Targeting STAT3 pathway: A promising immunotherapeutic strategy for triple-negative breast cancer - Current status...

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains one of the most aggressive and therapeutically challenging subtypes of breast cancer, largely due to its lack of hormone receptors and (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2) HER2 expression. Recent advances have highlighted the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) as a critical oncogenic driver in TNBC pathogenesis and immune evasion, making it a promising target for immunotherapeutic intervention. This review explores the current landscape of STAT3-targeted therapies, discussing the detailed examination of upstream, downstream, and direct inhibitors of STAT3 in cancer management, emphasizing their mechanisms of action and preclinical/clinical progress. We then evaluate the emerging gene therapy approaches against STAT3 signaling, which offer novel avenues for precise and durable modulation of STAT3 activity. Despite promising outcomes, the limitations and challenges of STAT3 inhibitors, particularly concerning efficacy, safety, off-target effects, and toxicity, continue to hinder their clinical translation. Strategies aimed at increasing the safety of STAT3 inhibitors, including targeted delivery systems, structural optimization, and selective inhibition, are discussed in depth. Finally, we highlight the potential of combination strategies involving STAT3 inhibitors, focusing on their synergistic effects with chemotherapy, PARP inhibitors, and immunomodulatory agents to enhance therapeutic response and overcome resistance. This review underscores the need for continued research to refine STAT3-targeted therapies and integrate them effectively into the treatment paradigm for TNBC.