Pembrolizumab in addition to chemotherapy for locally recurrent, inoperable or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer - first line

Pembrolizumab, in addition to chemotherapy, is in clinical development for adults with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) that is locally recurrent, inoperable or metastatic. TNBC is an uncommon type of breast cancer whose cells do not have receptors for the hormones oestrogen and progesterone or HER2 protein. This means that many cancer treatments do not work for people with TNBC. Patients with TNBC have worse clinical outcomes and a unique pattern of recurrence compared with the other major subtypes of breast cancer. Patients with TNBC have been shown to have the highest rate of recurrence within the first 5 years after diagnosis.
Pembrolizumab is a drug administered by intravenous infusion which stimulates the body’s own immune system to fight cancer cells. If licensed, pembrolizumab in addition to chemotherapy could provide an alternative first line treatment option to patients who currently have limited treatment options for locally recurrent or metastatic TNBC not previously treated with chemotherapy.