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Studying Triple Negative Breast Cancer Using Orthotopic Breast Cancer Model
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Studying Triple Negative Breast Cancer Using Orthotopic Breast Cancer Model

Published on: March 20, 2020

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Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC): Non-genetic tumor heterogeneity and immune microenvironment: Emerging treatment

Jae Young So1, Joyce Ohm2, Stan Lipkowitz3

  • 1Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.

Pharmacology & Therapeutics
|July 25, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is aggressive and hard to treat due to tumor diversity. This review covers TNBC therapies, resistance, and new strategies targeting gene expression and the immune system.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Genomics
  • Immunology

Background:

  • Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents significant therapeutic challenges due to its aggressive nature and high intra-tumoral heterogeneity.
  • Treatment resistance and disease relapse are common in TNBC, often linked to tumor heterogeneity and a lack of predictive biomarkers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current therapies for TNBC, focusing on treatment resistance and relapse mechanisms.
  • To explore recent single-cell sequencing data, transcriptome and epigenome alterations, and immune microenvironment regulation in TNBC.
  • To offer novel perspectives on patient stratification and targeted treatment strategies for TNBC.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of current TNBC therapies and resistance studies.
  • Analysis of single-cell sequencing data to understand tumor heterogeneity.
  • Examination of transcriptomic and epigenomic changes in TNBC.
  • Review of mechanisms governing the tumor immune microenvironment.

Main Results:

  • TNBC is characterized by significant intra-tumoral heterogeneity, contributing to therapeutic resistance.
  • Tumor heterogeneity and the absence of specific biomarkers complicate treatment strategies.
  • Recent single-cell sequencing data provide insights into TNBC's complex molecular landscape.
  • Alterations in the transcriptome, epigenome, and immune microenvironment are key factors in TNBC progression and resistance.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding TNBC heterogeneity is crucial for overcoming treatment resistance.
  • Targeting transcriptome dysregulation and the immune microenvironment offers promising therapeutic avenues.
  • Improved patient stratification based on molecular profiles can enhance treatment efficacy for TNBC.
Keywords:
EpigeneticImmuneImmune checkpoint blockadeTNBCTherapy-resistanceTranscriptomeTumor microenvironment

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