The dawn of targeted therapies for triple negative breast cancer (TNBC): a snapshot of investigational drugs in phase I and II trials

Introduction Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) was once thought to be an insurmountable disease marked by a lack of targeted treatments. However, we are now witnessing the dawn of targeted therapies for TNBC in which progress has stemmed from an improved understanding of the components that make TNBC unique. The identification of biomarkers, such as BRCA1/2, PIK3CA and RSK2, have advanced the field remarkably and there is considerable interest in finding novel therapeutics for TNBC that offer durable clinical benefit with fewer adverse events. Areas covered We discuss phase I/II trials of new and emerging targeted therapies for TNBC, according to ClinicalTrials.gov up to June 2020. Although the emphasis is on ongoing and completed early phase trials, we also highlight pivotal studies that have led to the approval of new targeted classes of drugs for TNBC, with a focus on outcomes and common adverse events of each class of therapy. Expert opinion The way forward for TNBC treatment is through precision medicine. The use of novel agents matched with biomarkers to identify patients with the best chance of sustainable response offers new hope. We now have great potential for improving the outcomes for patients with TNBC.