Targeting Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Breast cancer may develop in one part of the body, but it’s not just one disease. In fact, oncologists think of breast cancer as at least three different types of diseases.

Erica Mayer, MD, MPH

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) describes breast cancer cells that do not have estrogen, progesterone, or HER2 receptors. It makes up approximately 15 percent of all breast cancers and is typically more aggressive than the other two types, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer and HER2-positive breast cancer.

“It may be the smallest group, but TNBC still represents thousands of women with breast cancer, so it is a very important group for us,” says Erica Mayer, MD, MPH, a medical oncologist at Dana-Farber’s Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers.

The Susan F. Smith Center for Women’s Cancers organized a live webcast with Mayer earlier this year titled, “Targeting Advanced Triple Negative Breast Cancer.” Mayer spoke about the improved chemotherapy options and clinical trials available for TNBC patients.

“TNBC is a very active area of research,” Mayer says. “We have many new, exciting agents in the pipeline.”

To view Mayer’s presentation, visit Dana-Farber’s Slideshare page.