Triple-negative/basal-like breast cancer: clinical, pathologic and molecular features

Abstract

Review of the spectrum of breast cancer tumor subtypes, which include basal-like, triple-negative and BRCA1-positive tumors, suggest that they have overlapping clinical, pathologic and molecular features, which are different from endocrine responsive breast cancers. Although response to chemotherapy is high in the neoadjuvant setting, the overall prognosis of this subset of tumors remains poor. Gene-profiling studies of this heterogeneous subset have lead to a better understanding of the molecular pathology of these aggressive tumors and the identification of possible therapeutic targets. Ongoing clinical studies of newer targeted agents, along with optimal chemotherapy, portend an improved clinical outcome for patients with aggressive basal-like/triple-negative breast cancer in the future.

Keywords::

• basal-like breast cancer
• BRCA1
• breast
• triple-negative breast cancer

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The author has 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.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.