Research progress in immunotherapy for advanced triple-negative breast cancer

doi:10.3760/cma.j.cn371439-20260119-00087

Abstract

Abstract:

In recent years，immune checkpoint inhibitors，particularly those targeting the programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1 signal pathway，have demonstrated favorable anti-tumor activity in the treatment of advanced triple-negative breast cancer （TNBC）. Both used as a single agent and in combination，they have brought significant clinical benefits to a subset of patients. Combination strategies include co-administration with chemotherapy，targeted therapies （poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors，vascular endothelial growth factor receptor inhibitors，and antibody-drug conjugates），and radiotherapy，with the aim of synergistically enhancing anti-tumor immune responses. Some novel immunotherapies，such as bispecific antibodies，oncolytic viruses and tumor vaccines，have shown initial potential in the treatment of TNBC. Nevertheless，immunotherapy for TNBC faces substantial challenges，including marked heterogeneity in treatment efficacy and complex drug resistance mechanisms，leading to suboptimal overall response rates. Systematically analyzing the current status and advances of clinical research on immunotherapy for advanced TNBC，and exploring its mechanisms of action，characteristics of drug resistance，and corresponding countermeasures，can provide evidence-based references for clinical practice and scientific research.

Key words: Triple negative breast neoplasms, Immunotherapy, Immune checkpoint inhibitors

Fang Haiping, Huang Yi, Wang Genhe. Research progress in immunotherapy for advanced triple-negative breast cancer[J]. Journal of International Oncology, 2026, 53(9): 547-553.

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