Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and surgery are currently used to treat triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). However, no treatments specifically target TNBC. Identifying TNBC-specific treatments could change the treatment landscape. In addition to potentially bettering overall survival rates, novel therapeutics have the potential to improve access and reduce negative side effects related to current treatments.
According to Technology Networks, the University of Adelaide ran a preclinical study on CDDD11-8, a new selective CDK9 inhibitor initially developed by the University of South Australia’s Shudong Wang for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). CDK9 plays a role in how cancer advances. It promotes cell growth, allowing the tumors to grow. Therefore, inhibiting CDK9 could stop tumors from growing.
In the study results, published in Oncogene, researchers sourced breast tissue samples from women with TNBC. After treating the tissue samples with CDDD11-8, the researchers noticed that normal, healthy cells were left alone while the cancerous cells stopped proliferating.
Although this is promising, it is important to remember that this is only initial evidence. More research is needed in both the preclinical and clinical settings over the comings years to determine whether CDDDD11-8 should be developed for this patient population.
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About Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)
Triple negative breast cancer comprises around 10-15% of breast cancer diagnoses. TNBC differs from other forms of breast cancer because it often has a worse prognosis, less treatment options, and is more aggressive overall. The 5-year relative survival rate for all TNBC stages sits at 77%.
According to the American Cancer Society:
“The term triple-negative breast cancer refers to the fact that the cancer cells don’t have estrogen or progesterone receptors (ER or PR) and also don’t make any or too much of the protein called HER2. These cancers tend to be more common in women younger than age 40, who are Black, or who have a BRCA1 mutation.”
Symptoms of TNBC may include changes in breast shape or size, nipple or breast pain, abnormal nipple discharge, inverted nipples, breast inflammation, a lump in the breast, dimpled or thickened skin, and enlarged lymph nodes.
breast cancer research TNBC treatment triple negative breast cancer
Last modified: February 20, 2024
