Neoadjuvant, SBRT With Intratumoural Pembrolizumab Followed by Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Breast Cancer
BRINK
A Trial of Neoadjuvant, Hypofractionated Radiation, With Intratumoural Pembrolizumab Followed by Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy, in Stage 3 or High-risk Stage 2 Breast Cancer
1 other identifier
interventional
40
1 country
2
Brief Summary
This study will evaluate the immune-priming effects of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) regimen coupled with two injections of pembrolizumab in high-risk primary breast carcinoma prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Preliminary results from the investigators' local TRIO Trial suggest that SBRT prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) may result in improved response rates due to the combined effect of radiation therapy (RT) and chemotherapy. The investigators aim to augment this effect with the addition of pembrolizumab, a monoclonal antibody that binds to and blocks programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1).
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at P25-P50 for phase_2 breast-cancer
Started Jan 2026
2 active sites
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
Click on a node to explore related trials.
Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
May 4, 2023
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
September 23, 2025
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
January 19, 2026
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
July 1, 2027
ExpectedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
February 1, 2029
February 11, 2026
February 1, 2026
1.4 years
May 4, 2023
February 9, 2026
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (1)
Pathological Complete Response
Pathologic complete response rates after neoadjuvant radiotherapy, pembrolizumab and chemotherapy will be evaluated.
Measured at time of surgery, typically 6 months after enrollment in trial.
Secondary Outcomes (4)
Immune priming
Measured 3 to 8 days after last dose of pembrolizumab. Which is Day 20-25, where blood and tissue will be collected.
Breast and skin tissue adverse events to evaluate toxicity of treatment
Baseline, 3 weeks post-op, 6 months post-op, 1 year post-op
Treatment related adverse event
Measured at up to surgery, typically 6 months after enrolment in trial.
Local Recurrence Rates
Disease status will be evaluated at routine patient follow-up appointments, including yearly mammography. Will be recorded at Year 1, Year 2, Year 3, Year 4, Year 5
Study Arms (1)
SBRT with Pembrolizumab
EXPERIMENTALStereotactic body radiation therapy delivered to the main breast tumour with 2 injections of pembrolizumab (Keytruda), completed prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Interventions
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Invasive ductal carcinoma of any subtype (including invasive mammary carcinoma with lobular features), excluding sarcomatous, signet or metaplastic subtypes.
- Invasive mammary carcinoma of stages IIB - III (excluding inflammatory breast cancer). Stage IIA is eligible for triple negative and HER2+ breast cancers.
- a. Clinical staging based on AJCC 8th edition.
- Lesion palpable by treating physician.
- Plan to be treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
- Able to tolerate core needle biopsies and pembrolizumab injection.
- years of age or older.
- Able to provide informed consent.
You may not qualify if:
- Any serious medical comorbidities or other contraindications to radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or surgery (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes, serious heart condition, etc).
- Prior treatment for current breast cancer.
- Previous radiation therapy to the same breast.
- Inflammatory breast carcinoma.
- Invasive mammary carcinoma with sarcomatous, signet cell or metaplastic subtypes.
- Recurrent breast cancer.
- Clinical or radiologic evidence or suspicion of distant metastatic disease (metastatic workup that requires additional imaging to follow-up on suspicious findings will exclude patients).
- Any collagen vascular disease precluding radiotherapy at the discretion of the treating radiation oncologist (particularly lupus, scleroderma, dermatomyositis, psoriatic arthritis).
- No prior stem cell transplantation.
- Any poorly controlled autoimmune conditions.
- Current use of corticosteroids or immunosuppressants.
- Any other malignancy at any site (except non-melanomatous skin cancer) \<5 years prior to study enrollment. Synchronous bilateral breast cancers are acceptable.
- Inability to tolerate core needle biopsies or pembrolizumab injection.
- Pregnant or lactating.
- Under 18 years of age.
- +2 more criteria
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (2)
St. Joseph's Health Care London
London, Ontario, N6A 4V2, Canada
St. Joseph's Health Care London
London, Ontario, Canada
Related Publications (38)
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PMID: 20446066BACKGROUND
MeSH Terms
Conditions
Interventions
Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Central Study Contacts
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- phase 2
- Allocation
- NA
- Masking
- NONE
- Purpose
- TREATMENT
- Intervention Model
- SINGLE GROUP
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
- PI Title
- Chair/Chief of General Surgery, General Surgeon, Surgical Oncologist
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
May 4, 2023
First Posted
September 23, 2025
Study Start
January 19, 2026
Primary Completion (Estimated)
July 1, 2027
Study Completion (Estimated)
February 1, 2029
Last Updated
February 11, 2026
Record last verified: 2026-02
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share