Triple-negative breast cancer: new perspectives for novel therapies

Abstract

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents 10-20 % of all mammary tumors. It is often found in younger women and has been associated with poor prognosis, due to aggressive tumor phenotype(s), early metastasis to visceral organ or brain after chemotherapy and present lack of clinically established targeted therapies. In recent years, a greater understanding of the biology of this disease has led to the development of numerous and varied therapeutic approaches, especially the trials on poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors BSI-201 and olaparib, and antiangiogenic agents such as bevacizumab and sunitinib, which have raised hopes in the treatment for TNBC and BRCA1/2-positive disease. But should these trials fail, what are the new possible perspectives we have in our hand to fight this disease? In the current review, we will assess mainly the possible future targeted therapeutic strategies, which could be the answer to our question in TNBC. Recent studies have shown several markers, which have roles in TNBC that could be possible targets for therapy. Some of these markers are p53-induced miR-205, leptin receptor antagonist peptide, enhancer of zeste homolog 2 and Notch 1 pathway components, each of them could offer different mechanism for target therapy in TNBC. Last but not least, vaccinia virus GLV-1h153 has shown exciting result in treating and preventing metastatic triple-negative breast cancer.