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Comparing pembrolizumab to observation for early-stage triple-negative breast cancer after chemotherapy

OptimICE-PCR: De-Escalation of Therapy in Early-Stage TNBC Patients Who Achieve pCR After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy With Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy

Phase 3 Interventional Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology · NCT05812807

This study tests whether a drug called pembrolizumab can help prevent the return of early-stage triple-negative breast cancer after chemotherapy, compared to just keeping an eye on patients without extra treatment.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 3
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment1295 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorAlliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology Academic / other
Drugs / interventionspembrolizumab, chemotherapy, radiation, prednisone, Immunotherapy
Locations836 sites (Birmingham, Alabama and 835 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05812807 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This phase III trial investigates the effectiveness of pembrolizumab compared to observation in patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer who have achieved a pathologic complete response after preoperative chemotherapy. The study aims to determine if observation can provide similar recurrence-free survival rates as pembrolizumab, while also assessing quality of life and the social value of reducing adjuvant immunotherapy. Participants will be randomized to receive either pembrolizumab or be monitored without additional treatment, with various outcomes measured over time.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer who have no residual invasive disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Not a fit: Patients with residual invasive disease or those with hormone receptor-positive or HER2-positive breast cancer may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide a less intensive treatment option for patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer, potentially reducing unnecessary exposure to immunotherapy.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise in using immunotherapy for breast cancer, but this specific comparison of observation versus pembrolizumab in this context is novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

* Age \>= 18 years
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status 0-2
* Triple Negative Breast Cancer:

  * Patients with a history of stage T1cN1-2 or T2-4N0-2 breast cancer according to the primary tumor-regional lymph node anatomic staging criteria of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), 8th edition as determined by the investigator in radiologic assessment, clinical assessment or both
  * Patients must have no residual invasive disease in the breast or lymph nodes after the completion of neoadjuvant therapy. Residual ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is allowed. Isolated tumor cells are considered node-negative
  * Estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) =\< 10%; HER2-negative by American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)/College of American Pathologists (CAP) guidelines (immunohistochemistry \[IHC\] and fluorescence in situ hybridization \[FISH\])
  * If invasive disease was present in both breasts, participation in the study is permitted as long as the eligibility criteria are met for both tumors/breasts
* Patients must have received neoadjuvant chemotherapy in combination with pembrolizumab for a minimum of 6 cycles. All systemic chemotherapy and ICI therapy should have been completed preoperatively
* An interval of no more than 12 weeks between the completion date of the final surgery and the date of randomization

  \* Note: Adjuvant radiation can be given on study. If given, it is encouraged to be given concurrently with pembrolizumab, per investigator discretion. Treatment with adjuvant pembrolizumab is strongly discouraged prior to participation in this trial, but if administered (e.g., if patients are awaiting pathology results), pembrolizumab may be administered for up to 6 weeks post-surgery and must be completed prior to registration
* Use of investigational anti-cancer agents must be discontinued at time of registration
* Adequate excision: Surgical removal of all clinically evident disease in the breast and lymph nodes as follows:

  * Breast surgery: Total mastectomy or breast-conserving surgery with histologically negative margins, including no ink on tumor for DCIS, at the time of excision

    \*\* For patients who undergo breast-conserving surgery, the margins of the resected specimen must be histologically free of ductal carcinoma in-situ (DCIS) as determined by the local pathologist. If pathologic examination demonstrates DCIS at the line of resection, additional operative procedures may be performed to obtain clear margins. If DCIS is still present at the resected margin after re-excision(s), the patient must undergo total mastectomy to be eligible. Patients with margins positive for classic lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) are eligible without additional resection
  * Lymph node surgery:

    * For a patient with clinically N0 disease, a sentinel lymph node biopsy should have been performed at time of surgical evaluation, and if pathologically node positive, the patient is no longer eligible. Isolated tumor cells are considered node-negative
    * For a patient with clinically N1 disease at diagnosis (with positive results from a fine-needle aspiration, core biopsy, or sentinel node biopsy performed prior to preoperative therapy) additional surgical evaluation of the axilla following preoperative therapy is required

      \*\*\* If they become cN0 (no palpable adenopathy), then a sentinel lymph node biopsy could have been performed at time of surgery (axillary dissection would also be permitted); if the sentinel lymph node biopsy is positive, the patient is no longer eligible
    * If sentinel node biopsy performed before preoperative therapy was negative, no additional surgical evaluation of the axilla is required after preoperative therapy. If sentinel node biopsy performed before preoperative therapy was positive, an ALND is required after preoperative therapy
    * If the only sentinel node identified by isotope scan is in the internal mammary chain, surgical evaluation of the axilla is still required
    * If sentinel node evaluation after preoperative therapy is negative, no further additional surgical evaluation of the axilla is required
    * Axillary dissection without sentinel node evaluation is permitted as the initial or sole axillary evaluation after preoperative therapy
* If breast-conserving surgery was performed but patient will not be receiving breast radiation, the patient is not eligible
* Not pregnant and not nursing, because this study involves an agent whose genotoxic, mutagenic and teratogenic effects on the developing fetus and newborn are unknown. Therefore, for women of childbearing potential only, a negative serum or urine pregnancy test done =\< 7 days prior to randomization is required
* Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1,000/mm\^3
* Platelet Count \>= 100,000/mm\^3
* Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \>= 15 mL/min/1.73m\^2
* Total Bilirubin =\<1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN)

  \* Patients with Gilbert's disease with a total bilirubin =\< 2.5 x ULN and direct bilirubin within normal limits are permitted
* Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) serum aspartate aminotransferase \[SGOT\] / alanine aminotransferase (ALT) serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase \[SGPT\] =\< 3 x institutional ULN
* Patients must be willing to provide tumor tissue from the diagnostic core biopsy. If inadequate tumor tissue is available, patients are still eligible to participate in the trial
* Patients with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen are eligible for this trial
* Patients with known history or current symptoms of cardiac disease, or history of treatment with cardiotoxic agents, should have a clinical risk assessment of cardiac function using the New York Heart Association Functional Classification. To be eligible for this trial, patients should be class 2B or better
* Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months prior to registration are eligible for this trial

Exclusion Criteria:

* No stage IV (metastatic) breast cancer
* No history of any prior (ipsi- or contralateral) invasive breast cancer. Prior DCIS is allowed
* No evidence of recurrent disease following preoperative therapy and surgery
* No known active liver disease, e.g. due to hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), autoimmune hepatic disorders, or sclerosing cholangitis
* No history of intolerance, including Grade 3 or 4 infusion reaction or hypersensitivity to pembrolizumab or murine proteins or any components of the product

  \* Note: Prior immune-related adverse events (irAEs) are allowed if they resolved and the patient tolerated subsequent therapy without requiring chronic steroids for the irAE
* No medical conditions that require chronic systemic steroids (\>10 mg prednisone daily or equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive medications and has required such therapy in the last two years. Replacement therapy (e.g. thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic therapy
* Patients who are unable or unwilling to comply with the requirements of the protocol per investigator assessment are not eligible

Where this trial is running

Birmingham, Alabama and 835 other locations

+786 more sites — see ClinicalTrials.gov for the full list.

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.
View on ClinicalTrials.gov → Find more trials like this →
Conditions Anatomic Stage I Breast Cancer AJCC v8Anatomic Stage II Breast Cancer AJCC v8Anatomic Stage III Breast Cancer AJCC v8Early Stage Triple-Negative Breast Carcinoma
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.