Therapeutic strategies for triple-negative breast cancer.
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a clinically relevant term referring to breast carcinomas that do not express the estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 and became operational after human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 testing was introduced. This is a challenging disease to treat because of the absence of a specific target, but these tumors are sensitive to chemotherapy. An improved understanding of the biology of TNBC has led to evaluation of DNA-damaging chemotherapy drugs, specifically, platinum compounds, and several targeted agents, including poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors, epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors, angiogenesis inhibitors, microtubule inhibitors, Src inhibitors, checkpoint kinase I inhibitors, mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors, androgen receptor blocker, tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand receptor agonists, and transforming growth factor-beta antagonists, that may lead to improved clinical outcomes. Ongoing clinical trials will further define the optimal chemotherapy regimen and most effective targeted therapeutic strategy for TNBC.
Tan
Antoinette R
AR
The Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
Swain
Sandra M
SM
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000188:drug therapy; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human