Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer that lacks receptors for estrogen, progesterone, and HER2. This makes it difficult to treat, as many of the available therapies target these receptors. However, new research is offering hope for patients with TNBC, with several promising treatments showing promising results in clinical trials.
Immunotherapy Drugs Activate the Immune System
One of the most exciting new approaches to treating TNBC is immunotherapy. Immunotherapy drugs work by activating the patient's own immune system to fight cancer. In clinical trials, immunotherapy drugs have shown promising results in treating TNBC, with some patients experiencing complete remission.
Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) is an immunotherapy drug that has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of TNBC. Pembrolizumab blocks the PD-1 protein on immune cells, which allows them to more effectively recognize and kill cancer cells. In a clinical trial, pembrolizumab was shown to improve overall survival in patients with TNBC.
Atezolizumab (Tecentriq) is another immunotherapy drug that has shown promising results in treating TNBC. Atezolizumab blocks the PD-L1 protein on immune cells, which also allows them to more effectively recognize and kill cancer cells. In a clinical trial, atezolizumab was shown to improve progression-free survival in patients with TNBC.
PARP Inhibitors Target Tumor DNA Repair
Another new approach to treating TNBC is PARP inhibitors. PARP inhibitors work by blocking the PARP enzyme, which is involved in repairing DNA damage. In cancer cells, which often have a lot of DNA damage, PARP inhibitors can lead to cell death.
Olaparib (Lynparza) is a PARP inhibitor that has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of TNBC. Olaparib has been shown to improve progression-free survival in patients with TNBC who have a BRCA gene mutation.
Talazoparib (Talzenna) is another PARP inhibitor that has shown promising results in treating TNBC. Talazoparib has been shown to improve progression-free survival in patients with TNBC who have a BRCA gene mutation or who are BRCA-like.
VEGF Inhibitors Block Blood Flow to Tumors
VEGF inhibitors are another new approach to treating TNBC. VEGF inhibitors work by blocking the VEGF protein, which is involved in the formation of new blood vessels. In cancer cells, which need a lot of blood to grow and spread, VEGF inhibitors can lead to tumor shrinkage.
Bevacizumab (Avastin) is a VEGF inhibitor that has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of TNBC. Bevacizumab has been shown to improve progression-free survival in patients with TNBC.
Combination Therapies May Improve Outcomes
In addition to these new single-agent therapies, researchers are also investigating combination therapies for TNBC. Combination therapies involve using two or more drugs together to target different aspects of cancer biology.
For example, a clinical trial is currently investigating the combination of pembrolizumab and olaparib in patients with TNBC. This combination therapy has shown promising results, with some patients experiencing complete remission.
Conclusion
The development of new treatments is offering hope for patients with TNBC. Immunotherapy drugs, PARP inhibitors, and VEGF inhibitors are all showing promising results in clinical trials, and combination therapies may further improve outcomes. These new treatments are providing patients with TNBC with new options for fighting their cancer.
