Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 25, 2025
Quantitative Mass Spectrometric Profiling of Cancer-cell Proteomes Derived From Liquid and Solid Tumors
Published on: February 27, 2015
Mass Spectrometry-Based Omics for the Characterization of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Bio-Signature
Ioana-Ecaterina Pralea1, Radu-Cristian Moldovan1, Adrian-Bogdan Țigu2
1Department of Proteomics and Metabolomics, Research Center for Advanced Medicine-MedFuture, "Iuliu Hațieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Louis Pasteur Street 4-6, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
Abstract:
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents an unmet medical need due to a high rate of metastatic occurrence and poor overall survival, pathology aggressiveness, heterogeneous clinical behavior and limited cytotoxic chemotherapy options available because of the absence of targetable receptors. The current standard of care in TNBC is represented by chemotherapy and surgery associated with low overall survival and high relapse rates. Hopes of overcoming current limited and unspecific approaches of TNBC therapy lie in studying the metabolic rewiring of these types of breast cancer, thus understanding the mechanisms involved in the occurrence and progression of the disease. Due to its heterogeneity, a clinically relevant sub-classification of this type of breast cancer based on biomarker panels is greatly needed in order to guide treatment decisions. Mass spectrometry-based omics may provide very useful tools to address the current needs of targetable biomarker discovery and validation. The present review aims to provide a comprehensive view of the current clinical diagnosis and therapy of TNBC highlighting the need for a new approach. Therefore, this paper offers a detailed mass spectrometry-based snapshot of TNBC metabolic adjustment, emphasizing a complex network of variables governing the diverse and aggressive clinical behavior of TNBC.
Insights
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is aggressive with limited treatment options. Studying TNBC
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Oncology
- Genomics
Background:
- Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive subtype of breast cancer with poor prognosis and limited treatment options due to the absence of targetable receptors.
- Current standard treatments, including chemotherapy and surgery, are associated with low survival rates and high recurrence, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic strategies.
- The heterogeneity of TNBC necessitates a clinically relevant sub-classification based on biomarkers to guide personalized treatment decisions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a comprehensive overview of the current clinical diagnosis and therapy of TNBC.
- To highlight the urgent need for new therapeutic approaches for TNBC.
- To offer a detailed mass spectrometry-based analysis of TNBC metabolic alterations.
Main Methods:
- Review of current clinical diagnosis and therapy of TNBC.
- Mass spectrometry-based omics analysis to investigate metabolic rewiring in TNBC.
- Analysis of complex molecular networks governing TNBC behavior.
Main Results:
- TNBC exhibits significant metabolic rewiring, contributing to its aggressive clinical behavior.
- Mass spectrometry-based omics provides valuable tools for discovering and validating targetable biomarkers in TNBC.
- A complex network of metabolic variables influences the diverse and aggressive nature of TNBC.
Conclusions:
- Understanding the metabolic adjustments in TNBC is crucial for developing more effective and targeted therapies.
- Biomarker discovery and validation through omics approaches are essential for improving TNBC patient outcomes.
- Further research into TNBC's metabolic landscape is needed to overcome current treatment limitations and improve survival rates.
