Review
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World J Clin Oncol. May 10, 2014; 5(2): 125-133
Published online May 10, 2014. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i2.125
Systemic treatment strategies for triple-negative breast cancer
Budhi Singh Yadav, Suresh C Sharma, Priyanka Chanana, Swaty Jhamb
Budhi Singh Yadav, Suresh C Sharma, Priyanka Chanana, Swaty Jhamb, Department of Radiotherapy, PGIMER, Chandigarh 160012, India
Author contributions: Yadav BS designed and wrote manuscript; Chanana P gathered published studies; Sharma SC and Jhamb S reviewed and edited the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Dr. Budhi Singh Yadav, Assistant Professor, Department of Radiotherapy, PGIMER, Sector 12, Chandigarh 160012, India. drbudhi@gmail.com
Telephone: +91-172-2756390 Fax: +91-172-2744401
Received: October 6, 2013
Revised: December 25, 2013
Accepted: January 17, 2014
Published online: May 10, 2014
Processing time: 217 Days and 23.1 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease entity with different biological characteristics and clinical behavior. There are no treatment guidelines for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). TNBCs are sensitive to taxanes and anthracyclins but there are high rates of local and systemic relapses. Recently there has been great interest in platinum agents, either alone or in combination with poly adenosine diphosphate polymerase 1 inhibitors. Combinations of ixabepilone and capecitabine have shown improved response rates (RRs). Other useful drugs are antiangiogenic agents, tyrosine kinase and epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors with variable RRs but no survival benefit. In this review, we discuss various systemic treatment strategies available for TNBC and the benefit from each of them.