The advance of adjuvant treatment for triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer characterized by its highly aggressive behavior, early recurrence,and poor outcomes, when compared with other subtypes. Due to the absence of the estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, andhuman epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expression, TNBC lacks meaningful biomarkers and an effective therapeutic strategy.Chemotherapy remains the main adjuvant treatment for patients with TNBC. Anthracycline/taxane-based regimens are the standardof care in adjuvant settings. The addition of capecitabine or platinum may offer extra benefits to patients with TNBC, but at the costof increased toxicity or adverse events. Dose-dense chemotherapy may enhance treatment efficacy in patients who are able to toleratethe treatment regimen, especially in high-risk patients. As a heterogenous disease, TNBC can be classified into several molecularsubtypes according to genomic or transcriptional features, which may indicate potential targets for more precise and individualizedtreatment strategies. With our increased understanding of signal pathways associated with TNBC, as well as the discovery of novelbiomarkers indicative of TNBC prognosis, several new therapeutic options are under investigation, and some have already reportedgood results. In this review, we summarized the current conventional therapeutic strategies and emerging clinical trials regardingadjuvant treatment for TNBC. Furthermore, we evaluated the prognostic value of several potential targets and the progress oftargeted therapy in TNBC, both in neoadjuvant and adjuvant settings.