WHAT IS TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER (TNBC)?

 

It is now commonly understood that breast cancer is not one form of cancer, but many different “subtypes” of cancer.

This subtype of breast cancer is generally diagnosed based upon the presence, or lack of, three “receptors” known to fuel most breast cancers: estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). The most successful treatments for breast cancer target these receptors.

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Unfortunately, none of these receptors are found in women with triple negative breast cancer. In other words, a triple negative breast cancer diagnosis means that the offending tumor is estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor & HER2 negative.

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On a positive note, this subtype of breast cancer is typically responsive to chemotherapy. Because of its triple negative status, however, triple negative tumors generally do not respond to receptor targeted treatments. Depending on the stage of its diagnosis, triple negative breast cancer can be particularly aggressive, and more likely to recur than other subtypes of breast cancer.

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