Triple negative breast cancer: nanosolutions for a big challenge

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a particular immunopathological subtype of breast cancer that lacks expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER/PR) and amplification of the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) gene. Characterized by aggressive and metastatic phenotypes and high rates of relapse, TNBC is the only breast cancer subgroup still lacking effective therapeutic options, thus presenting the worst prognosis. The development of targeted therapies, as well as early diagnosis methods, is vital to ensure an adequate and timely therapeutic intervention in patients with TNBC. This review intends to discuss potentially emerging approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of TNBC patients, with a special focus on nano-based solutions that actively target these particular tumors.

his study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and the European Community fund FEDER, through Program COMPETE, under the scope of the Projects FCOMP01–0124-FEDER -0 21053 (PTDC/ SAU-BMA/121028/2010), PEst-OE/ EQB/LA0023/2013, RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01–0124FEDER-027462), the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, and the Projects “BioHealth – Biotechnology and Bioengineering approaches to improve health quality”, REF. NORTE-07–0124-FEDER-000027, and “BioInd – Biotechnology and Bioengineering for improved Industrial and Agro-Food processes”, REF. NORTE-07–0124-FEDER-000028, co-funded by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2 – O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER. Tânia Mendes acknowledges the FCT for supporting her PhD grant (SFRH / BD / 51955 / 2012).