Prognostic Markers in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC)

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a highly aggressive and molecularly diverse subtype of breast cancer characterized by the absence of estrogen, progesterone, and human epithelial growth factor receptors. Despite advancements in therapeutic interventions, TNBC continues to remain associated with high metastatic potential, high likelihood of recurrence, and importantly, poor prognosis. Therefore, validated prognostic biomarkers are needed that can facilitate accurate prognostic assessment, drive treatment options, and lead to better clinical outcomes. This comprehensive review aims to provide a detailed overview of established and emerging prognostic biomarkers in TNBC, highlighting their biological relevance, clinical utility, and translational potential. We initially focus on the different classes of individual prognostic biomarkers and their limitations as far as prognostic stratification is concerned. We then move toward the development of multi-marker panels, further taking into account the critical factors limiting their clinical implementation. Development of standardized, clinically validated, and cost-effective multi-marker prognostic frameworks that can integrate the different aspects of tumor biology is the need of the hour. Such comprehensive approaches are expected to enhance prognostication and thereby improve outcomes in TNBC patients.