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Updated: Jun 13, 2026
Studying Triple Negative Breast Cancer Using Orthotopic Breast Cancer Model
Published on: March 20, 2020
Triple-negative breast cancer
Rupert Bartsch1, Reinhard Ziebermayr, Christoph C Zielinski
1Clinical Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine 1 and Cancer Centre, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria. rupert.bartsch@meduniwien.ac.at
Abstract:
Recent advances in biological characterization of breast cancer have eventually increased our understanding of underlying tumour biology. While for endocrine responsive and Her2-positive disease different molecular targeted therapies are available, up to now no specific targeted approach for triple-negative breast cancer has been developed. Patients with triple-negative disease are at high risk for tumour recurrence. Preclinical and limited clinical data suggest that platinum-based regimens may be the most active conventional chemotherapy, but prospective randomized trials are missing. Bevacizumab and other agents targeting tumour vessel growth have potential activity in all subtypes of breast cancer, and therefore are not considered a targeted approach for triple-negative tumours alone. Due to specific defects in DNA-damage repair, basal-like cancers depend on alternative, more error-prone repair pathways. Currently, scientific interest is focussing on drugs blocking those mechanisms. PARP-1 inhibitors, in conjunction with platinum derivatives, were found to exhibit significant survival benefit over chemotherapy alone even in a relatively small phase II study. For the first time, this approach offers the chance of highly active, specific therapy for triple-negative disease.
Insights
Triple-negative breast cancer lacks targeted therapies. Combining PARP-1 inhibitors with platinum drugs shows promise, offering a potentially highly active and specific treatment option for patients at high risk of recurrence.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks targeted therapies, unlike endocrine-responsive and HER2-positive subtypes.
- Patients with TNBC face a high risk of tumor recurrence.
- Current treatment options for TNBC are limited, with platinum-based chemotherapy showing some activity but lacking prospective validation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore targeted therapeutic strategies for triple-negative breast cancer.
- To investigate the potential of novel drug combinations for TNBC treatment.
- To address the unmet need for specific therapies in high-risk TNBC patients.
Main Methods:
- Review of preclinical and limited clinical data on platinum-based regimens for TNBC.
- Evaluation of agents targeting tumor angiogenesis, such as bevacizumab.
- Analysis of emerging research on drugs targeting DNA-damage repair pathways, specifically PARP-1 inhibitors.
Main Results:
- Platinum-based regimens are suggested as the most active conventional chemotherapy for TNBC, though prospective trials are needed.
- Anti-angiogenic agents show activity across breast cancer subtypes but are not specific to TNBC.
- PARP-1 inhibitors combined with platinum derivatives demonstrated a significant survival benefit over chemotherapy alone in a Phase II study.
Conclusions:
- The combination of PARP-1 inhibitors and platinum derivatives represents a promising targeted approach for triple-negative breast cancer.
- This therapeutic strategy offers the potential for highly active and specific treatment for TNBC.
- Further research and prospective trials are warranted to validate these findings and optimize treatment for TNBC.
