Immunotherapy in combination with chemotherapy in triple-negative breast cancer - the first “target” therapy for the “target” patients’ population

Abstract

The only option of systemic therapy for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) was cytotoxic chemotherapy until recently, moreover the unitary standard of care for metastatic forms was not strictly defined. That is why paradigm of the treatment remains at the discretion of the doctor and it is empirical, consisting of precise combination of drugs. TNBC is infamous as the worst prognostic subtype. The absence of estrogen and progesterone receptors expression and HER2 amplification in this subtype of tumors made the usage of target therapy impossible, which is essential for successful treatment of luminal and HER2 positive breast cancer subtypes. The data about potential immunogenicity of tumor in TNBC launched the investigation of immunotherapy efficacy in this subtype of breast cancer. International clinical trial Impassion130 has not only created the basis in this field of TNBC treatment but also identified and determined the “benefiters”-cohort of patients concerning one of the most important goals - improving overall survival, that is so significant for patients with this subtype of breast cancer.