Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive type of breast cancer that lacks estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and HER2 protein. This means that hormone therapy and drugs targeting HER2 are ineffective. It accounts for 10-15% of all breast cancers.
How It Starts
TNBC starts when cells in the breast begin to grow uncontrollably, forming a tumor. Unlike other types of breast cancer, TNBC tends to grow and spread faster.Treatment Options
TNBC is treated primarily with chemotherapy, as it tends to respond well to these drugs. Other treatments may include:
- Surgery: To remove the tumor, either through breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy.
- Radiation Therapy: Often used after surgery to eliminate any remaining cancer cells.
- Immunotherapy: For advanced TNBC, especially if the cancer cells have the PD-L1 protein.
- Targeted Therapy: For patients with BRCA mutations, drugs like olaparib (Lynparza) may be used.
- Taxane-based chemotherapy: which significantly improves one-year survival in metastatic TNBC patients
- Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy): May 2025 this drug was shown to be a promising treatment for metastatic TNBC, showing improved progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy.
BCA recommends women evaluate Standard of Care Side Effects, Breast Cancer Treatments and Breast Cancer Reconstruction (all blue text is interlinks) options thoroughly before making any decisions.
Survival Rates
Survival rates for TNBC are generally lower than other types of breast cancer due to its more aggressive nature.
Early-Stage (I and II)
- 5-year survival rate: About 91%.
- 10-year survival rate: About 80-85%.
Late-Stage (III and IV)
- 5-year survival rate
66% for Stage III and
12% for Stage IV - 10-year survival rate: Stage III, it’s around 50-60%May this
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References
- MD Anderson Cancer Center, Explains why TNBC is harder to treat, who is at greater risk, and how research is advancing treatment strategies
- Cleveland Clinic, Covers TNBC symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment approaches
- American Cancer Society, Provides an overview of TNBC, including its aggressive nature
- ESMO Breast 2025 Study, Highlights research on taxane-based chemotherapy, which significantly improves one-year survival in metastatic TNBC patients with high genomic instability.
- Gilead’s Phase III Trial – Discusses Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy), a promising treatment for metastatic TNBC, showing improved progression-free survival compared to chemotherapy.