Triple Negative Breast Cancer Clinical Trials 2023

What Are Triple Negative Breast Cancer Clinical Trials?

Triple-negative breast cancer is different from other cancer types because the cancer cells have no progesterone or estrogen receptors. It also differs from other invasive cancer types because it spreads faster, has fewer treatment options, and has worse outcomes or prognosis.

Recently, researchers have shown increased interest in studying triple-negative breast cancer because of its limited treatment options. Usually, a patient needs to have a lumpectomy or mastectomy to treat the disease and chemotherapy for unseen cancer cells. Many triple-negative breast cancer clinical trials are focused on studying different drugs used in chemotherapy to improve the prognosis.

Why Is Triple Negative Breast Cancer Being Studied Through Clinical Trials?

Triple-negative breast cancer accounts for 10-15% of all breast cancers. This cancer’s clinical trials are being studied because it has lower survival rates and complex treatment if the cancer spreads to other body parts. It has higher recurrence rates than different cancer types and is more likely to develop in individuals that are African American, premenopausal, or those that use hormonal birth control.

What Are The Types of Treatments Available For Triple Negative Breast Cancer?

Treatment for triple-negative breast cancer depends on the stage of the cancer. If the cancer is at an early stage, the small tumor can be easily removed through surgery, and for large tumors, radiation may follow surgery. Chemotherapy may also be recommended to prevent a recurrence.

In the case of the second surgery, chemo is suggested before surgery by itself or with pembrolizumab (Keytruda) to shrink a large tumor and lymph nodes with cancer.

In stage IV triple-negative breast cancer, chemo is the first consideration. Different chemo drugs are used alone or in combination. Common chemo drugs include anthracyclines, gemcitabine, taxanes, eribulin, capecitabine, and others.

Primarily, triple negative breast cancer clinical trials focus on how well new and improved drugs work in treating patients with TNBC before surgery.

What Are Some Recent Breakthrough Clinical Trials For Triple Negative Breast Cancer?

Several clinical trials have involved triple-negative breast cancer in recent years. Some of the most notable studies are:

2023: Pembrolizumab Improves Survival - this clinical trial involved adding the chemotherapy drug pembrolizumab (Keytruda) to help patients survive advanced triple-negative breast cancer. In this study, overall survival improved only among patients whose tumors had relatively high levels of the PD-L1 protein.

2015: Current Approaches In Treatment Of TNBC - TNBC responds better to chemotherapy than other cancers, yet the prognosis remains poor. This study reviewed numerous large randomized trials and established the benefit of adjuvant anthracyclines and taxanes in breast cancer.

Who Are Some Of The Key Opinion Institutions Conducting Triple Negative Breast Cancer Clinical Trial Research?

Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic conducts clinical studies to help researchers understand how to diagnose, treat and prevent diseases or conditions. There are currently 27 ongoing triple-negative breast cancer clinical trials studying the effects of different drugs in chemo.

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has a large, international team of laboratory-based and clinical investigators who strive to find more effective therapies for metastatic breast cancer. They conduct personalized clinical trials on each person’s cancer type and diagnosis.