Prognosis Of Triple Negative Breast Cancer
TNBC is known to spread faster than other forms. The women suffering from TNBC found to have 16 percent less possibility of surviving upto 5 years following the diagnosis, as compared to other breast cancer types.
Some features cause cancer to be more aggressive as compared to the rest of forms, as a result poorer prognosis. Although, many TNBC patients are treated efficiently.
Triple negative breast cancer treatment
Chemotherapy is considered to be the first priority for treating TNBC cancer cell lines. The patients at early stage can also be treated with neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy.
Neoadjuvant therapy is prescribed in TNBC treatment by reason of its high clinical success rate in abating growth of tumor before the surgery. For treating metastatic TNBC, FDA approved chemotherapeutic combinations.
Doctors evaluate every aspect of your disease and recommend the treatment course as per the diagnosis.
To prevent yourself from this prevalent breast cancer type, follow these effective breast cancer preventive tips. Also, keep doing breast self examination tests regularly for timely diagnosis.
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When Should I Go To The Emergency Room
You might also have unusually strong side effects from your cancer treatment. While your healthcare provider likely gave you medication to help control your side effects, you should go to the emergency room if your side effects continue despite medication.
Many cancer treatments affect your immune system, increasing the chance you will develop infections. Symptoms that might require an emergency room visit during treatment are:
- Fever of 100.5 and above.
- Chills.
- Persistent nausea and vomiting.
Can Tnbc Be Prevented
Researchers dont know all the factors that cause triple negative breast cancer. They have identified the BRAC1 gene mutation as one potential cause for triple negative breast cancer. Unfortunately, you cant prevent BRAC1 because you inherit this gene mutation from your parents.
But there are steps that help prevent breast cancers, including TNBC:
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Exercise on a regular basis.
- Know your family medical history.
- Monitor your breast health. Studies show 95% of women whose breast cancer was treated before it could spread were alive four years after diagnosis.
- Talk to your healthcare provider about genetic testing for the BRCA gene if you have a family history of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, pancreatic or prostate cancer. If you have the BRCA gene, there are steps you can take to prevent breast cancer.
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Mtbp Is Overexpressed In Human Breast Cancer And Correlates With Decreased Patient Survival And Triple Negative Status
We previously detected MTBP/Mtbp overexpression in human lymphoma cell lines and primary murine lymphomas . MTBP was also reported amplified in colorectal carcinoma and multiple myeloma , as well as several human cancer cell lines , suggesting its overexpression contributes to human cancers. To specifically evaluate MTBP expression in human breast cancer, mRNA expression and patient survival data for 844 breast cancers from The Cancer Genome Atlas were assessed. MTBP was significantly elevated in breast cancer samples compared to normal breast tissue . When cancers were separated by their MTBP expression, those patients whose breast cancers had elevated MTBP expression exhibited reduced overall survival compared to patients whose breast cancers had lower levels of MTBP . A Cox regression analysis also showed that increased MTBP levels are significantly linked with worse patient survival . Moreover, MTBP was amplified in 19% of breast cancers, and this amplification decreased overall patient survival compared to tumors without amplified MTBP . These data indicate MTBP overexpression is common and thus, likely selected for during breast cancer formation and/or progression. The results also show that elevated levels of MTBP correlate with reduced breast cancer patient survival.
What Is Triple Negative Breast Cancer
A diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer means that the three most common types of receptors known to fuel most breast cancer growthestrogen, progesterone, and the HER-2/neu gene are not present in the cancer tumor. This means that the breast cancer cells have tested negative for hormone epidermal growth factor receptor 2 , estrogen receptors , and progesterone receptors .
Since the tumor cells lack the necessary receptors, common treatments like hormone therapy and drugs that target estrogen, progesterone, and HER-2 are ineffective. Using chemotherapy to treat triple negative breast cancer is still an effective option. In fact, triple negative breast cancer may respond even better to chemotherapy in the earlier stages than many other forms of cancer.
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What Is My Risk For Breast Cancer
Being a woman is the main risk factor for breast cancer, as the disease is most commonly found in women in ages 55 and older. Multiple uncontrollable factors such as race and ethnicity, personal/family history, breast density and menstrual period history increase the risk of breast cancer occurrence. In addition, having changes in certain breast cancer genes increases the risk of developing breast cancer.
Another category is the lifestyle-related risk factors, such as the use of birth control pills, hormone therapy after menopause, childbirth, alcohol consumption, extra weight and sedentariness.
It is important to keep in mind that having one or several risk factors does not mean a woman will develop breast cancer. Although is it important to be familiar with all of the risk factors and especially for those that can be controlled by lifestyle to lower the risk of breast cancer. Physical activity of at least 150 minutes at moderate intensity or 75 minutes at vigorous intensity activity is recommended. Further, the ACS advises that women have no more than one alcoholic drink per day to reduce breast cancer risk. Regular breast cancer screening is also recommended by ACS for all women above the age of 40.
What Questions Should I Ask My Doctor
You will have lots of questions about your cancer, starting with your diagnosis. Here are some basic questions you might ask:
- What is triple negative breast cancer?
- How do you know my cancer is triple negative breast cancer?
- Why did I get this cancer?
- Do I need genetic testing?
- Has my breast cancer spread, and if so, how far has it spread?
- What is the stage of my cancer?
- What is my prognosis or expected outcome?
- What treatments do you recommend?
- Why do you recommend those treatments?
- What are those treatment side effects?
- Will I need surgery? If so, what surgery do you recommend and why?
- Im interested in participating in clinical trials. Are you able to help me find one?
- Do you know if there are any local support groups?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Triple negative breast cancer is one of the more challenging breast cancers to treat. You might be discouraged by what you have read about triple negative breast cancer. But there are a number of very effective treatments for triple negative breast cancer, including immunotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. And every day researchers learn more about this rare cancer. Their knowledge is your power. If youre concerned you arent getting the straight story about your cancer, ask your healthcare provider to walk you through your diagnosis and treatment options.
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Is Triple Negative Breast Cancer An Aggressive Form Of Cancer
Its true that triple negative breast cancers can grow quickly. But your prognosis or expected outcome depends on more factors than your cancer subtype. Healthcare providers will also consider your tumors size and whether it has spread to your lymph nodes and other parts of your breast. Its also helpful to know researchers are focusing on ways to slow the spread of TNBC.
Statistics Dont Account For Late Recurrences
When comparing triple-negative breast cancer to positive tumors, its important to keep in mind late recurrences. Most statistics are presented as five-year survival rate, and in this setting, triple-negative breast cancer can look more ominous. But looking at longer periods of time, say 20 years following diagnosis, this may be different.
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Survival Rates And Prognosis
The outlook for breast cancer is often described in terms of relative survival rates.
Relative survival rates are an estimate of the percentage of people who will survive their cancer for a given period of time after diagnosis. Survival among people with cancer is compared to survival among people of the same age and race who have not been diagnosed with cancer.
Five-year relative survival rates tend to be lower for triple-negative breast cancer than for other forms of breast cancer.
According to the American Cancer Society, the overall 5-year relative survival rate for TNBC is . However, an individuals outlook depends on many factors, including the stage of the cancer and the grade of the tumor.
Your healthcare professional will be able to give you a more precise outlook based on:
- the stage of your TNBC
- your age
Who Is Most Likely To Have Tnbc
Triple negative breast cancer appears more frequently in women age 40 and younger than in older women. Black and Latina women are more likely to develop TNBC than white women. Women who have the gene change BRCA1 are more likely to develop TNBC than other women. When the BRCA1 gene mutates, it stops preventing cancer and appears to make your bodys cells more vulnerable to cancer.
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Stages Of Breast Cancer
The stage of breast cancer is based on the size and location of the tumor, as well as whether the cancer has spread beyond the part of the breast in which it originated. To determine the stage of breast cancer, healthcare professionals use a scale of stage 0 to stage 4.
Stage 0 breast cancers are isolated in one part of the breast, such as a duct or lobule, and show no sign of spreading into other tissue.
Stage 1 is typically localized, although further local growth or spread may cause the cancer to move into stage 2.
In stage 3, the cancer may be larger and has affected the lymph system. Stage 4 cancer has spread beyond the breast and nearby lymph nodes, and into other organs and tissues of the body.
In addition to stages, breast cancers are given grades based on the size, shape, and activity of the cells in the tumor. A higher-grade cancer means a greater percentage of cells look and act abnormal, or they no longer resemble normal, healthy cells.
On a scale of 1 to 3, with 3 being the most serious, TNBC is often labeled grade 3.
American Cancer Society , the symptoms of TNBC can be the same as those for other types of breast cancer. ACS recommends regular screenings such as mammograms to detect breast cancer before symptoms appear, the time when treatment is most effective.
Other signs of breast cancer include:
Any of these signs can be caused by other conditions. But it is always good to have them checked out by your healthcare professional.
- radiation therapy
- surgery
Reducing Mtbp Levels Inhibit Tnbc Cell Proliferation
Considering Mtbp expression increases in response to pro-proliferative factors , and MTBP is highly overexpressed in TNBC, we questioned whether reducing levels of MTBP in human TNBC cells would alter their ability to proliferate. To begin to test this concept, we knocked down MTBP expression with two different MTBP shRNAs in the MDA-MB-231 and HCC1806 TNBC cell lines. While both cell lines overexpress MTBP , they represent distinct subtypes of TNBC , and HCC1806 cells have an MTBP amplification . In both cell lines, reduced MTBP expression resulted in a decrease in proliferation that correlated with the amount of MTBP protein present, where MTBP shRNA1 was more effective at reducing MTBP protein levels than MTBP shRNA2 . Similarly, anchorage-independent growth in soft agar was significantly reduced for both the MDA-MB-231 and the HCC1806 cells when MTBP was knocked down . To ensure the observed effects were due to reduced MTBP expression, shRNA resistant murine Mtbp was co-expressed with MTBP shRNA1. The murine Mtbp rescued the ability of MDA-MB-231 cells to form colonies in soft agar in the presence of MTBP shRNA1, while cells co-transfected with vector control and MTBP shRNA1 still showed decreased colony formation . These results indicate knockdown of MTBP inhibits TNBC expansion and anchorage-independent growth.
MTBP knockdown inhibits proliferation and colony growthInducible MTBP shRNA inhibits cell expansion
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What Is The Prognosis For Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Triple negative breast cancer can be more aggressive and difficult to treat. Also, the cancer is more likely to spread and recur. The stage of breast cancer and the grade of the tumor will influence your prognosis. Research is being done currently to create drug therapies that are specific for triple negative breast cancer.
Interested in learning more? i3Health is hosting an upcoming webinar Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Applying Treatment Advances to Personalized Care. Learn more here.
Material on this page courtesy of Johns Hopkins Medicine
Triple Negative Breast Cancer Day By Deborah After Breast Cancer Ambassador
Being diagnosed with breast cancer has been one of the most challenging things to live with to date but knowing that Breast cancer isnt just one type of cancer is something everyone should know. There are four main subtypes of breast cancer, with different characteristics, and therefore which require different treatments.
Each year 15 to 20 per cent of patients get diagnosed with Triple-negative breast cancer it is named this because it lacks estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors it accounts for only 10 to 20 per cent of all invasive breast cancers, yet is responsible for a large proportion of breast cancer deaths because it is so aggressive, and is more likely to have already spread to other parts of the body at diagnosis.
Fortunately, Triple-negative breast cancer can be treated with other drugs, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy and non-HER2 targeted therapy.
Most of us go through chemotherapy, surgery and radiation therapy. Ive had all 3 with 8 rounds of chemo, 2 major surgeries including Lumpectomy and Lymph Node Dissection and Breast Reconstruction.
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Signs And Symptoms Of Breast Cancer
The most common signs of breast cancer include:
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Lump in the breast or underarm
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Swelling or thickening of all or part of the breast
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Dimpling or irritation of breast skin
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Localized, persistent breast pain
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Redness, scaliness or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
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Nipple retraction or discharge
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Any change in the size or shape of the breast
It is important to remember that breast lumps are common, particularly in premenopausal women. There are many different kinds of lumps, most of which are not cancerous tumors. The majority of lumps turn out to be benign, such as the soft, fluid-filled lumps that feel tender , the rubbery lumps that move around under the skin and are usually painless, or the fibrocystic changes leading to painful, lumpy breasts. Benign lumps develop from fatty tissue deposits or breastfeeding when sacs filled with milk form cysts. One can even get a lump as a result of an injury, such as when your breast gets bruised or after breast surgery. Every woman should learn about these signs and do monthly breast self-exams along with regular mammograms, which, along with knowledge of risk factors of breast cancer, can help women keep this disease at bay.
Things You Need To Know About Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Today is Triple Negative Breast Cancer Day a day dedicated to raising funds and awareness for TNBC. You might be wondering why a specific type of breast cancer needs its own day? TNBC is an aggressive form of breast cancer that can be difficult to treat and targets specific populations. Read on to find out more about what you need to know.
Triple Negative Breast Cancer is not hormonally fuelled
Triple-negative breast cancer are tumours that test negative for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and excess HER2 protein. These results mean the growth of the cancer is not fueled by the hormones estrogen and progesterone, or by the HER2 protein. About 10-20 percent of breast cancers are triple-negative breast cancers.
TNBC has a different treatment pathway
TNBC does not respond to hormonal therapy medicines or medicines that target HER2 protein receptors. TNBC is typically treated with a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The following are typical treatment pathways:
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy
PARP inhibitors for hereditary TNBC
Immunotherapy
Surgery
Most TNBC patients undergo a mastectomy to reduce their chance of recurrence for breast cancer. Depending on your diagnosis , a unilateral or bilateral mastectomy may be recommended to reduce your risk.
TNBC targets specific populations
While TNBC can show up in anyone, researchers have found that it is more prevalent in the following populations:
TNBC has unique features
TNBC can be scary
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Honors Daughter Lauren Morelle Who Battled The Disease Valiantly For Two Years
Today, Congressman Joe Morelle announced he has introduced a resolution designating today, March 3, as National Triple Negative Breast Cancer Awareness Day. This designation aims to foster greater public awareness and understanding of TNBC and encourage early detection and prompt treatment.
“I am humbled to sponsor this resolution and help raise awareness for a cause near and dear to me and my family,” said Rep. Morelle. “My daughter, Lauren, battled triple negative breast cancer for two years with incredible courage and tenacity. She shared her story publicly, underscoring the importance of raising awareness of this serious health issue and encouraging everyone to get tested.
“As we recognize TNBC Awareness Day, I extend my support to the thousands of individuals and families affected by this devastating disease. Together, we must highlight the need for continued education, research, and action to finally find a cure for breast cancer,” continued Rep. Morelle.
Breast cancers are generally diagnosed based upon the presence, or lack thereof, three “receptors” known to fuel most breast cancers: estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 . The most successful treatments for breast cancer target these receptors however, a diagnosis of triple negative breast cancer means that none of these receptors are present, causing the cancer to be immune to many common treatments.