Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: How We Are Learning to Treat It More Effectively
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a type of breast cancer that lacks the three most common receptors for hormones and growth factors: estrogen, progesterone, and HER2. This makes it more difficult to treat than other types of breast cancer, as there are fewer targeted therapies available. TNBC accounts for 10-15% of all breast cancer cases and is more common in younger women, African American women, and women with a BRCA1 mutation.
In the past, treatment for TNBC was limited to chemotherapy. However, several new therapies have been developed in recent years that have improved the outlook for women with this type of cancer.
Targeted Therapies
PARP inhibitors are a class of drugs that interferes with the repair of damaged DNA. This can be particularly effective in TNBC, as many TNBC tumors have defects in DNA repair pathways. PARP inhibitors such as olaparib (Lynparza®), niraparib (Zejula®), and rucaparib (Rubraca®) have been shown to improve progression-free survival and overall survival in women with TNBC who have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.
Immunotherapy is another type of targeted therapy that works by boosting the immune system so that it can recognize and attack cancer cells. Immunotherapy drugs such as pembrolizumab (Keytruda®), atezolizumab (Tecentriq®), durvalumab (Imfinzi®), and avelumab (Bavencio®) have been shown to improve outcomes in women with TNBC who have a high PD-L1 expression.
Combination Therapies
Combination therapies using targeted therapies and chemotherapy have also been shown to be effective in treating TNBC. For example, the combination of pembrolizumab with chemotherapy has been shown to improve progression-free survival and overall survival in women with TNBC who have a high PD-L1 expression.
The Future of TNBC Treatment
The future of TNBC treatment is promising, as several new therapies are currently being developed. These therapies include new targeted therapies such as antibody-drug conjugates, small molecule inhibitors, and oncolytic viruses. Clinical trials are also underway to evaluate the use of immunotherapy in combination with other therapies such as PARP inhibitors and chemotherapy. These studies are expected to lead to further improvements in the outlook for women with TNBC.
Key Takeaways
* TNBC is a type of breast cancer that lacks the three most common receptors for hormones and growth factors.
* TNBC is more difficult to treat than other types of breast cancer, as there are fewer targeted therapies available.
* Several new therapies have been developed in recent years that have improved the outlook for women with TNBC.
* These therapies include PARP inhibitors, immunotherapy, and combination therapies.
* The future of TNBC treatment is promising, as several new therapies are currently being developed.