The Fate of Chemoresistance in Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)

Publication date: Available online 12 March 2015 Source:BBA Clinical Author(s): Elma A. O’Reilly , Luke Gubbins , Shiva Sharma , Riona Tully , Matthew Ho Zhing Guang , Karolina Weiner-Gorzel , John McCaffrey , Michele Harrison , Fiona Furlong , Malcolm Kell , Amanda McCann Background Treatment options for women presenting with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) are limited due to the lack of a therapeutic target and as a result, are managed with standard chemotherapy such as paclitaxel (Taxol®). Following chemotherapy, the ideal tumour response is apoptotic cell death. Post-chemotherapy, cells can maintain viability by undergoing viable cellular responses such as cellular senescence, generating secretomes which can directly enhance the malignant phenotype. Scope of Review How tumour cells retain viability in response to chemotherapeutic engagement is discussed. In addition we discuss the implications of this retained tumour cell viability in the context of the development of recurrent and metastatic TNBC disease. Current adjuvant and neo-adjuvant treatments available and the novel potential therapies that are being researched are also reviewed. Major conclusions Cellular senescence and cytoprotective autophagy are potential mechanisms of chemoresistance in TNBC. These two non-apoptotic outcomes in response to chemotherapy are inextricably linked and are neglected outcomes of investigation in the chemotherapeutic arena. Cellular fate assessments may the...
Source: BBA Clinical - Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research