Video

Dr. Nanda On Pembrolizumab Potential for TNBC

Author(s):

Rita Nanda, MD, assistant professor of medicine and associate director of the Breast Medical Oncology Program at the University of Chicago, discusses the potential of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). A recent small-scale trial showed treatment response for 18.5% of patients with PD-L1 positive TNBC.

Rita Nanda, MD, assistant professor of medicine and associate director of the Breast Medical Oncology Program at the University of Chicago, discusses the potential of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). A recent small-scale trial showed treatment response for 18.5% of patients with PD-L1 positive TNBC.

The drug was well tolerated, and while 56% experienced some side effects, the vast majority of these side effects were very mild, easily managed, and did not result in treatment discontinuation, says Nanda.

A total of 32 women enrolled in the trial and 27 had evaluable disease. Of those 27 patients, five responded to the treatment, including one complete response and four partial responses.

The patients in the study were very heavily pretreated. Over half of them had three or more lines of chemotherapy prior to entering the study.

While this is a small, preliminary study, Nanda says the results are exciting and suggest a promising option for a subset of women with TNBC. Moving forward, research should focus on identifying the patients who will best respond to this therapy.

<<<

View more from the 2014 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium

Related Videos
Sheldon M. Feldman, MD
In this episode of OncChats: Empowering Community Cancer Care, Dr. Rai emphasizes the importance of community outreach and support for patients with cancer, highlighting the need for holistic care that addresses both physiological and psychological aspects of treatment while reinforcing the value of strong relationships between primary care physicians and specialists.
In this episode of OncChats: Empowering Community Cancer Care, Dr. Woodworth sheds light on the “Road to Recovery” survivorship program at Henry Mayo, which supports cancer survivors by providing them with fitness, education, and mental health resources, and underscores the importance of mentorship programs for community providers to ensure equitable cancer care.
In this episode of OncChats: Empowering Community Cancer Care, Drs Woodworth and Rai, discuss their collaborative approach to cancer screening, emphasizing the importance of community efforts and individual assessments in integrating genetic testing and screenings into routine practice.
In this episode of OncChats: Empowering Community Cancer Care, experts discuss the significance of community-based cancer care, emphasizing that most cancers are diagnosed locally and highlighting the importance of collaboration between primary care physicians and specialists to provide optimal education and treatment.
Sunil Adige, MD
Margaret E. Gatti-Mays, MD, MPH, FACP
Sunil Adige, MD
Seth Wander, MD, PhD