About Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
November 22, 2017
The rate of triple-negative breast cancer is twice as high in black women as in white women.
It is called triple-negative because cancer cells do not have estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors or large amounts of HER-2 protein. The cells lack the receptors that respond to currently approved targeted therapies or hormone therapies so treatment options are usually limited to surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Triple-negative breast cancer tends to be more aggressive than other breast cancers.
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC) is a leader in research initiatives to develop treatments for triple-negative breast cancer. VICC researchers have classified triple-negative breast cancer into subtypes and are working to identify pathways for targeted therapies. Clinical trials for potential treatments for triple-negative breast cancer are also underway at VICC.
To learn more, visit www.vicc.org/ct/