Combining boserolimab with pembrolizumab and chemotherapy for early triple-negative breast cancer

A Phase 2, Umbrella Study to Evaluate the Safety, Tolerability, and Clinical Activity of Investigational Agents for Newly Diagnosed, High-Risk, Early-Stage Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Phase 2 Interventional Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC · NCT06829199

This study is testing if adding boserolimab to standard treatments like pembrolizumab and chemotherapy can help people with early triple-negative breast cancer respond better before surgery.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment100 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorMerck Sharp & Dohme LLC Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionspembrolizumab, radiation, Doxorubicin, boserolimab, chemotherapy
Locations2 sites (Las Vegas, Nevada and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT06829199 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical study aims to evaluate the safety and tolerability of boserolimab (MK-5890) when combined with standard treatments, pembrolizumab and chemotherapy, in patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The study will assess how well patients respond to this combination before surgery, focusing on the absence of cancer in tissue and lymph nodes post-treatment. It utilizes an umbrella design to explore the clinical activity of investigational agents in high-risk, newly diagnosed TNBC patients.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are individuals with untreated high-risk, early-stage, non-metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.

Not a fit: Patients with metastatic breast cancer or those who have previously received treatment for their breast cancer may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment approach could improve outcomes for patients with early triple-negative breast cancer by enhancing the effectiveness of standard therapies.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in combining immunotherapy with chemotherapy for breast cancer, suggesting potential for success in this approach.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

The main inclusion criteria include but are not limited to the following:

* Has previously untreated high-risk, early-stage, non-metastatic (M0) breast cancer (BC), defined as tumor stage T1c, nodal stage N1-2, or tumor stage T2-4, nodal stage N0-2
* Has provided a core needle biopsy for tissue diagnosis of the current breast cancer less than 29 days prior to the date of informed consent
* Has centrally confirmed diagnosis of BC that is triple-negative based on the American Society of Clinical Oncology/College of American Pathologists guidelines
* Has Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1 performed within 28 days before treatment randomization
* Has left ventricle ejection fraction of ≥50% as assessed by echocardiogram or multigated acquisition scan performed at screening
* Has a history of exposure to anthracycline; participants can be eligible after completion of a Sponsor consultation form, if cumulative lifetime doses are as follows: Doxorubicin \<100 mg/m2, Epirubicin \<180 mg/m2, Mitoxantrone \<40 mg/m2, Idarubicin \<22.5 mg/m2. Note: If another anthracycline or more than one anthracycline has been used, the cumulative dose must not exceed the equivalent of 100 mg/m2 of doxorubicin

Exclusion Criteria:

The main exclusion criteria include but are not limited to the following:

* Has documented Grade ≥2 peripheral neuropathy
* Has uncontrolled or significant cardiovascular disease
* Has received prior therapy with an anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1), anti-programmed cell death-ligand 1 (anti-PD-L1), or anti-PD-L2 agent, or with an agent directed to another stimulatory or coinhibitory T-cell receptor (e.g., cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein-4 \[CTLA-4\], OX-40 \[cluster of differentiation (CD) 134\], or CD137)
* Has received any prior treatment, including radiation, systemic therapy, and/or definitive surgery for currently diagnosed breast cancer
* Has received prior systemic anticancer therapy
* Has undergone excisional biopsy of the primary tumor and/or axillary lymph node dissection prior to study treatment
* Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first dose of study intervention
* Has a known additional malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 5 years
* Has active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years with need for disease modifying agents such as corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs
* Has history of (noninfectious) pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease that required steroids or has current pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease
* Has an active infection requiring systemic therapy
* HIV-infected participants with a history of Kaposi's sarcoma and/or Multicentric Castleman's Disease
* Has severe hypersensitivity (Grade ≥3) to pembrolizumab, any investigational agent or study intervention, any of its excipients, and/or to another biologic therapy
* Has a history of allogeneic tissue/solid organ transplant

Where this trial is running

Las Vegas, Nevada and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Early Triple Negative Breast CancerTriple Negative Breast CancerBreast cancerNeoadjuvantBoserolimabPembrolizumabUmbrella study
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.