Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2021 Feb;21(2):135-148.
doi: 10.1080/14737140.2021.1840984.

Triple-negative breast cancer: promising prognostic biomarkers currently in development

Jasmine Sukumar  1 , Kelly Gast  1 , Dionisia Quiroga  1 , Maryam Lustberg  1 , Nicole Williams  1
Affiliations
Review

Triple-negative breast cancer: promising prognostic biomarkers currently in development

Jasmine Sukumar et al. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2021 Feb.

Abstract

Introduction: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive type of breast cancer associated with poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Validated prognostic and predictive biomarkers are needed to guide treatment decisions and prognostication.Areas covered: In this review, we discuss established and developing prognostic and predictive biomarkers in TNBC and associated emerging and approved therapies. Biomarkers reviewed include epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), androgen receptor, NOTCH signaling, oxidative stress/redox signaling, microRNAs, TP53 mutation, breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 or 2 (BRCA1/2) mutation/homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), NTRK gene fusion, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, immune biomarkers (programmed death-ligand 1 (PDL1), tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), tumor mutational burden (TMB), neoantigens, defects in DNA mismatch repair proteins (dMMR)/microsatellite instability-high (MSI-H)), circulating tumor cells/cell-free DNA, novel targets of antibody-drug conjugates, and residual disease.Expert opinion: Biomarker-driven care in the management of TNBC is increasing and has helped expand options for patients diagnosed with this subtype of breast cancer. Research efforts are ongoing to identify additional biomarkers and targeted treatment options with the ultimate goal of improving clinical outcomes and survivorship.

Keywords: Biomarkers; breast cancer; predictive; prognostic; triple-negative.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Key mechanisms of signal transduction and tumorigenesis in triple-negative breast cancer.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Diagram summarizing emerging and approved therapeutic options for triple-negative breast cancer based on biomarkers.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Dent R, Trudeau M, Pritchard KI, et al. Triple-negative breast cancer: clinical features and patterns of recurrence. Clin Cancer Res. 2007;13(15 Pt 1):4429–4434. - PubMed
    1. Boyle P Triple-negative breast cancer: epidemiological considerations and recommendations. Ann Oncol. 2012;23(Suppl 6):vi7–12. - PubMed
    1. da Silva JL, Cardoso Nunes NC, Izetti P, et al. Triple negative breast cancer: a thorough review of biomarkers. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2020;145:102855. - PubMed
    1. Lehmann BD, Pietenpol JA. Clinical implications of molecular heterogeneity in triple negative breast cancer. Breast. 2015;24(Suppl 2):S36–40. - PMC - PubMed

    2. • This research described six molecular subtypes of TNBC, including basal-like 1 (BL1), basal-like 2 (BL2), immunomodulatory (IM), mesenchymal (M), mesenchymal stem-like (MSL), and luminal androgen receptor (LAR).

    1. Burstein MD, Tsimelzon A, Poage GM, et al. Comprehensive genomic analysis identifies novel subtypes and targets of triple-negative breast cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2015;21(7):1688–1698. - PMC - PubMed

    2. • This research described four distinct molecular subtypes of TNBC, including AR-positive, mesenchymal, basal-like immune suppressed, and basal-like immune activated.

Substances

LinkOut - more resources