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Updated June 2026 · ClinicalTrials.gov

RECRUITINGPhase 2INTERVENTIONAL

Pembrolizumab and Chemotherapy Treatment or no Treatment Guided by the Level of TILs in Resected Early-stage TNBC

Adjuvant Pembrolizumab and Chemotherapy or Surveillance in Early Triple Negative breAst Cancer With High Stromal Tumor-infiltrating Lymphocytes (TILs) Score

Pembrolizumab and Chemotherapy Treatment or no Treatment Guided by the Level of TILs in Resected Early-stage TNBC (NCT06078384) is a Phase 2 interventional studying Triple-negative Breast Cancer, sponsored by UNICANCER. RECRUITING as of the most recent ClinicalTrials.gov update. Talk to your doctor before contacting the trial site.

Important: This information is not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

About This Trial

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a group of tumors that occurs mainly in young, premenopausal women and accounts for 10-20% of breast cancers. Over the past decade, the incidence of women diagnosed with early-stage TNBC has significantly increased due to the widespread use of screening mammography. Treatment of patients with localized TNBC mainly involves surgery and (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy. However, the benefit of chemotherapy may be controversial in patients with early-stage TNBC defined by small size and absence of lymph node involvement, and with significant tumor lymphocyte infiltration. The ETNA study is a phase II trial designed to evaluate a chemotherapy de-escalation strategy in patients with TNBC T1b/c N0M0 and stromal TILs (sTILs) ≥ 30%. ETNA comprises two cohorts defined according to the level of TILs and the age of patients. Patients aged \> 40 years with 30% ≤ sTILs \< 50% and those aged ≤ 40 years with 30% ≤ sTILs \< 75% will be included in the cohort 1 and will receive adjuvant pembrolizumab 200 mg every three weeks for 9 cycles and Paclitaxel 80 mg/m² weekly for 12 cycles. Patients aged \> 40 years with sTILs ≥ 50% and those aged ≤ 40 years with sTILs ≥ 75% will be included in cohort 2 and will not receive adjuvant treatment, they will undergo standard surveillance every six months.

What Stage of Research Is This?

Phase 2 trials evaluate whether a treatment actually works against Triple-negative Breast Cancer and continue monitoring side effects. Phase 2 enrolls larger groups (typically 100–300 patients) and produces the first real efficacy signal. A successful Phase 2 readout is what unlocks the much larger Phase 3 confirmatory trials needed for FDA approval.

This trial is currently recruiting participants. The sponsor has registered the study with ClinicalTrials.gov as actively enrolling, which means new applicants who meet the eligibility criteria can be considered for screening. Trial status can change between updates — confirm current recruiting status with the study contact before traveling for a screening visit.

A target enrollment of 354 participants makes this a sizable late-stage trial. Studies in this range typically have enough power to detect clinically meaningful differences from a comparator and to characterize less-common side effects.

Who May Be Eligible (Plain English)

Who May Qualify: 1. Understand, sign, and date the written willing to sign a consent form form prior to any protocol- specific procedures performed, 2. Men and women aged ≥ 18 years, 3. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1, 4. diagnosed by tissue sample (biopsy-confirmed) and radically removed pT1b/c N0M0 TNBC as defined according to AJCC TNM stage-8th version, - Histologically documented TNBC (negative HER2, ER, and PgR status). HER2 negativity is defined by local laboratory assessment using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry assays as per ASCO/CAP criteria and ER/PgR negativity is defined by local laboratory assessment \< 10% using immunohistochemistry assays, - Bilateral and/or multifocal primary tumor is allowed and the tumor with the most advanced T stage should be used to asses for eligibility. If multifocal tumor, a pathologic confirmation of TNBC is required for each focus, 5. Adequately excised breast cancer: subjects must have undergone either breast- conserving surgery or mastectomy/nipple- or skin-sparing mastectomy. - For subjects who undergo breast-conserving surgery, the margins of the resected specimen must be histologically free of invasive tumor and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) as determined by the local pathologist. Reresections to ensure no ink on tumor margins are allowed. Subjects with margins positive for lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) are eligible without additional resection. - For subjects who undergo mastectomy/nipple- or skin-sparing mastectomy, margins must be free of gross residual tumor. It is recommended that subjects should have a negative microscopic margin in accordance with local pathology protocol, 6. Have had sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and/or axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for evaluation of pathologic nodal status. ...See full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov Always talk to your doctor about whether this trial is right for you.

These are translations of the protocol\'s inclusion and exclusion criteria, simplified for patients and caregivers. The original clinical text appears below. Eligibility is ultimately confirmed by the trial site\'s screening process — this summary is a starting point for a conversation with your doctor, not a final determination.

Original Eligibility Criteria

View original clinical language
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Understand, sign, and date the written informed consent form prior to any protocol- specific procedures performed, 2. Men and women aged ≥ 18 years, 3. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1, 4. Histologically confirmed and radically removed pT1b/c N0M0 TNBC as defined according to AJCC TNM stage-8th version, * Histologically documented TNBC (negative HER2, ER, and PgR status). HER2 negativity is defined by local laboratory assessment using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry assays as per ASCO/CAP criteria and ER/PgR negativity is defined by local laboratory assessment \< 10% using immunohistochemistry assays, * Bilateral and/or multifocal primary tumor is allowed and the tumor with the most advanced T stage should be used to asses for eligibility. If multifocal tumor, a pathologic confirmation of TNBC is required for each focus, 5. Adequately excised breast cancer: subjects must have undergone either breast- conserving surgery or mastectomy/nipple- or skin-sparing mastectomy. * For subjects who undergo breast-conserving surgery, the margins of the resected specimen must be histologically free of invasive tumor and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) as determined by the local pathologist. Reresections to ensure no ink on tumor margins are allowed. Subjects with margins positive for lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) are eligible without additional resection. * For subjects who undergo mastectomy/nipple- or skin-sparing mastectomy, margins must be free of gross residual tumor. It is recommended that subjects should have a negative microscopic margin in accordance with local pathology protocol, 6. Have had sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and/or axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) for evaluation of pathologic nodal status. Axillary nodal dissection(s) should yield a total of at least six nodes (including the axillary lymph nodes resected at the SLNB plus the lymph nodes collected at the axillary nodal dissection), 7. At least 4 weeks but no more than 12 weeks between definitive breast surgery (or the last surgery with curative intent if additional resection is required for breast cancer) and treatment initiation for cohort 1 and no more than 12 weeks for cohort 2, 8. Centrally assessed TILs score from surgical formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tumor sample, using an H\&E stained diagnostic digital slide, according to the most recent International TILs Working Group guidelines, * Cohort 1 will include patients aged \> 40 years with 30% ≤ sTILs \< 50% and those aged * 40 years with 30% ≤ sTILs \< 75% * Cohort 2 will include patients aged \> 40 years with sTILs ≥ 50% and those aged ≤ 40 years with sTILs ≥ 75% 9. Women of childbearing potential have a negative serum pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to receiving the first dose of study medication for cohort 1 and within 7 days of inclusion for cohort 2, 10. Women of childbearing potential must agree to use protocol-specified method(s) of contraception for 3 years after patient inclusion. Men subjects who engage in heterosexual intercourse must agree to use protocol-specified method(s) of contraception during trial treatments and for at least 6 months after the last dose of trial treatments. Females of childbearing potential are those who have not been surgically sterilized or have not been free from menses for \> 1 year, 11. Patients affiliated to the social security system (or equivalent)- France only, 12. Patient is willing and able to comply with the protocol for the duration of the trial including undergoing treatment and scheduled visits, and examinations including follow-up. Additional inclusion criteria for subjects of cohort 1: 13. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≥ 50% as assessed by echocardiogram or cardiac scintigraphy, 14. Demonstrate adequate organ function within 7 days of inclusion * Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) ≥ 1,500 /µL * Platelets ≥ 100,000 /µL * Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL * Creatinine clearance ≥ 30 mL/min for subject with creatinine levels \> 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) * Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN or direct bilirubin ≤ ULN for subjects with total bilirubin levels \> 1.5 ULN * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 2.5 x ULN * Albumin ≥ 3.0 g/dL * Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) \< 2.5 X ULN * International normalized ratio/partial thromboplastin time (INR/PTT) ≤ 1.5 x ULN (unless subject is receiving anticoagulant therapy as long as prothrombin time (PT) or PTT is within therapeutic range of intended use of anticoagulants) * Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), free T4 (FT4), and free T3 (FT3) within normal ranges * Cortisol at 8 AM within normal ranges * Lipase and amylase \< 3 ULN * Fasting plasma glucose ≤ 120 mg/dl or 6.7 mmol/L * Troponin within normal range Exclusion Criteria: 1. History of invasive malignancy ≤ 3 years prior to signing informed consent except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, 2. Having received prior chemotherapy or targeted therapy within the past 12 months, 3. Has a prior history of DCIS and/or LCIS that was treated with any form of systemic, hormonal therapy, or radiotherapy to the ipsilateral breast; subjects who had their DCIS/LCIS treated only with surgery and/or contralateral DCIS treated with radiotherapy are allowed to enter the study, 4. Having received prior therapy with an anti-PD-1, anti-PD-L1, or anti-PD-L2 agents or with an agent directed to another co-inhibitory T-cell receptor (e.g., CTLA-4, OX-40, CD137), 5. Treatment with systemic immunostimulatory agents (including, but not limited to, interferons, interleukin-2) within 4 weeks or 5 half-lives of the drug, whichever is longer, prior to inclusion, 6. Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy (in dosing exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive medications (including prednisone, cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, methotrexate, thalidomide, and anti-tumor necrosis factor \[anti-TNF\] alpha agents) within 7 days prior to inclusion: * Subjects who have received acute, low-dose, systemic immunosuppressant medications (e.g., a one-time dose of dexamethasone for nausea) may be enrolled in the study * The use of inhaled corticosteroids and mineralocorticoids is allowed, 7. Has an active autoimmune disease that has required systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e., with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency) is not considered a form of systemic treatment; subjects with eczema, psoriasis, lichen simplex chronicus, or vitiligo with dermatologic manifestations only are eligible if: * Rash must covers \<10% of body surface area. * Disease is well controlled at baseline and requires only low-potency topical Corticosteroids and no acute exacerbations requiring psoralen plus ultraviolet A radiation, methotrexate, retinoids, biologic agents, oral calcineurin inhibitors, or oral corticosteroids occurred within the previous 12 months, 8. Has a known history of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), 9. Prior allogeneic stem cell or solid organ transplant, 10. Has a known history of active Bacillus Tuberculosis, 11. Patients with any other disease or illness which requires hospitalisation or is incompatible with the trial treatment are not eligible, 12. Pregnant women or breastfeeding or expecting to conceive within the projected duration of the study, from the inclusion visit until the end of the 3 years follow up. Men subjects who engage in heterosexual intercourse and refuse to use protocol-specified method(s) of contraception during trial treatments and for at least 6 months after the last dose of trial treatments, 13. Patients unable to comply with trial obligations for geographic, social, or physical reasons, or who are unable to understand the purpose and procedures of the trial, 14. Person deprived of their liberty or under protective custody or guardianship, 15. Has known psychiatric or substance abuse disorders that would interfere with cooperation with the requirements of the trial. Additional non-inclusion criteria for subjects of cohort 1: 16. Has cardiac dysfunction as defined by any of the following prior to inclusion: * History of NCI-CTCAE v5.0 Grade \> 3 symptomatic congestive heart failure or New York Heart Association (NYHA) criteria Class II, * Angina pectoris requiring anti-anginal medication, serious cardiac arrhythmia not controlled by adequate medication, severe conduction abnormality, or clinically significant valvular disease, * Significant symptoms (≥ Grade 2) relating to left ventricular dysfunction or cardiac ischemia, 17. Has a known hypersensitivity (≥ Grade 3) to the components of the study therapy or its analogs, 18. Has received a live vaccine or live-attenuated vaccine within 30 days of the first dose of study treatment, 19. Concurrent active Hepatitis B virus (HBV; defined as HBsAg positive and/or detectable HBV DNA) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV; defined as anti-HCV Ab positive and detectable HCV RNA) infection, 20. Severe infections within 4 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment, including, hospitalization for complications of infection, bacteremia, or severe pneumonia, 21. Treatment with therapeutic oral or IV antibiotics within 2 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment; subjects receiving prophylactic antibiotics (e.g., for prevention of a urinary tract infection) are eligible, 22. Major surgical procedure other than for diagnosis within 4 weeks prior to initiation of study treatment or anticipation of need for a major surgical procedure during study treatment, 23. Has a history of (non-infectious) pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease that required steroids or has a current pneumonitis/interstitial lung disease, 24. Is currently participating in or has participated in an interventional clinical trial with an investigational compound or device within 4 weeks of the first dose of treatment in this current trial.

Treatments Being Tested

DRUG

Pembrolizumab 25 mg/ml

Pembrolizumab drug product is a sterile-filtered liquid and is aseptically filled into single-use vials. The vials contain 4 mL of sterile solution for IV infusion.

DRUG

Paclitaxel injection

Injectable solution for IV administration. Dose of 80 mg/m² weekly.

Locations (20)

Trial sites listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for this study. Site activation status can vary — confirm with the specific site before traveling for a screening visit.

CHU Amiens Picardie_Site Sud
Amiens, France
Institut Sainte Catherine
Avignon, France
Centre Hospitalier de la Côte Basque
Bayonne, France
Institut Bergonié
Bordeaux, France
Polyclinique Bordeaux Nord Aquitaine
Bordeaux, France
Centre François Baclesse
Caen, France
Pôle Santé Republique
Clermont-Ferrand, France
Centre Jean Perrin
Clermont-Ferrand, France
Centre Georges-François Leclerc
Dijon, France
Hôpital Franco-Britannique-Fondation Cognacq-Jay
Levallois-Perret, France
CHU de Limoges
Limoges, France
Centre Léon Bérard
Lyon, France
Hopital Privé Jean Mermoz
Lyon, France
Institut Paoli-Calmettes
Marseille, France
Institut régional du Cancer de Montpellier
Montpellier, France
Hôpital privé du confluent
Nantes, France
Centre Antoine Lacassagne
Nice, France
CHU de Nîmes
Nîmes, France
Centre Hospitalier de Pau
Pau, France
Hôpital Privé des côtes d'Armor
Plérin, France

How to Talk to Your Doctor About This Trial

Bring the printable summary of this trial — including the NCT ID (NCT06078384), the sponsor (UNICANCER), and the key eligibility criteria — to your next appointment. Your doctor can review the inclusion and exclusion criteria against your medical history, lab values, and current treatments to assess whether you are likely to qualify. They can also help you weigh whether trial participation makes sense alongside your existing care plan.

Useful questions to walk through together: What does the trial protocol require beyond standard care? How long is the active treatment phase, and how long is follow-up? Are there study visits at sites I can reach? Who pays for the trial-specific procedures, and who pays for standard-of-care portions? See our 25 questions to ask about clinical trials guide for a more complete checklist.

Authoritative Sources

The official record for this trial lives on ClinicalTrials.gov — the federal registry maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. For background on how this trial fits into the FDA approval pathway, see the FDA drug approval process. For oncology-specific guidance for patients considering trials, the National Cancer Institute publishes patient-oriented overviews. International trial registries are aggregated by the WHO ICTRP.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the NCT06078384 clinical trial studying?

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a group of tumors that occurs mainly in young, premenopausal women and accounts for 10-20% of breast cancers. Over the past decade, the incidence of women diagnosed with early-stage TNBC has significantly increased due to the widespread use of screening mammography. Treatment of patients with localized TNBC mainly involves surgery and (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy. However, the benefit of chemotherapy may be controversial in patients with early-stage TNBC defined by small size and absence of lymph node involvement, and with sign… The full protocol is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and includes the primary outcome measures, eligibility criteria, and study endpoints.

Who can participate in NCT06078384?

Eligibility for this trial depends on the specific inclusion and exclusion criteria set by the sponsor. The plain-English summary above translates the most important criteria into accessible language; the official clinical text is preserved in the collapsible section underneath. Whether you fit any specific trial is a medical decision your doctor needs to confirm — bring the trial information to your treating physician for a full review against your medical history.

How do I contact the trial site for NCT06078384?

Contact information registered with ClinicalTrials.gov is shown in the sidebar of this page. Before reaching out, confirm with your treating physician that this trial is appropriate for your situation. The trial site will then walk you through the screening process to determine final eligibility.

Is participating in a clinical trial safe?

Clinical trials in the United States are regulated by the FDA and overseen by Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) that review the protocol for safety. Risk varies by trial — Phase 1 studies test new treatments in humans for the first time, while Phase 3 trials use treatments that have already passed earlier safety screening. The informed consent document for any specific trial details the known risks and what to expect. Discuss those risks with your physician before deciding whether to participate.

Where can I verify the data on this page?

Every detail on this page comes directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API. Click "View on ClinicalTrials.gov" in the sidebar to see the official, unmodified record. The federal record is always authoritative; this page is a structured presentation with a plain-English eligibility translation. For background on how clinical trials are regulated, see the FDA drug approval process documentation.

How This Page Is Built

Every field on this page is pulled directly from the ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 — no estimates, no proxies. The plain-English eligibility translation is generated from the original protocol text and reviewed for fidelity to the underlying clinical criteria. The original clinical text remains visible in the collapsible section above so users and clinicians can verify the translation. Read the full methodology for the data pipeline and known limitations.

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2 record for NCT06078384. Maintained by the National Library of Medicine at NIH. Public domain. Cite as: "TrialFinderData. NCT06078384. Data: ClinicalTrials.gov."

Medical disclaimer: This page is informational, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor about whether a clinical trial is right for you.

Last updated 2026-06-07 · Data from ClinicalTrials.gov.