Epigenetic alterations in triple-negative breast cancer and their clinical implications for diagnosis and therapy

Eun-Jin Go1, Ji Hoon Oh1

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Keimyung University College of Natural Sciences, Daegu 42601, Republic of Korea.

Journal of Cancer
|October 6, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is aggressive with limited treatments. Epigenetic alterations in TNBC offer promising targets for developing new therapies to improve patient survival and quality of life.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Epigenetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Breast cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in women, with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) being the most aggressive subtype.
  • TNBC lacks estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2 expression, leading to limited treatment options and poor prognoses.
  • Epigenetic dysregulation is increasingly recognized as a key driver in TNBC development and progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To provide a comprehensive review of recent advances in epigenetic alterations specific to TNBC.
  • To highlight the role of epigenetic mechanisms in TNBC pathogenesis.
  • To explore the potential clinical applications of targeting epigenetic modifications for improved TNBC treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on TNBC epigenetics.
  • Analysis of epigenetic mechanisms including DNA methylation, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA.
  • Focus on research linking epigenetic alterations to TNBC clinical characteristics and therapeutic strategies.

Main Results:

  • Epigenetic mechanisms like DNA methylation, histone modifications, and ncRNA silencing are crucial in TNBC.
  • These epigenetic alterations are associated with TNBC's aggressive behavior and metastatic potential.
  • Targeting epigenetic pathways presents a promising avenue for novel therapeutic interventions in TNBC.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic research offers significant insights into TNBC biology and progression.
  • Understanding TNBC epigenetic alterations is key to developing personalized therapeutic strategies.
  • Targeting epigenetics holds promise for improving survival and quality of life for TNBC patients.

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