pembrolizumab + paclitaxel

Pembrolizumab + paclitaxel is a combination regimen of two anticancer drugs used primarily in the treatment of various solid tumors, including breast cancer, small-cell lung cancer, and other malignancies. Pembrolizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets the programmed death 1 (PD-1) receptor on T cells, blocking its interaction with PD-L1 and PD-L2 ligands. This releases the inhibition on immune responses against tumor cells, making it an immune checkpoint inhibitor classified as immunotherapy. Paclitaxel is a microtubule-stabilizing agent that inhibits cell division by promoting tubulin polymerization and preventing microtubule disassembly; it acts as a cytotoxic chemotherapeutic agent. The combination leverages both direct cytotoxic effects from chemotherapy and enhanced antitumor immunity from checkpoint blockade[3][8][10].

Brand names

Keytruda (for pembrolizumab)Taxol (for paclitaxel)

Other names

pembrolizumab and paclitaxel