pembrolizumab + paclitaxel + carboplatin + epirubicin + cyclophosphamide

This regimen represents the standard of care (SOC) neoadjuvant systemic therapy used in the LESLIE trial (NCT05840003) for patients with early-stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Developed and evaluated by Universitaire Ziekenhuizen KU Leuven, the regimen consists of a sequential treatment plan: four cycles of pembrolizumab (a PD-1 inhibitor) combined with paclitaxel (a microtubule stabilizer) and carboplatin (a DNA alkylating agent), followed by four cycles of epirubicin (an anthracycline) and cyclophosphamide (an alkylating agent) with continued pembrolizumab. The regimen aims to achieve a pathological complete response (pCR) by combining immunotherapy with cytotoxic chemotherapy, serving as the baseline against which lifestyle interventions like fasting-mimicking diets and exercise are tested.

Other names

SOCLESLIE trial SOC