Neoadjuvant Strategies for Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Current Evidence and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive subtype of breast cancer, characterized by poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. Although neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) remains the established treatment approach, its suboptimal efficacy associated with TNBC highlight the urgent need for optimized treatment strategies to improve pathological complete response (pCR) rates. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in neoadjuvant treatment for TNBC, emphasizing pivotal breakthroughs in therapeutic strategies and the ongoing pursuit of innovative approaches to enhance precision medicine. It emphasizes the clinical value of platinum-based agents, such as carboplatin and cisplatin, which have shown significant improvements in pCR rates, particularly in TNBC patients with BRCA mutations. Additionally, the review explores progress in targeted therapies, including PARP inhibitors, AKT inhibitors, and Antiangiogenic agents, showcasing their potential for personalized treatment approaches. The integration of immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitor like pembrolizumab and atezolizumab, with chemotherapy has demonstrated substantial efficacy in high-risk TNBC cases. Future research priorities include refining biomarker-driven strategies, optimizing therapeutic combinations, developing antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) targeting TROP2 and other biomarkers, and reducing treatment-related toxicity to develop safer and highly personalized neoadjuvant therapies. Furthermore, artificial intelligence has also emerged as a transformative tool in predicting treatment response and optimizing therapeutic decision-making in TNBC. These advancements aim to improve long-term outcomes and quality of life for patients with TNBC.

Keywords

future perspectives / immunotherapy / neoadjuvant chemotherapy / platinum-based agents / targeted therapy / triple-negative breast cancer

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