Recent Advances in Immunotherapy and Targeted Therapy of Triple Negative Breast Cancer

Harshada Shewale1, Abhishek Kanugo1,2

  • 1Department of Pharmaceutics, SVKM NMIMS School of Pharmacy and Technology Management, Shirpur Maharashtra, 425405, India.

Insights

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks targeted therapies, necessitating novel treatments. Recent advances include immunotherapies like immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and targeted therapies showing promise for improved patient outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks specific receptor targets (estrogen, progesterone, HER2).
  • TNBC presents with higher recurrence rates and poorer prognosis compared to other breast cancer types.
  • Current TNBC treatments (chemotherapy, surgery) are associated with high mortality.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review vital pathways in TNBC.
  • To discuss recent therapeutic advances for TNBC.
  • To highlight ongoing clinical trials and future directions.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of TNBC pathways and treatments.
  • Analysis of clinical trial data for immunotherapies and targeted therapies.
  • Discussion of novel therapeutic strategies including immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), PARP inhibitors, and cancer vaccines.

Main Results:

  • Immunotherapy, including PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, shows potential in clinical trials, enhancing the immune response against TNBC.
  • Combination therapies (immunotherapy with chemotherapy) improve survival and reduce side effects.
  • Various targeted therapies are under investigation, including VEGFR, FGFR, and CDK inhibitors, as well as CAR-T cell therapy and antibody-drug conjugates.

Conclusions:

  • Despite challenges, understanding TNBC's molecular and immune landscape offers new targeted therapy opportunities.
  • Emerging treatments hold promise for improving outcomes in aggressive TNBC.
  • Continued research and clinical trials are crucial for advancing TNBC treatment.

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