Targeting Pivotal Hallmarks of Cancer for Enhanced Therapeutic Strategies in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment - In Vitro, In Vivo and Clinical Trials Literature Review

Sep 21, 2026

This literature review delivers a comprehensive overview of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and evaluates innovative targeted therapies that exploit key cancer hallmarks. TNBC is defined by the lack of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2 expression, producing molecularly distinct phenotypes. The review focuses on strategies addressing tumor microenvironment components, including deregulated metabolism and the Warburg effect, acidosis and hypoxia, metastatic capability, and immune evasion. Evidence from in vitro and in vivo studies and clinical trials clarifies mechanisms, effectiveness, and current limitations, particularly for cases resistant to conventional treatments.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages28

Reading Time1 h 11 min

AccessFree to download

Simple Summary

Abstract

Keywords

1. Introduction

1.1. Hallmarks of Cancer

1.2. Tripple-Negativ

cancers Review Targeting Pivotal Hallmarks of Cancer for Enhanced Therapeutic Strategies in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment—In Vitro, In Vivo and Clinical Trials Literature Review Anna Szulc and Marta Wo´zniak * Citation: Szulc, A.; Wo´zniak, M. Targeting Pivotal Hallmarks of Cancer for Enhanced Therapeutic Strategies in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment—In Vitro, In Vivo and Clinical Trials Literature Review. Cancers 2024, 16, 1483. [https://](https://)[ ](https://)[doi.org/10.3390/cancers16081483](doi.org/10.3390/cancers16081483) Academic Editor: Hiroaki Kiyokawa Received: 3 March 2024 Revised: 7 April 2024 Accepted: 10 April 2024 Published: 12 April 2024 Copyright: © 2024 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license ([https://](https://)[ ](https://)[creativecommons.org/licenses/by/](creativecommons.org/licenses/by/)[ ](creativecommons.org/licenses/by/)[4.0/](4.0/)) . Department of Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Division of General and Experimental Pathology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-368 Wroclaw, Poland; [anna.szulc@umw.edu.pl](anna.szulc@umw.edu.pl) * [Correspondence: marta.wozniak@umw.edu.pl](Correspondence: marta.wozniak@umw.edu.pl) Simple Summary: This literature review explores the potential of targeted therapies in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) treatment, focusing on distinct features of cancer cells. This article delves into the latest advancements in therapeutic strategies targeting components of the tumor microenvironment and pivotal hallmarks of cancer: deregulating cellular metabolism and the Warburg effect, acidosis and hypoxia, the ability to metastasize and evade the immune system, aiming to enhance treatment efficacy while mitigating systemic toxicity. Our study aims to provide the most up-to-date review of in vitro and in vivo studies and clinical trials, highlighting the promising effectiveness, elucidating the mechanisms, and identifying the limitations of novel targeted therapies. Results reveal that while many therapies are in the preclinical phase, requiring further investigation, CAR-T therapy has progressed to clinical trials. However, there remains a lack of data on patient response to this therapy. Nonetheless, the integration of targeted therapies tailored to TNBC’s molecular characteristics holds significant potential for optimizing clinical outcomes. These conclusions underscore the importance of ongoing research in advancing treatment options for TNBC, addressing the critical need for more effective therapies in clinical practice, and ultimately improving patient outcomes and quality of life. Abstract: This literature review provides a comprehensive overview of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and explores innovative targeted therapies focused on specific hallmarks of cancer cells, aiming to revolutionize breast cancer treatment. TNBC, characterized by its lack of expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), presents distinct features, categorizing these invasive breast tumors into various phenotypes delineated by key elements in molecular assays. This article delves into the latest advancements in therapeutic strategies targeting components of the tumor microenvironment and pivotal hallmarksof cancer: deregulating cellular metabolism and the Warburg effect, acidosis and hypoxia, the ability to metastasize and evade the immune system, aiming to enhance treatment efficacy while mitigating systemic toxicity. Insights from in vitro and in vivo studies and clinical trials underscore the promising effectiveness and elucidate the mechanisms of action of these novel therapeutic interventions for TNBC, particularly in cases refractory to conventional treatments. The integration of targeted therapies tailored to the molecular cha

FAQs

What is the focus of this TNBC literature review?

It focuses on targeted therapeutic strategies for triple-negative breast cancer by highlighting pivotal cancer hallmarks and components of the tumor microenvironment.

How does the review characterize triple-negative breast cancer?

TNBC is characterized by lack of expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2, and is organized into molecularly defined phenotypes.

Which cancer hallmarks and microenvironment factors are emphasized?

The review emphasizes deregulated cellular metabolism (including the Warburg effect), acidosis and hypoxia, metastasis, and immune evasion.

Sep 21, 2026

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