Roohi Ismail-Khan1, Marilyn M Bui. 1. Department of Women's Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. Roohi.Ismail-Khan@moffitt.org
Abstract
BACKGROUND: An estimated 1 million cases of breast cancer are diagnosed annually worldwide. Of these, more than 170,000 are described as triple-negative. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is defined by the lack of protein expression of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) and the absence of HER2 protein overexpression. TNBC is a subtype of breast cancer that overlaps with the "basal-like" breast cancer. TNBC has significant clinical implications. METHODS: The epidemiology, diagnosis, clinical course, prognosis, and pathology of this subtype of breast cancer are reviewed. The authors compare the "triple-negative" and "basal-like" definitions of breast cancer. A discussion of both standard and experimental treatments for TNBC is included. RESULTS: The poor prognosis of high-grade TNBC relates to poor disease-free interval in the adjuvant setting, shortened progression-free survival in the metastatic setting, and the lack of targeted therapy. However, not all TNBCs are associated with a poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Although chemotherapy is the main current treatment of this subtype of breast cancer, new agents such as PARP inhibitors, which show promise in the treatment of TNBC, are currently in clinical trials.
BACKGROUND: An estimated 1 million cases of breast cancer are diagnosed annually worldwide. Of these, more than 170,000 are described as triple-negative. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is defined by the lack of protein expression of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) and the absence of HER2 protein overexpression. TNBC is a subtype of breast cancer that overlaps with the "basal-like" breast cancer. TNBC has significant clinical implications. METHODS: The epidemiology, diagnosis, clinical course, prognosis, and pathology of this subtype of breast cancer are reviewed. The authors compare the "triple-negative" and "basal-like" definitions of breast cancer. A discussion of both standard and experimental treatments for TNBC is included. RESULTS: The poor prognosis of high-grade TNBC relates to poor disease-free interval in the adjuvant setting, shortened progression-free survival in the metastatic setting, and the lack of targeted therapy. However, not all TNBCs are associated with a poor prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: Although chemotherapy is the main current treatment of this subtype of breast cancer, new agents such as PARP inhibitors, which show promise in the treatment of TNBC, are currently in clinical trials.
Authors: Sepideh Gholami; Andrew Marano; Nanhai G Chen; Richard J Aguilar; Alexa Frentzen; Chun-Hao Chen; Emil Lou; Sho Fujisawa; Clarisse Eveno; Laurence Belin; Pat Zanzonico; Aladar Szalay; Yuman Fong Journal: Breast Cancer Res Treat Date: 2014-11-13 Impact factor: 4.872
Authors: Valeria Ossovskaya; Yipeng Wang; Adam Budoff; Qiang Xu; Alexander Lituev; Olga Potapova; Gordon Vansant; Joseph Monforte; Nikolai Daraselia Journal: Genes Cancer Date: 2011-09
Authors: Anna Capasso; Stacey M Bagby; Kyrie L Dailey; Naomi Currimjee; Betelehem W Yacob; Anastasia Ionkina; Julie G Frank; Deog Joong Kim; Christina George; Young B Lee; Ely Benaim; Brian Gittleman; Sarah J Hartman; Aik Choon Tan; Jihye Kim; Todd M Pitts; S Gail Eckhardt; John J Tentler; Jennifer R Diamond Journal: Mol Cancer Ther Date: 2019-09-05 Impact factor: 6.261
Authors: A González; A Lluch; E Aba; J Albanell; A Antón; I Álvarez; F Ayala; A Barnadas; L Calvo; E Ciruelos; J Cortés; J de la Haba; J M López-Vega; E Martínez; M Muñoz; I Peláez; A Redondo; Á Rodríguez; C A Rodríguez; A Ruíz; A Llombart Journal: Clin Transl Oncol Date: 2016-11-16 Impact factor: 3.405
Authors: Mohammed S Fayaz; Mustafa S El-Sherify; Amany El-Basmy; Sadeq A Zlouf; Nashwa Nazmy; Thomas George; Susan Samir; Gerges Attia; Heba Eissa Journal: Rep Pract Oncol Radiother Date: 2013-09-26