Abstract
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of breast cancer (BC) with a poor prognosis. Second, patients cannot benefit from targeted therapy, except for those with BRCA1/2 mutations, for whom poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibition therapy using olaparib has recently been approved. As global priorities continue to be epidemiological analysis of BC risk factors and early diagnosis, this review focuses on the risks and protective factors associated with TNBC. A PubMed keyword search for new knowledge on the risks and protective factors for TNBC was carried out. We also found statistical information from current online databases concerning the estimated incidence, prevalence and mortality worldwide of this cancer. Traditional risk factors for BC and TNBC are those related to reproduction such as the age of menarche, age of first birth, parity, breastfeeding and age at menopause. Attention needs to be paid to familial BC, weight control, alcohol consumption and regular physical activity. Epidemiological studies on TNBC provide evidence for protective factors such as regular consumption of soya, seafood, green tea, folic acid and vitamin D. Potential risk factors may include night work and viral infectious agents like human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Droplet digital methylation-specific PCR (ddMSP) is a possible new screening method for detection of BC including TNBC. Further research is necessary to validate these new factors.
Highlights
Breast cancer (BC) is currently one of significant global public health problems in the non-infectious disease category, mainly in developed countries
The results have shown that menarche at 14 years or later reduces the risk of and protects against BC
A meta-analysis of 22 case-control studies has revealed that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection increases the risk of BC (RR 4.02; 95% CI 2.42-6.68)
Summary
Breast cancer (BC) is currently one of significant global public health problems in the non-infectious disease category, mainly in developed countries. In the Czech Republic, BC is the most frequent cancer in women, with an incidence of more than 7,000 new cases per year. BC remains the leading cause of death from cancer among Czech women[2] TNBC is a clinically and molecularly heterogeneous disease It has the highest frequency of somatic rearrangements among BCs and encompasses at least seven subtypes with different prevalence rates, gene expression profiles, and clinical outcomes. It is generally a rapidly progressing and highly malignant disease, its frequent sensitivity to chemotherapy makes it potentially curable if detected at a sufficiently early stage. There is a focus on a search for risk factors, even selectively for this BC subtype
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