A phase II trial of biweekly vinorelbine and oxaliplatin in second- or third-line metastatic triple-negative breast cancer

Update on Classic and Novel Approaches in Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Treatment: A Comprehensive Review

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for almost 15% of all diagnosed breast cancers and often presents high rates of relapses and metastases, with generally poor prognosis despite multiple lines of treatment. Immunotherapy has radically changed the approach of clinicians towards TNBC in the last two to three years, even if targeted and specific therapeutic options are still missing; this unmet need is further justified by the extreme molecular and clinical heterogeneity of this subtype of breast cancer and by the weak response to both single-agent and combined therapies. In March 2023, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), the main association of cancer centers in the United States, released the last clinical practice guidelines, with an update on classic and novel approaches in the field of breast cancer. The purpose of this comprehensive review is to summarize the latest findings in the setting of metastatic TNBC treatment, focusing on each category of drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and included in the NCCN guidelines. We also introduce part of the latest published studies, which have reported new and promising molecules able to specifically target some of the biomarkers involved in TNBC pathogenesis. We searched the PubMed and Scopus databases for free full texts reported in the literature of the last 5 years, using the words "triple-negative breast cancer" or "TNBC" or "basal-like". The articles were analyzed by the authors independently and double-blindly, and a total of 114 articles were included in the review.

Functionalized liposomes for targeted breast cancer drug delivery

Despite the exceptional progress in breast cancer pathogenesis, prognosis, diagnosis, and treatment strategies, it remains a prominent cause of female mortality worldwide. Additionally, although chemotherapies are effective, they are associated with critical limitations, most notably their lack of specificity resulting in systemic toxicity and the eventual development of multi-drug resistance (MDR) cancer cells. Liposomes have proven to be an invaluable drug delivery system but of the multitudes of liposomal systems developed every year only a few have been approved for clinical use, none of which employ active targeting. In this review, we summarize the most recent strategies in development for actively targeted liposomal drug delivery systems for surface, transmembrane and internal cell receptors, enzymes, direct cell targeting and dual-targeting of breast cancer and breast cancer-associated cells, e.g., cancer stem cells, cells associated with the tumor microenvironment, etc.

Apatinib plus etoposide in pretreated patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer: a phase II trial

BACKGROUND

Treatment options for pretreated triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of apatinib, an antiangiogenic agent, in combination of etoposide for pretreated patients with advanced TNBC.

METHODS

In this single-arm phase II trial, patients with advanced TNBC who failed to at least one line of chemotherapy were enrolled. Eligible patients received oral apatinib 500 mg on day 1 to 21, plus oral etoposide 50 mg on day 1 to 14 of a 3-week cycle until disease progression or intolerable toxicities. Etoposide was administered up to six cycles. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS).

RESULTS

From September 2018 to September 2021, 40 patients with advanced TNBC were enrolled. All patients received previous chemotherapy in the advanced setting, with the median previous lines of 2 (1-5). At the cut-off date on January 10, 2022, the median follow-up was 26.8 (1.6-52.0) months. The median PFS was 6.0 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.8-8.2) months, and the median overall survival was 24.5 (95%CI: 10.2-38.8) months. The objective response rate and disease control rate was 10.0% and 62.5%, respectively. The most common adverse events (AEs) were hypertension (65.0%), nausea (47.5%) and vomiting (42.5%). Four patients developed grade 3 AE, including two with hypertension and two with proteinuria.

CONCLUSIONS

Apatinib combined with oral etoposide was feasible in pretreated advanced TNBC, and was easy to administer.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

Chictr.org.cn, (registration number: ChiCTR1800018497, registration date: 20/09/2018).

A prospective, open-label, multicenter phase IV clinical trial on the safety and efficacy of lobaplatin-based chemotherapy in advanced breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Since lobaplatin (LBP) has been approved to treat metastatic breast cancer in China, this study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of LBP-based chemotherapy in clinical practice.

METHODS

This trial was a prospective, open-label, multicenter phase IV clinical trial that enrolled patients with unresectable locally advanced or recurrent/metastatic breast cancer from 34 sites between July 2013 and March 2017. Patients were treated with LBP monotherapy or in combination for four to six cycles. The primary endpoint was safety. Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and disease control rate (DCR).

RESULTS

A total of 1179 patients were analyzed; 59 (5.0%) were treated with LBP alone, 134 (11.4%) with LBP plus paclitaxel, 263 (22.3%) with LBP plus docetaxel, 237 (20.1%) with LBP plus gemcitabine, 403 (34.2%) with LBP plus vinorelbine, and 83 (7.0%) with other LBP-based regimens. The overall incidence of adverse events (AEs) was 95.2%, and 57.9% of patients had grade >3 AEs. The most common grade >3 AEs were neutropenia (43.9%), leukopenia (39.4%), anemia (17.8%), and thrombopenia (17.7%). LBP monotherapy showed the lowest incidence of grade >3 AEs (39.0%), followed by LBP plus docetaxel (52.9%), LBP plus paclitaxel (59.0%), LBP plus vinorelbine (62.5%), and LBP plus gemcitabine (62.9%). The ORR and DCR were 36.8 and 77.0%, respectively. The median PFS was 5.5 months (95% confidence interval: 5.2-5.9).

CONCLUSION

LBP-based chemotherapy shows favorable efficacy in patients with advanced breast cancer, with manageable safety profile.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This trial was registered with ChiCTR.org.cn, ChiCTR-ONC-13003471.

Apatinib plus vinorelbine versus vinorelbine for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer who failed first/second-line treatment: the NAN trial

While therapies such as chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy, sacituzumab govitecan, and PARP inhibitors are available for metastatic TNBC, on disease progression after these therapies, the mainstay of therapy is chemotherapy. Apatinib is a small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor that has promising anti-angiogenesis and antitumor activity for TNBC. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of adding apatinib to chemotherapy in patients with advanced TNBC with failed first/second-line treatment. A total of 66 patients were randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, to receive vinorelbine or vinorelbine with apatinib in 28-day cycles. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR) and safety. 33 received apatinib plus vinorelbine and 32 received vinorelbine (1 was withdrawal). Median PFS was significantly longer in the apatinib plus vinorelbine group than in the vinorelbine group (3.9 months vs. 2.0 months; hazard ratio, 1.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06 to 3.11; P = 0.026). Median OS was 11.5 months with apatinib plus vinorelbine and 9.9 months with vinorelbine (HR,1.01; 95% CI, 0.51 to 1.97; P = 0.985). The ORR was 9.1% in the apatinib plus vinorelbine group and 6.3% in the vinorelbine group (P = 0.667). The most common treatment-related hematologic grade 3–4 adverse events in apatinib plus vinorelbine group, were leukopenia, granulocytopenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. no treatment-related nonhematologic grade 4 adverse events or treatment-related deaths were observed. Collectively, adding apatinib to vinorelbine shows a promising benefit in PFS compared to vinorelbine monotherapy, with an excellent toxicity profile, warranting further exploration.

Multicenter phase II trial of Camrelizumab combined with Apatinib and Eribulin in heavily pretreated patients with advanced triple-negative breast cancer

In the later-line setting or for patients with PD-L1-negative tumors, immunotherapy-based regimens remain ineffective against advanced triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In this multicentered phase II trial (NCT04303741), 46 patients with pretreated advanced TNBC were enrolled to receive camrelizumab 200 mg (day 1), and apatinib 250 mg daily, plus eribulin 1.4 mg/m2 (day 1 and 8) on a 21-day cycle until progression, or unacceptable toxicity. Primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR) according to RECIST 1.1. Secondary endpoints included toxicities, disease control rate (DCR), clinical benefit rate, progression-free survival (PFS), and 1-year overall survival. With a median of 3 lines of prior chemotherapy in the advanced setting, 17.4% had received PD-1/PD-L1 blockade plus chemotherapy for advanced disease. The ORR was 37.0% (17/46, 95% CI 23.2-52.5). The DCR was 87.0% (40/46, 95% CI 73.7-95.1). Median PFS was 8.1 (95% CI 4.6-10.3) months. Tertiary lymphoid structure was associated with higher ORR. Patients with lower tumor PML or PLOD3 expression had favorable ORR and PFS. PD-L1 status was not associated with ORR/PFS. Grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in 19 (41.3%) of 46 patients. Camrelizumab plus apatinib and eribulin shows promising efficacy with a measurable safety profile in patients with heavily pretreated advanced TNBC.

Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Effect of a Grape Pomace Extract on Oxaliplatin-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Rats: Biochemical, Behavioral and Histopathological Evaluation

Oxaliplatin is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent. Despite its many beneficial aspects in fighting many malignancies, it shares an aversive effect of neuropathy. Many substances have been used to limit this oxaliplatin-driven neuropathy in patients. This study evaluates the neuroprotective role of a grape pomace extract (GPE) into an oxaliplatin induced neuropathy in rats. For this reason, following the delivery of the substance into the animals prior to or simultaneously with oxaliplatin, their performance was evaluated by behavioral tests. Blood tests were also performed for the antioxidant activity of the extract, along with a histological and pathological evaluation of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells as the major components of the neuropathy. All behavioral tests were corrected following the use of the grape pomace. Oxidative stressors were also limited with the use of the extract. Additionally, the morphometrical analysis of the DRG cells and their immunohistochemical phenotype revealed the fidelity of the animal model and the changes into the parvalbumin and GFAP concentration indicative of the neuroprotective role of the pomace. In conclusion, the grape pomace extract with its antioxidant properties alleviates the harmful effects of the oxaliplatin induced chronic neuropathy in rats.

Application of Approved Cisplatin Derivatives in Combination Therapy against Different Cancer Diseases

The problems with anticancer therapy are resistance and toxicity. From 3000 Cisplatin derivatives tested as antitumor agents, most of them have been rejected, due to toxicity. The aim of current study is the comparison of therapeutic combinations of the currently applied in clinical practice: Cisplatin, Carboplatin, Oxaliplatin, Nedaplatin, Lobaplatin, Heptaplatin, and Satraplatin. The literature data show that the strategies for the development of platinum anticancer agents and bypassing of resistance to Cisplatin derivatives and their toxicity are: combination therapy, Pt IV prodrugs, the targeted nanocarriers. The very important strategy for the improvement of the antitumor effect against different cancers is synergistic combination of Cisplatin derivatives with: (1) anticancer agents—Fluorouracil, Gemcitabine, Cytarabine, Fludarabine, Pemetrexed, Ifosfamide, Irinotecan, Topotecan, Etoposide, Amrubicin, Doxorubicin, Epirubicin, Vinorelbine, Docetaxel, Paclitaxel, Nab-Paclitaxel; (2) modulators of resistant mechanisms; (3) signaling protein inhibitors—Erlotinib; Bortezomib; Everolimus; (4) and immunotherapeutic drugs—Atezolizumab, Avelumab, Bevacizumab, Cemiplimab, Cetuximab, Durvalumab, Erlotinib, Imatinib, Necitumumab, Nimotuzumab, Nivolumab, Onartuzumab, Panitumumab, Pembrolizumab, Rilotumumab, Trastuzumab, Tremelimumab, and Sintilimab. An important approach for overcoming the drug resistance and reduction of toxicity of Cisplatin derivatives is the application of nanocarriers (polymers and liposomes), which provide improved targeted delivery, increased intracellular penetration, selective accumulation in tumor tissue, and enhanced therapeutic efficacy. The advantages of combination therapy are maximum removal of tumor cells in different phases; prevention of resistance; inhibition of the adaptation of tumor cells and their mutations; and reduction of toxicity.

Inhibition of Chk1 by miR-320c increases oxaliplatin responsiveness in triple-negative breast cancer

Checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) expression is enhanced in most cancers owing to oncogenic activation and constant replicative stress. Chk1 inactivation is a promising cancer therapy, as its inactivation leads to genomic instability, chromosomal catastrophe, and cancer cell death. Herein, we observed that miR-320c, downregulated in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients, can target Chk1. In addition, downregulated miR-320c expression was associated with poor overall survival in TNBC patients. As Chk1 was associated with the DNA damage response (DDR), we investigated the effect of miR-320c on DDR in TNBC cells. To induce DNA damage, we used platinum-based drugs, especially oxaliplatin, which is most effective with miR-320c. We observed that overexpression of miR-320c in TNBC regulated the oxaliplatin responsiveness by mediating DNA damage repair through the negative regulation of Chk1 in vitro. Furthermore, using a xenograft model, a combination of miR-320c mimic and oxaliplatin effectively inhibited tumor progression. These investigations indicate the potential of miR-320c as a marker of oxaliplatin responsiveness and a therapeutic target to increase the efficacy of chemotherapy in TNBC.

Combined use of apatinib mesylate and vinorelbine versus vinorelbine alone in recurrent or metastatic triple-negative breast cancer: study protocol for a randomized controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND

The emergence of new molecular targeted drugs provides new prospects for the treatment of advanced breast cancer; the future therapeutic trend includes chemotherapy combined with molecular targeted therapy. Apatinib mesylate, a novel, small anti-angiogenic agent, highly selectively inhibits the activity of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 tyrosine kinase. Apatinib mesylate also blocks the signaling of vascular endothelial growth factor binding to its receptor, thereby strongly inhibiting tumor angiogenesis and exerting an anti-tumor effect. However, there have been no reports of a randomized controlled clinical trial of apatinib combined with vinorelbine for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We will compare the therapeutic effect of vinorelbine alone or in combination with apatinib mesylate, in patients with recurrent or metastatic TNBC in North China who have received at least two drug treatments, including anthracyclines and taxanes.

METHODS/ANALYSIS

This study is a triple-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trial. We plan to include 238 female patients with locally recurrent or metastatic TNBC, admitted to the Liaoning Cancer Hospital & Institute, Northeast China. All enrolled patients will be randomized to oral vinorelbine alone (40 mg, thrice a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays) in each 3-week cycle), or in combination with oral apatinib mesylate (500 mg, once daily in each 3-week cycle). Radiographic assessment will be performed every 6 weeks for 36 weeks and every 9 weeks thereafter. The primary outcome is progression-free survival and secondary outcomes include overall survival, disease control rate, objective response rate, and incidence of adverse events at grades 3 and 4, as defined by the National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria Version 4.0. Outcome measures will be evaluated at baseline (< 2 weeks before starting treatment), every 6 weeks during treatment, and at 4 weeks and every 3 months after treatment discontinuation.

DISCUSSION

Based on the data from this trial, we hope to identify a treatment plan that is suitable for female patients with TNBC, who have been treated with anthracyclines and taxanes, in Northeast China.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03932526. Registered on 30 April 2019.

Pilot study of docetaxel combined with lobaplatin or gemcitabine for recurrent and metastatic breast cancer

BACKGROUND

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of docetaxel combined with lobaplatin, relative to docetaxel combined with gemcitabine, for treating patients with recurrent metastatic breast cancer (rMBC).

METHODS

Patients with rMBC received ≥2 cycles (21 days each) of either docetaxel and lobaplatin (DL; n = 21), or docetaxel and gemcitabine (DG; n = 22). On day 1 of each cycle, all patients were given 75 mg/m intravenous docetaxel. Patients in DL and DG were also given, respectively, 35 mg/m intravenous lobaplatin (day 2) or 1000 mg/m intravenous gemcitabine (days 1, 8).

RESULTS

Five (11.6%) and 16 (37.2%) patients achieved complete remission and partial response, respectively; rates of response and disease control were 48.8%. The response rates of the groups were comparable (47.6%, 50.0%). The median survival times after relapse and metastasis of the DL group (18 months) were significantly less than that of the DG group (25 months). Median progression-free survivals after relapse and metastasis were similar (12 cf. 14 months). The main toxic side reaction was grade 2, with no treatment-related deaths. Rates of the following were comparable between DG and DL: grade 3 or 4 white blood cells (23.8%, 31.8%) and digestive tract toxicity (4.8%, 4.5%); neutropenia (28.6%, 22.7%); anemia (4.8%, nil); and thrombocytopenia (19.0%, 13.6%). Other toxicities included hepatic toxicity, myalgia, infection, and fatigue.

CONCLUSIONS

Both the DL and DG regimens were associated with encouraging benefits, while treatment-related toxicity was manageable. Therefore, these regimens are effective options for treatment of rMBC.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This clinical trial study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Guizhou Cancer Hospital, and has been registered in the China Clinical Trial Center (December 8, 2014, No. ChiCTR-IPR-14005633).

Cisplatin shows greater efficacy than gemcitabine when combined with nab-paclitaxel in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer

Our study aimed to compare the efficacy and safety of nab-paclitaxel plus cisplatin (AP) with nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine (AG) in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). We collected data from two single-arm, phase II MBC studies. In NCT01149798, seventy-three MBC patients received 125 mg/m² nab-paclitaxel on days 1, 8 and 15 followed by 75 mg/m² cisplatin on day 1 of a 28-day cycle. In NCT01550848, eighty-four MBC patients received 125 mg/m² nab-paclitaxel and 800 mg/m² gemcitabine on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle. The endpoints were the overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and safety profiles of these regimens. Among the 157 patients included, the ORR were 67.1% and 52.4% for the AP and AG arms, respectively (odds ratio [OR] = 0.246; hazard ratio [HR] = 1.485; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.762–2.985). After median follow-up periods of 26.3 and 23.3 months in the AP and AG arms, the median PFS were 9.8 months (95%CI, 8.1–11.6) and 8.1 months (95%CI, 6.8–9.4), respectively, while the median OS were 26.9 months (95%CI, 22.4–31.4) and 25.5 months (95%CI, 19.3–31.4), respectively. Neither PFS nor OS adjusted for the number of metastases, occurrence of liver metastasis and chemotherapeutic lines differed significantly between the two arms (PFS:HR = 0.769; 95%CI, 0.541–1.092; p = 0.142; OS:HR = 0.686; 95%CI, 0.426–1.104; p = 0.120). However, PFS was significantly better with AP than with AG in metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) patients (HR = 0.308; 95%CI, 0.129–0.732; p = 0.008). Adverse events were more common with AP than with AG, except for edema and myalgia. Both regimens showed substantial efficacy and were tolerated well in MBC patients. mTNBC who received AP rather than AG showed longer PFS. However, adverse events were more common with AP. Thus, AP may be worth recommending to mTNBC, while AG may be a better alternative for MBC patients with other subtypes.

Correlation of Platinum Cytotoxicity to Drug-DNA Adduct Levels in a Breast Cancer Cell Line Panel

Platinum drugs, including carboplatin and oxaliplatin, are commonly used chemotherapy drugs that kill cancer cells by forming toxic drug-DNA adducts. These drugs have a proven, but modest, efficacy against several aggressive subtypes of breast cancer but also cause several side effects that can lead to the cessation of treatment. There is a clinical need to identify patients who will respond to platinum drugs in order to better inform clinical decision making. Diagnostic microdosing involves dosing patients or patient samples with subtherapeutic doses of radiolabeled platinum followed by measurement of platinum-DNA adducts in blood or tumor tissue and may be used to predict patient response. We exposed a panel of six breast cancer cell lines to ¹⁴C-labeled carboplatin or oxaliplatin at therapeutic and microdose (1% therapeutic dose) concentrations for a range of exposure lengths and isolated DNA from the cells. The DNA was converted to graphite, and measurement of radiocarbon due to platinum-DNA adduction was quantified via accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). We observed a linear correlation in adduct levels between the microdose and therapeutic dose, and the level of platinum-DNA adducts corresponded to cell line drug sensitivity for both carboplatin and oxaliplatin. These results showed a clear separation in adduct levels between the sensitive and resistant groups of cell lines that could not be fully explained or predicted by changes in DNA repair rates or mutations in DNA repair genes. Further, we were able to quantitate oxaliplatin-DNA adducts in the blood and tumor tissue of a metastatic breast cancer patient. Together, these data support the use of diagnostic microdosing for predicting patient sensitivity to platinum. Future studies will be aimed at replicating this data in a clinical feasibility trial.

Alterations of Signaling Pathways Related to the Immune System in Breast Cancer: New Perspectives in Patient Management

In recent years, immune manipulation for cancer treatment, including breast cancer, has been increasingly gaining consent, and many attempts have been made, mainly by either strengthening the immune response (IR) or by inhibiting immune evasion. Therefore, elucidating the related mechanisms is of importance due to the potential to improve the management of cancer patients by immunotherapy. This review article summarized some recent experimental studies, which have discovered novel alterations of signaling pathways related to the immune system in breast cancer. These altered signaling pathways have been grouped according to the general biological mechanism involved: tumor-initiating cells (TICs), cancer stem cells (CSCs), immune evasion, tumor growth and progression, prediction of clinical outcome and prediction of response, or resistance to chemotherapy. These altered pathways related to the immune system open clinical opportunities for the prognosis or treatment of patients. Many of these pathways are related to the origin of breast cancer and immune evasion. We recommended development of new drugs which act on these molecular pathways, and the designing of clinical trials to be carried out mainly in breast cancer patients who required adjuvant treatment.

Triple negative breast cancer in Asia: An insider's view

While tremendous improvement has been made for the treatment of breast cancers, the treatment of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) still remains a challenge due to its aggressive characteristics and limited treatment options. Most of the studies on TNBC were conducted in Western population and TNBC is reported to be more frequent in the African women. This review encapsulates the studies conducted on TNBC patients in Asian population and elucidates the similarities and differences between these two regions. The current treatment of TNBC includes surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy. In addition to the current chemotherapies, which mainly include cytotoxic agents, such as taxanes and anthracyclines, many clinical trials are investigating the potential use of other chemotherapy drugs, targeted therapeutics and combinational therapies to treat TNBC. Moreover, this review also integrates the studies involving novel markers, which will help us to dissect the pathologic process of TNBC and in turn facilitate the development of better treatment strategies to combat TNBC.

Phase I/Ib study of olaparib and carboplatin in women with triple negative breast cancer

PURPOSE

To investigate the safety, activity, and potential biomarkers of response to olaparib and carboplatin combination in sporadic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Metastatic or recurrent TNBC patients with no germline BRCA mutation or with BRCAPro scores <10% and a negative family history were eligible. A 3+3 dose escalation tested olaparib capsules (400mg bid, days1-7) with carboplatin AUC3-5 on day1 or 2 every 21 days, ≤ 8 cycles, with olaparib 400mg bid maintenance. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were collected for polymorphisms and PAR levels, and paired tumor biopsies (pre-/post-cycle 1) for proteomics and apoptosis endpoints.

RESULTS

28 women were treated (median 5 prior regimens [0-12]). Dose-limiting toxicity was thrombocytopenia, and symptomatic hyponatremia with carboplatin AUC5. The maximum tolerated dose was olaparib 400mg bid+carboplatin AUC4. Grade 3 and 4 adverse events included neutropenia (36%), thrombocytopenia (11%), and anemia (11%). Responses included 1 complete response (CR; 69⁺months) and 5/27 partial responses (19%; median 4months [4-7]), for a response rate of 22%. Biomarker findings did not correlate with response. The long-term CR patient with prior negative BRCA testing was found to have deletion of BRCA1 exons1-2.

CONCLUSIONS

The olaparib/carboplatin combination is tolerable and has modest activity in sporadic TNBC patients. Further evaluation of predictive biomarkers to identify those with BRCA wild type who had response is warranted.

Novel insight into triple-negative breast cancers, the emerging role of angiogenesis, and antiangiogenic therapy

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a heterogeneous group of tumours characterised by lack of expression of oestrogen-, progesterone- and human epidermal growth factor receptors. TNBC, which represents approximately 15% of all mammary tumours, has a poor prognosis because of an aggressive behaviour and the lack of specific treatment. Accordingly, TNBC has become a major focus of research into breast cancer and is now classified into several molecular subtypes, each with a different prognosis. Pathological angiogenesis occurs at a late stage in the proliferation of TNBC and is associated with invasion and metastasis; there is an association with metabolic syndrome. Semaphorins are a versatile family of proteins with multiple roles in angiogenesis, tumour growth and metastasis and may represent a clinically useful focus for therapeutic targeting in this type of breast cancer. Another important field of investigation into the control of pathological angiogenesis is related to the expression of noncoding RNA (ncRNA) – these molecules can be considered as a therapeutic target or as a biomarker. Several molecular agents for intervening in the activity of different signalling pathways are being explored in TNBC, but none has so far proved effective in clinical trials and the disease continues to pose a defining challenge for clinical management as well as innovative cancer research.

Myricetin suppresses p21-activated kinase 1 in human breast cancer MCF-7 cells through downstream signaling of the β-catenin pathway

As a main active compound in the bark of waxberry (Myrica rubra), myricetin is a macrocyclic diarylheptanoid, and can trigger the apoptosis of HeLa and PC3 cells. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the anticancer effect of myricetin on human breast cancer MCF-7 cells and to explore the possible mechanisms of action. MCF-7 cells were treated with different concentrations of myricetin (0-80 µM) for 12, 24 and 48 h. In the present study, we found that myricetin suppressed the cell viability of the MCF-7 cells at least partly through the induction of apoptosis as determined by MTT assay and flow cytometry. Western blot analysis revealed that myricetin effectively suppressed the protein expression of p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1), MEK and phosphorylated extracellular mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK1/2). In addition, treatment of myricetin activated glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) and Bax protein expression, and inhibited β-catenin/cyclin D1/proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)/survivin and promoted caspase-3 activity in the MCF-7 cells. These results demonstrated that myricetin suppressed the cell viability of human breast cancer MCF-7 cells through PAK1/MEK/ERK/GSK3β/β-catenin/cyclin D1/PCNA/survivin/Bax-caspase-3 signaling.