Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41711493›Full record

ArticleActa oncologica (Stockholm, Sweden)2026

Real-world outcome of neoadjuvant therapy with or without pembrolizumab for triple-negative breast cancer.

Meeri Maunu, Juho Lähteenmaa, Peeter Karihtala, Suvi Tuohinen, Joonas Laaksolilja, Anders Ståhls, Tuomo Meretoja, Johanna Mattson

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Acta oncologica (Stockholm, Sweden), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Meeri MaunuUniversity of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.ORCID 0009-0002-3424-3636
Juho LähteenmaaDepartment of Helsinki University Hospital IT Management, AI and Data Analytics, Helsinki, Finland.ORCID 0000-0001-8890-6568
Peeter KarihtalaComprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.ORCID 0000-0003-3490-3702
Suvi TuohinenHelsinki University Hospital, Heart and Lung Center, and University of Helsinki, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-8535-2878
Joonas LaaksoliljaDepartment of Helsinki University Hospital IT Management, AI and Data Analytics, Helsinki, Finland.ORCID 0009-0007-9847-8377
Anders StåhlsHelsinki University Hospital, Diagnostic Center, Helsinki, Finland.
Tuomo MeretojaDivision of Breast Surgery, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital, and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.ORCID 0000-0002-2691-0710
Johanna MattsonComprehensive Cancer Center, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. johanna.mattson@hus.fi.ORCID 0000-0002-9719-9110

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

background and purposeNeoadjuvant therapy (NAT) has become standard therapy for early triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The aim of this study was to report real-world outcome of TNBC treated with NAT with or without pembrolizumab and to identify predictive factors for achieving pathologic complete response (pCR) in the pembrolizumab cohort. Patient/material and methods: The data of 75 consecutive TNBC patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy and pembrolizumab at the Helsinki University Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center were retrospectively collected. Treatment outcome and predictive factors for pCR were analyzed. Additionally, the outcome of nonmatched 102 consecutive TNBC patients treated without pembrolizumab during the preceding years is reported.

resultsForty-two patients (56.0%) achieved pCR to pembrolizumab-based NAT, while 47 patients (46.1%) without pembrolizumab had pCR. Lymph node metastasis (p = 0.011) and multifocality (p < 0.001) were inversely associated with pCR in the pembrolizumab cohort. Thirty-four patients (45.3%) had immune-related adverse events (irAEs), and 11 patients (14.7%) had grade 1-2 myocarditis in the pembrolizumab cohort. Due to adverse events (AEs), pembrolizumab was discontinued in 22 patients (29.3%) in the neoadjuvant setting, not started postoperatively in 21 patients (28%) and discontinued postoperatively in eight patients (10.7%). The number of preoperative pembrolizumab cycles was not associated with pCR.

interpretationDespite higher incidence of myocarditis and interruption of the systemic therapy due to irAEs, higher pCR rates were seen with pembrolizumab. Even though the number of  preoperative pembrolizumab cycles was not associated with pCR monitoring and limiting AEs is important.

Indexed as

Antibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedNeoadjuvant TherapyTriple Negative Breast NeoplasmsAdultAgedAntineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsChemotherapy, AdjuvantFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansImmune Checkpoint InhibitorsLymphatic MetastasisMastectomyMiddle AgedMyocarditisNeoplasm StagingAntibodies, Monoclonal, HumanizedImmune Checkpoint Inhibitorspembrolizumab

Identifiers

PMID41711493
PMCPMC12931073

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.