The emerging role of immune checkpoint inhibitors in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) form a heterogeneous group of breast carcinomas that lack expression of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor and epidermal growth factor receptor 2. In the past decade, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have revolutionized the arena of cancer immunotherapy. Early results are now accumulating from trials involving the treatment of TNBCs with radical ICIs therapies, including combinational therapies that include ICI technologies. In this review, we provide a broad overview of the progress of immunotherapy-based treatments and discuss future opportunities for their use in TNBC.

Automated summary

Triple-negative breast cancers are a heterogeneous group of breast carcinomas that do not express estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and epidermal growth factor receptor 2. Recent trials using immune checkpoint inhibitors for treatment have shown promising early results. This review provides an overview of immunotherapy-based treatments and discusses future opportunities for their use in TNBC.