Immunotherapy in triple negative breast cancer: beyond checkpoint inhibitors

The development of immunotherapy agents has revolutionized the field of oncology. The only FDA-approved immunotherapeutic approach in breast cancer consists of immune checkpoint inhibitors, yet several novel immune-modulatory strategies are being actively studied and appear promising. Innovative immunotherapeutic strategies are urgently needed in triple negative breast cancer (NBC), a subtype of breast cancer known for its poor prognosis and its resistance to conventional treatments. TNBC is more primed to respond to immunotherapy given the presence of more tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, higher PD-L1 expression, and higher tumor mutation burden relative to the other breast cancer subtypes, and therefore, immuno-oncology represents a key area of promise for TNBC research. The aim of this review is to highlight current data and ongoing efforts to establish the safety and efficacy of immunotherapeutic approaches beyond checkpoint inhibitors in TNBC.

Automated summary

The development of immunotherapy agents has brought about revolutionary changes in the field of oncology. Currently, the only FDA-approved immunotherapeutic approach for breast cancer is immune checkpoint inhibitors, but several innovative immune-modulatory strategies are being actively studied and show promising results. In triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), a subtype known for its poor prognosis and resistance to conventional treatments, there is an urgent need for innovative immunotherapeutic strategies. TNBC is more responsive to immunotherapy due to the presence of more tumor infiltrating lymphocytes, higher PD-L1 expression, and higher tumor mutation burden compared to other breast cancer subtypes.