Targeted therapy plus chemotherapy for advanced or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer: a PRISMA 2020 systematic...

To systematically review the efficacy of chemotherapy combined with targeted therapy in the handling of advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

A thorough literature search was carried out across several databases, including PubMed, EMBASE, ScienceDirect, and Chinese medical databases, for case-control trials on TNBC patients treated with chemotherapy combined with targeted therapy versus chemotherapy alone. Two separate researchers extracted the data, and the risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Manual 5.3. The meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.3. This review followed PRISMA 2020 and was registered in INPLASY (registration ID INPLASY202590085).

Following PRISMA guidelines, 2,136 records were identified, and five controlled studies involving 523 participants were included. Meta-analysis of progression-free survival (PFS) suggested a potential improvement in the targeted therapy plus chemotherapy group; however, the pooled result did not reach statistical significance (HR = 0.45, 95% CI 0.16-1.26; P = 0.13). Overall survival (OS) data were insufficient for quantitative meta-analysis, and the available controlled studies did not demonstrate a definitive survival benefit. The objective response rate (ORR) and disease control rate (DCR) were significantly higher with targeted therapy plus chemotherapy than with chemotherapy alone (P < 0.05). No significant increase in adverse events was observed.

Targeted therapy plus chemotherapy improves tumor response outcomes in patients with advanced or metastatic TNBC without a clear increase in severe adverse events. However, evidence regarding PFS and OS benefits remains inconclusive because of limited studies, heterogeneity, and insufficient survival data.