The recent progress of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in triple negative breast cancer: A short review

Abstract

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) encompasses tumors that do not express either the estrogen receptor (ER) or theprogesterone receptor (PR) and also do not overexpress the Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (HER2). This is aheterogenous group of tumors that significantly overlaps with both basal-like tumors and BRCA1/BRCA2 mutationassociatedtumors. TNBC is highly aggressive in nature and exhibits worse prognosis than the other subtypes of breastcancer, despite its increased chemosensitivity. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is a treatment option regularlyincorporated in clinical practice to improve subsequent surgical management. In parallel, allows rating of the pathologicalcompete response (pCR) which is associated with the prognosis of these patients and evaluates the efficacy of the appliedtreatment as well. Platinum-based regimens and novel targeted therapies have shown some benefit in TNBC, though anunmet need for improved therapeutic strategies in this patient population still remains. In this review, the latest progressesin NACT in TNBC are discussed, along with the improved understanding of molecular targets and useful biomarkers inthis group of patients.