Pembrolizumab combo flops in pretreated HR-positive, ERBB2-negative breast cancer

Key clinical point: Pembrolizumab plus eribulin did not outperform eribulin alone among patients with heavily pretreated, HR-positive, ERBB2-negative metastatic breast cancer.

Major finding: After a median of 10.5 months of follow-up, combination therapy did not improve PFS or OS in the intention-to-treat population or in the subgroup of PD-L1 positive patients.

Study details: Multicenter randomized trial of 88 patients with HR-positive, ERBB2-negative metastatic breast cancer who had received >2 lines of hormonal therapy and 0-2 lines of chemotherapy.

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Disclosures: Merck & Co providing study funding and pembrolizumab. Eisai provided eribulin. Several investigators disclosed ties to Merck, Eisai, and other pharmaceutical companies.

Citation: Tolaney SM et al. Jama Oncol. 2020 Sep 3. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2020.3524