Dr. Costa Discusses Ongoing Research Efforts in TNBC

Ricardo Costa, MD, MSc, medical oncologist, Department of Breast Oncology, Clinical Investigator Track, Moffitt Cancer Center, discusses ongoing research efforts in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

Although drug development has not moved as rapidly in TNBC as it has in HER2-positive breast cancer, significant research efforts are underway for patients with TNBC, Costa says. Notably, immunotherapy remains an area of research to improve anticancer activity without compromising safety in this patient population, Costa explains. Moreover, immunotherapy could minimize the use of chemotherapy in TNBC, Costa adds.

Additionally, investigational antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are in clinical development, Costa says. These agents could offer an alternative option to the ADC sacituzumab govitecan-hziy (Trodelvy), which received a full approval on April 7, 2021, by the FDA for the treatment of patients with unresectable locally advanced or metastatic TNBC who have received at least 2 prior systemic therapies, including one for metastatic disease.

Additionally, PARP inhibitors could play a significant role in the adjuvant treatment of patients with TNBC who harbor germline BRCA mutations, Costa concludes.