Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 22, 2026
Studying Triple Negative Breast Cancer Using Orthotopic Breast Cancer Model
Published on: March 20, 2020
Clinicopathological Features and Treatment Challenges in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Patients: A Retrospective
Amira Elwan1, Aziza E Abdelrahman, Ahmed A Alnagar
1Department of Clinical Oncology and Nuclear Medicine, Zagazig University, Faculty of Medicine, ZAGAZIG, EGYPT.
Objective:
As the genetic and molecular profiles of triple negative breast carcinoma (TNBC) are elucidated, multiple therapeutic targets have been produced. TNBC with less than 1% androgen receptor (AR) expression may respond to enzalutamide with greater response association in higher levels. A metronomic dose of capecitabine and docetaxel are effective developed drugs for angiogenic process inhibition. We aimed to demonstrate the treatment outcome of triple-negative breast cancer patients in correlation to their clinicopathological features.
Materials And Methods:
A retrospective cohort study of 80 TNBC patients was conducted. The patients underwent proper observation with the reporting of their treatment and follow-up data. Patients with a metastatic disease, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, follow-up drop or data shortage were excluded from the survival analysis.
Results:
The study results revealed a significant association between negative androgen expression and younger age ≤35 years, premenopausal status, higher grade, extracapsular extension, lymphovascular invasion, Ki 67, and CA15-3 (p=0.003, 0.02, < 0.001, 0.001, 0.027, 0.005, 0.009 respectively). The three-year overall survival (OS) in patients who received bicalutamide was better than those patients who received capecitabine or docetaxel but of no significance (p=0.46). The three-year disease free survival (DFS) was significantly better in the bicalutamide arm versus the other two groups (p=0.012).
Conclusions:
We concluded that extended adjuvant antiandrogen such as bicalutamide and metronomic capecitabine are well tolerated with accepted compliance and affordability compared to docetaxel and are warranted for problem-solving and better DFS and OS in some TNBC patients.
Insights
Bicalutamide shows promise for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treatment, offering better disease-free survival than capecitabine or docetaxel. This antiandrogen therapy is well-tolerated and affordable for select TNBC patients.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Breast Cancer Research
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Triple-negative breast carcinoma (TNBC) presents unique challenges due to its aggressive nature and lack of targeted therapies.
- Emerging research highlights the potential of targeting androgen receptor (AR) expression and angiogenic pathways in TNBC.
- Enzalutamide and metronomic chemotherapy (capecitabine, docetaxel) are being investigated for their efficacy in TNBC management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the treatment outcomes of triple-negative breast cancer patients.
- To correlate treatment response with specific clinicopathological features of TNBC.
- To assess the efficacy of bicalutamide, capecitabine, and docetaxel in TNBC patients.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study involving 80 TNBC patients.
- Analysis of treatment and follow-up data, excluding patients with metastatic disease, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, or insufficient data.
- Comparison of survival outcomes (overall survival and disease-free survival) between different treatment arms.
Main Results:
- Negative androgen expression was significantly associated with younger age (≤35 years), premenopausal status, higher tumor grade, extracapsular extension, lymphovascular invasion, and elevated Ki 67 and CA15-3 levels.
- Three-year overall survival (OS) showed a non-significant trend favoring bicalutamide over capecitabine or docetaxel (p=0.46).
- Three-year disease-free survival (DFS) was significantly better in the bicalutamide group compared to the capecitabine and docetaxel groups (p=0.012).
Conclusions:
- Extended adjuvant antiandrogen therapy with bicalutamide demonstrates improved disease-free survival in select TNBC patients.
- Metronomic capecitabine is a well-tolerated and affordable option compared to docetaxel.
- Bicalutamide and metronomic capecitabine warrant further investigation for improving DFS and OS in specific TNBC populations.
