Finding the best radiotherapy dose to use with immunotherapy for early-stage triple-negative breast cancer

Defining Optimal Radiotherapy Dose and Fractionation in Combination with Preoperative Immuno-Chemotherapy in Early-Stage Triple Negative Breast Cancer

NIH-funded research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11057010

This study is looking for the best amount of radiation therapy to use alongside immunotherapy and chemotherapy for people with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer, to help improve their treatment results.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chapel Hill, United States)
Project IDNIH-11057010 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research aims to improve treatment outcomes for patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) by determining the optimal dose of radiotherapy to combine with preoperative immunotherapy and chemotherapy. The study builds on previous findings that showed the addition of pembrolizumab, an immune checkpoint inhibitor, to standard chemotherapy improves patient responses. However, a significant number of patients do not respond to this treatment, highlighting the need for new strategies. By expanding an ongoing clinical trial, the research will test various doses of radiotherapy to find the most effective combination for enhancing patient outcomes.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with lymph node positive, early-stage triple-negative breast cancer who are undergoing preoperative treatment.

Not a fit: Patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer who are not lymph node positive or those who are not eligible for preoperative therapy may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatment responses and survival rates for patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Previous pilot studies have shown promising results when combining radiotherapy with immunotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer, indicating potential for success in this approach.

Where this research is happening

Chapel Hill, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.