scholarly journals Metabolic Syndrome and Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A New Paradigm

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew A. Davis ◽  
Virginia G. Kaklamani

Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are aggressive tumors with poor prognosis compared to other breast cancer subtypes. The evidence linking TNBC with the metabolic syndrome, which consists of central obesity, insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, has emerged from clinical studies and experiments using cell lines and mouse models. Epidemiological studies have associated abdominal obesity with increased incidence of TNBC. Additionally, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension are associated with increased incidence of breast cancer across all subtypes. The insulin-leptin-adiponectin axis has been implicated mechanistically in breast cancer tumorigenesis. Specifically, increased leptin and decreased adiponectin levels disrupt homeostatic signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, survival, cell-cycle regulation, and angiogenesis. Insulin, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) may mediate interactions between these two hormones. Further research will facilitate the development of targeted therapeutics and programs to modify lifestyle factors to modulate the insulin-leptin-adiponectin axis for TNBC.

2021 ◽  
pp. 107815522199163
Author(s):  
Homa Seyedmirzaei ◽  
Mahsa Keshavarz-Fathi ◽  
Sepideh Razi ◽  
Masoumeh Gity ◽  
Nima Rezaei

Objective Breast cancer is responsible for most of the cancer-induced deaths in women around the world. The current review will discuss different approaches of targeting HER2, an epidermal growth factor overexpressed in 30% of breast cancer cases. Data sources We conducted a search on Pubmed and Scopus databases to find studies relevant to HER2+ breast cancers and targeting HER2 as means of immunotherapy. Out of 1043 articles, 105 studies were included in this review. Data summary As well as the introduction of HER2 and breast cancer subtypes, we discussed various aspects of HER2-targeting immunotherapy including monoclonal antibodies, Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cells and vaccines. Conclusions Despite several ways of controlling breast cancer, the need to investigate new drugs and approaches seems to be much significant as this cancer still has a heavy burden on people’s health and survival.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 658
Author(s):  
Michela Levi ◽  
Luisa Vera Muscatello ◽  
Barbara Brunetti ◽  
Cinzia Benazzi ◽  
Federico Parenti ◽  
...  

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) are major actors in multidrug resistance (MDR) phenomenon in both human and canine mammary carcinomas (CMCs). The aim of this study was to investigate an association between the intrinsic expression of P-gp and BCRP compared to the immunophenotypes and outcome in CMCs. Fifty CMCs were evaluated at immunohistochemistry (IHC) for P-gp, BCRP, Estrogen receptor alpha (ER), Progesterone receptors (PR), Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor type 2 (HER2), basal cytokeratins 5/6 (CK5/6), Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 1 (EGFR), and Ki67 proliferation index. P-gp and BCRP positive cases were, respectively, 52% and 74.5%, with a significantly higher expression of BCRP than P-gp. Five immunophenotypes were defined in 37 out of 50 CMCs: 9 (24.3%) Luminal A, 5 (13.5%) Luminal B, 9 (24.3%) HER2 overexpressing, 9 (24.3%) Triple-negative basal-like, and 5 (13.5%) Triple-negative non-basal-like. In all CMCs at least one marker was expressed. Follow-up data were available for 25 animals. The average cancer-specific survival was 739 ± 444 days. A number of CMCs bear a high expression of P-gp and BCRP but no significant association was found between their expression and the immunophenotypes, Ki67 index, the histological grade, and tumor-related death.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayca Gucalp ◽  
Tiffany A. Traina

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a subtype distinguished by negative immunohistochemical assays for expression of the estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER/PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2(HER2) represents 15% of all breast cancers. Patients with TNBC generally experience a more aggressive clinical course with increased risk of disease progression and poorer overall survival. Furthermore, this subtype accounts for a disproportionate number of disease-related mortality in part due to its aggressive natural history and our lack of effective targeted agents beyond conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy. In this paper, we will review the epidemiology, risk factors, prognosis, and the molecular and clinicopathologic features that distinguish TNBC from other subtypes of breast cancer. In addition, we will examine the available data for the use of cytotoxic chemotherapy in the treatment of TNBC in both the neoadjuvant and adjuvant setting and explore the ongoing development of newer targeted agents.


2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (18) ◽  
pp. 2966-2973 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marco Colleoni ◽  
Bernard F. Cole ◽  
Giuseppe Viale ◽  
Meredith M. Regan ◽  
Karen N. Price ◽  
...  

Purpose Retrospective studies suggest that primary breast cancers lacking estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) and not overexpressing human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2; triple-negative tumors) are particularly sensitive to DNA-damaging chemotherapy with alkylating agents. Patients and Methods Patients enrolled in International Breast Cancer Study Group Trials VIII and IX with node-negative, operable breast cancer and centrally assessed ER, PR, and HER2 were included (n = 2,257). The trials compared three or six courses of adjuvant classical cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF) with or without endocrine therapy versus endocrine therapy alone. We explored patterns of recurrence by treatment according to three immunohistochemically defined tumor subtypes: triple negative, HER2 positive and endocrine receptor absent, and endocrine receptor present. Results Patients with triple-negative tumors (303 patients; 13%) were significantly more likely to have tumors > 2 cm and grade 3 compared with those in the HER2-positive, endocrine receptor–absent, and endocrine receptor–present subtypes. No clear chemotherapy benefit was observed in endocrine receptor–present disease (hazard ratio [HR], 0.90; 95% CI, 0.74 to 1.11). A statistically significantly greater benefit for chemotherapy versus no chemotherapy was observed in triple-negative breast cancer (HR, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.29 to 0.73; interaction P = .009 v endocrine receptor–present disease). The magnitude of the chemotherapy effect was lower in HER2-positive endocrine receptor–absent disease (HR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.29 to 1.17; interaction P = .24 v endocrine receptor–present disease). Conclusion The magnitude of benefit of CMF chemotherapy is largest in patients with triple-negative, node-negative breast cancer.


2014 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. BCBCR.S9453 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam M. Brufsky

Human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) is overexpressed in up to 30% of breast cancers; HER2 overexpression is indicative of poor prognosis. Trastuzumab, an anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody, has led to improved outcomes in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer, including improved overall survival in adjuvant and first-line settings. However, a large proportion of patients with breast cancer have intrinsic resistance to HER2-targeted therapies, and nearly all become resistant to therapy after initial response. Elucidation of underlying mechanisms contributing to HER2 resistance has led to development of novel therapeutic strategies, including those targeting HER2 and downstream pathways, heat shock protein 90, telomerase, and vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors. Numerous clinical trials are ongoing or completed, including phase 3 data for the mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitor everolimus in patients with HER2-resistant breast cancer. This review considers the molecular mechanisms associated with HER2 resistance and evaluates the evidence for use of evolving strategies in patients with HER2-resistant breast cancer.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (19) ◽  
pp. 5009
Author(s):  
Swetha Vasudevan ◽  
Ibukun A. Adejumobi ◽  
Heba Alkhatib ◽  
Sangita Roy Chowdhury ◽  
Shira Stefansky ◽  
...  

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subgroup of breast cancers which is treated mainly with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was considered to be frequently expressed in TNBC, and therefore was suggested as a therapeutic target. However, clinical trials of EGFR inhibitors have failed. In this study, we examine the relationship between the patient-specific TNBC network structures and possible mechanisms of resistance to anti-EGFR therapy. Using an information-theoretical analysis of 747 breast tumors from the TCGA dataset, we resolved individualized protein network structures, namely patient-specific signaling signatures (PaSSS) for each tumor. Each PaSSS was characterized by a set of 1–4 altered protein–protein subnetworks. Thirty-one percent of TNBC PaSSSs were found to harbor EGFR as a part of the network and were predicted to benefit from anti-EGFR therapy as long as it is combined with anti-estrogen receptor (ER) therapy. Using a series of single-cell experiments, followed by in vivo support, we show that drug combinations which are not tailored accurately to each PaSSS may generate evolutionary pressure in malignancies leading to an expansion of the previously undetected or untargeted subpopulations, such as ER+ populations. This corresponds to the PaSSS-based predictions suggesting to incorporate anti-ER drugs in certain anti-TNBC treatments. These findings highlight the need to tailor anti-TNBC targeted therapy to each PaSSS to prevent diverse evolutions of TNBC tumors and drug resistance development.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 4139
Author(s):  
Pere Llinàs-Arias ◽  
Sandra Íñiguez-Muñoz ◽  
Kelly McCann ◽  
Leonie Voorwerk ◽  
Javier I. J. Orozco ◽  
...  

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is defined by the absence of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) overexpression. This malignancy, representing 15–20% of breast cancers, is a clinical challenge due to the lack of targeted treatments, higher intrinsic aggressiveness, and worse outcomes than other breast cancer subtypes. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown promising efficacy for early-stage and advanced TNBC, but this seems limited to a subgroup of patients. Understanding the underlying mechanisms that determine immunotherapy efficiency is essential to identifying which TNBC patients will respond to immunotherapy-based treatments and help to develop new therapeutic strategies. Emerging evidence supports that epigenetic alterations, including aberrant chromatin architecture conformation and the modulation of gene regulatory elements, are critical mechanisms for immune escape. These alterations are particularly interesting since they can be reverted through the inhibition of epigenetic regulators. For that reason, several recent studies suggest that the combination of epigenetic drugs and immunotherapeutic agents can boost anticancer immune responses. In this review, we focused on the contribution of epigenetics to the crosstalk between immune and cancer cells, its relevance on immunotherapy response in TNBC, and the potential benefits of combined treatments.


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 181-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
SOFIA LEVVA ◽  
VASSILIKI KOTOULA ◽  
IOANNIS KOSTOPOULOS ◽  
KYRIAKI MANOUSOU ◽  
CHRISTOS PAPADIMITRIOU ◽  
...  

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document