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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
Studying Triple Negative Breast Cancer Using Orthotopic Breast Cancer Model
Published on: March 20, 2020
Response to neoadjuvant therapy and disease free survival in patients with triple-negative breast cancer
Shu Wang1, Houpu Yang, Fuzhong Tong
1Breast Disease Center, Peking University, People's Hospital, Beijing, China.
Background:
Triple negative breast cancer(TNBC)is characterized by estrogen receptor (ER) negative, progesterone receptor (PgR)negative and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) negative. It is a high risk breast cancer that lacks the benefit of specific therapy targeting these proteins. In this study, we compared the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy and disease free survival between patients with TNBC and non-TNBC.
Methods:
151 patients were included in this study, who received neoadjuvant taxane and anthracycline-based chemotherapy at Peking University People's Hospital from 2002 to 2007. TNBC is defined by the lack of ER, PgR, and HER-2 expression by immunohistochemistry. Clinical and pathologic parameters, pathologic complete response(pCR)rates and survival measurements were compared between patients with TNBC and non-TNBC.
Results:
21 of 151 patients (14%) had TNBC. Patients with TNBC compared with non-TNBC had significantly higher pCR rates(38% v 12%; p=0.002), but decreased disease-free survival rates(p=0.004). If pCR was achieved, patients with TNBC and non-TNBC had similar survival (p=0.497).
Conclusions:
Patients with TNBC have increased pCR rates compared with non-TNBC, and those with pCR achieved excellent disease free survival. However, patients who did not get pCR have significantly worse survival if they have TNBC compared with non-TNBC.
Insights
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients show higher complete response rates to neoadjuvant chemotherapy but decreased survival if complete response is not achieved. Achieving complete response leads to similar survival outcomes for both TNBC and non-TNBC patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Breast Cancer Research
Background:
- Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks targeted therapies due to negative estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), and HER-2 expression.
- TNBC represents a high-risk breast cancer subtype with distinct clinical behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare neoadjuvant chemotherapy response and disease-free survival between TNBC and non-TNBC patients.
- To evaluate the impact of pathologic complete response (pCR) on survival in TNBC versus non-TNBC.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 151 patients receiving neoadjuvant taxane and anthracycline chemotherapy was analyzed.
- TNBC was defined by immunohistochemistry for ER, PgR, and HER-2 negativity.
- Clinical, pathological, and survival data were compared between TNBC and non-TNBC groups.
Main Results:
- 14% of patients (21/151) had TNBC.
- TNBC patients exhibited significantly higher pCR rates (38% vs. 12%, p=0.002) but worse disease-free survival (p=0.004).
- Survival was similar for TNBC and non-TNBC patients who achieved pCR (p=0.497).
Conclusions:
- TNBC patients demonstrate superior pCR rates following neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
- Achieving pCR is associated with excellent disease-free survival irrespective of TNBC status.
- Patients with TNBC who do not achieve pCR face significantly worse survival outcomes compared to non-TNBC patients.
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