Immunotherapy for triple-negative breast cancer: current trends and future prospects

Abstract Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for 10–20% of all breast cancers. These tumors are heterogeneous, highly aggressive, and associated with a poor prognosis and a high risk of recurrence. In both hematologic and solid malignancies, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated the ability to enhance long-term survival and sustain robust anti-tumor responses. Immunotherapy has also been introduced as a treatment option for TNBC, a subtype characterized by a high presence of intra-tumoral tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and stromal immune cells. This heightened immune activity within TNBC serves as a prognostic marker, indicating a potential for better responses to immunotherapy due to increased tumor immune infiltration. This review provides an overview of the current landscape of immunotherapy in TNBC, exploring its rationale and application across different disease stages. Trial registration NCT02555657.