3 March 2026 – Triple Negative Breast Cancer Day
By: Dr. Ezanee Azlina binti Mohamad Hanif
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a complex and highly heterogenous, made up of several intrinsic molecular subtypes that behave differently in patients.
One important group is the immunomodulatory subtype, which shows high immune cell infiltration, active immune gene expression, and engagement of immune checkpoints, reflecting a dynamic interaction between tumour cells and the immune system.
This immune landscape is closely linked with key oncogenic pathways, including BRCA-related DNA repair, PI3K–AKT, TP53, and MAPK signalling, which together influence tumour growth, immune escape, and treatment resistance. These interactions highlight the potential role of immunotherapy, particularly immune checkpoint inhibitors, in selected TNBC patients.
However, in real-world clinical settings such as Malaysia, the high cost of immunotherapy limits its broad application. As such, careful biomarker-based patient selection is essential to maximize clinical benefit, improve cost-effectiveness, and support more equitable access to personalized treatment options.
💗 On #TNBCDay, UMBI reaffirm our commitment to advancing research that supports smarter, more personalised cancer care.
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