell lung cancer that has a specific marker called HER2. The study has two parts: first, finding the safest dose of the combo, and then checking how well it shrinks tumors. Participants must have tried other treatments before and be willing to provide tumor samples.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

trastuzumab deruxtecan (a targeted chemotherapy) and pembrolizumab (an immunotherapy)

What this could lead to

If this combination works, it could offer a new treatment option for people with advanced HER2-positive breast or lung cancer that has stopped responding to other therapies.

What could go wrong

This is an early phase 1 trial with only 115 participants, so it is primarily testing safety and dosing. The combination may cause significant side effects, and it is too soon to know if it will be effective or widely available.

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 neoplasm HER2 positive breast carcinoma non-small cell lung carcinoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • CHU de Poitiers

    Poitiers, 86000, France

  • CHUTimone

    Marseille, 13385, France

  • Cancer Specialists of North Florida (Cbo)

    Jacksonville, Florida, 32256, United States

  • Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders

    Bethesda, Maryland, 20817, United States

  • Centre Hospitalier Intercommunal de Créteil

    Créteil, 94000, France

  • Fox Chase Cancer Center

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19111, United States

  • Hope Cancer Center of East Texas

    Tyler, Texas, 75701, United States

  • Hopital Universitario Insular de Gran Canaria

    Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35016, Spain

  • Hospital General Univ. Gregorio Marañon

    Madrid, 28009, Spain

  • Hospital Teresa Herrera (C.H.U.A.C)

    A Coruña, 15006, Spain

  • Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre

    Madrid, 28041, Spain

  • Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet

    Zaragoza, 50009, Spain

  • Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena

    Seville, 41009, Spain

  • Hospital de la Santa Creu i de Sant Pau

    Barcelona, 08025, Spain

  • Inst. Oncologico Baselga Hospital Quiron

    Barcelona, 08023, Spain

  • Institut Bergonie

    Bordeaux, 33000, France

  • Institut Gustave Roussy

    Villejuif, 94805, France

  • Institut PAOLI-CALMETTES

    Marsielle, 13273, France

  • MD Anderson Cancer Center

    Madrid, 28033, Spain

  • Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

  • Moffit Cancer Center

    Tampa, Florida, 33612, United States

  • Moffitt Cancer Center

    Tampa, Florida, 32256, United States

  • Royal Marsden Hosptial

    Sutton, SM2 5PT, United Kingdom

  • Sarah Cannon Research Institute (SCRI)

    London, W1G 6AD, United Kingdom

  • Siteman Cancer Center-Washington University

    St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States

  • The Christie NHS Fond. Trust

    Manchester, M20 4BX, United Kingdom

  • The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust

    London, SW3 6JJ, United Kingdom

  • Univ. du Cancer de Toulouse

    Toulouse, 31100, France

  • Univ. of Cali. San Francisco Medical Center

    San Francisco, California, 94143, United States

  • Yale Cancer Center

    New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, United States