What is Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

Besides a horde of other tests, diagnosis of breast cancer also speaks of two specialized blood tests for breast cancer, the results of which decide whether the breast cancer will respond to hormone therapy and/or targeted therapy with Herceptin, which incidentally are the two most successful therapies for breast cancer.

• Hormone receptor test to determine if there are any hormone receptors on the surface of the breast cancer cells or not. They may have receptors for estrogen (ER positive) or progesterone (PR positive) or for both. This helps to find out if that particular breast cancer can be given hormone blocking therapy or not to control its growth.
• HER2/neu Test. HER2/neu is a cancer gene. In 20% to 30% of invasive breast cancers, this gene is amplified and the protein, HER2/neu protein, which it produces, is increased. This test helps to determine whether the cells of the breast cancer that is present in the patient are HER2 positive or not. HER2  positive test indicates that the tumor has HER2 protein receptors on surface of its cells. Blocking of these receptors stops the tumor from growing. The chemotherapeutic drug, Herceptin blocks these protein receptors thereby inhibiting the growth of the tumor.

When the breast cancer tests negative for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and HER2/neu receptors, it is referred to as triple negative breast cancer. This implies that that triple negative breast cancer will not respond to hormone therapy nor to targeted therapy with chemotherapeutic agent Herceptin which are the two most successful therapies for breast cancer.

Nature of Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

• This cancer usually belongs to grade three type of breast cancer making it a very aggressive type of cancer. Do read grades of breast cancer.
• It usually is a basal-like cancer meaning that it resembles the basal cells that line the inner walls of the milk ducts. This is a new type of subtype of breast cancer which has been discovered by research.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Prognosis.

The prognosis of this cancer is very poor due to lack of response to hormone therapy and targeted therapy. About 10% to 20% of breast cancers are triple negative. Early relapse and metastasis (spread of breast cancer)  is common with this type of breast cancer. This risk is limited to the first three years or so and later the risk of recurrence and metastasis is the same as with other cancers.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Risk Factors and Prevalence. 

• More likely to occur in women under the age of 40 years.
• Pregnancy and multiple childbirth increase risk of triple negative breast cancer.
• It is commonly seen in women with BRCA1 mutation, American Africans and Hispanics. Black women are three times more likely to get triple negative breast cancer than white women.
• More common in women with obesity and physical inactivity.

Triple Negative Breast Cancer Survival Rate.

Five year survival rate for triple negative breast cancer is lower than in other cancers. In a study of 2007, the 5 year survival in triple negative cancer was found to be 77% against 93% in other breast cancers.

Treatment of Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

With the ruling out of hormone therapy and targeted therapy with Herceptin, the choice of treatment for triple negative breast cancer becomes limited to surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. This cancer is aggressive and therefore an aggressive line of treatment is usually suggested.

For example, given the choice, the oncosurgeon would prefer to do a mastectomy rather than a lumpectomy. The oncologist will also prefer more chemotherapy treatments or higher doses of chemotherapy.

He or she would also advise giving chemotherapy before surgery (neoadjuvant therapy) to obtain better results, which has been proved by studies conducted. This does help in getting better results after surgery by total eradication of cancer from the breast.

Research however does appear to be showing promising results and it is positively hoped that a better form of treatment may soon materialize.

Related posts:

1. Breast Cancer Symptoms with Breast Cancer Pictures.
2. Breast Cancer Statistics for U.S.A.
3. Breast Cancer Statistics Worldwide.
4. BRCA Gene Test for Breast Cancer.
5. Breast Cancer.
6. Diagnosis and Testing for Breast Cancer.
7. Breast Screening to Detect Breast Cancer.
8. Breast Cancer Grade.