Triple-Negative Early Breast Cancer
December 15, 2006When a patient has a biopsy or definitive surgery for non-metastatic breast cancer, the tumor specimen itself is screened for receptors for estrogen, progesterone, and the growth factor effector called "Her2" (aka cErbB2). The results are predictive of response to a specific therapy type, thereby limiting guesswork among medical oncologists in their choice of drugs. The tests are also prognostic, ie, they hint at the the course and outcome of the disease. When these assays for estrogen and progesterone receptors as well as for Her2 yield insignificant levels, the breast tumor is designated "triple-negative". (more…)




