Introduction
TNBC, mTNBC, breast cancers, tumor
TRIPLE-NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER, TUMOR, BREAST CANCER, CHEMOTHERAPY EFFECTS, SOLID TUMORS
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for 10–15% of all breast cancers and is characterized by lack of estrogen receptor (ER), progression receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpression. TNBC is molecularly heterogeneous, and metastatic TNBC (mTNBC) carries poor prognosis due to the overall lack of effective targeted therapy [Pembrolizumab, a monoclonal anti-PD-1 antibody, is approved for the treatment of multiple solid tumors [Multiple preclinical studies have demonstrated an immune potentiating effect of anthracycline [We hypothesized that the combination of pembrolizumab and doxorubicin is synergistic in facilitating both cellular immune response and chemotherapy effects in treatment of mTNBC. The current trial, although small, was designed to test the safety and efficacy of the combination of pembrolizumab and doxorubicin in anthracycline-naïve patients with mTNBC. In addition to the safety and efficacy data, we also report tumor immune biomarkers and peripheral blood immune subset composition including dynamic changes over time that should be validated in larger studies.