Extracellular Vesicles in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Immune Regulation, Biomarkers, and Immunotherapeutic Potential

Simple Summary: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive phenotype, is commonly attributed to the loss of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor, thereby posing unique challenges in treatment via conventional targeted therapies. Although present chemotherapeutic regimens show promise against TNBC morbidity; the variability in treatment outcomes among patients and emerging resistance limit their potential. Moreover, due to significant mutational burden, TNBC is considered as highly immunogenic. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have shown to regulate multiple human pathologies including cancer due to their role in transferring bioactive molecules between cells, evading immune surveillance. Conversely, the biological novelties of EVs are also exploited to develop experimental therapies. Here, we review studies in which EVs contribute to the progression of human TNBC and their immune regulation. Understanding these mechanistic details may open up avenues for repurposing EV-based immunotherapeutic strategies in the context of human TNBC treatment. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype accounting for similar to 10-20% of all human BC and is characterized by the absence of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) amplification. Owing to its unique molecular profile and limited targeted therapies, TNBC treatment poses significant challenges. Unlike other BC subtypes, TNBC lacks specific molecular targets, rendering endocrine therapies and HER2-targeted treatments ineffective. The chemotherapeutic regimen is the predominant systemic treatment modality for TNBC in current clinical practice. However, the efficacy of chemotherapy in TNBC is variable, with response rates varying between a wide range of patients, and the emerging resistance further adds to the difficulties. Furthermore, TNBC exhibits a higher mutational burden and is acknowledged as the most immunogenic of all BC subtypes. Consequently, the application of immune checkpoint inhibition has been investigated in TNBC, yielding promising outcomes. Recent evidence identified extracellular vesicles (EVs) as an important contributor in the context of TNBC immunotherapy. In view of the extraordinary ability of EVs to transfer bioactive molecules, such as proteins, lipids, DNA, mRNAs, and small miRNAs, between the cells, EVs are considered a promising diagnostic biomarker and novel drug delivery system among the prospects for immunotherapy. The present review provides an in-depth understanding of how EVs influence TNBC progression, its immune regulation, and their contribution as a predictive biomarker for TNBC. The final part of the review focuses on the recent key advances in immunotherapeutic strategies for better understanding the complex interplay between EVs and the immune system in TNBC and further developing EV-based targeted immunotherapies.

Automated summary

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer that lacks specific molecular targets for treatment. Chemotherapy is the main systemic treatment for TNBC, but its efficacy varies and resistance is common. TNBC has a high mutational burden and is considered the most immunogenic subtype of breast cancer. Recent evidence suggests that extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a significant role in TNBC immunotherapy.