Info
Triple-negative (TNBC)
Diagnosis
What it means
A subtype of breast cancer in which the tumor cells have no estrogen or progesterone receptors and no excess HER2 protein. It does not respond to hormone therapy or anti-HER2 therapies, but it can respond to chemotherapy and, in some cases, to immunotherapy.
Related terms
The terms below often appear alongside this one. Each definition is right here, so you do not have to look elsewhere.
- HER2
- A protein that can be present in large amounts on the surface of some cancer cells. HER2 positive means that the tumor may respond to specific biological treatments that target this protein.
- AFP (alpha-fetoprotein)
- A tumor marker useful especially for liver cancer and certain testicular or ovarian tumors. It is measured in the blood for diagnosis, monitoring treatment and detecting a recurrence.
- ALK-positive
- A gene rearrangement found in a subset of lung cancers, more common in non-smoking or younger patients. ALK-positive tumors often respond very well to specific targeted therapies, different from standard chemotherapy.
Other terms in “Diagnosis”
Glossary definitions are written for patients by the OncoDots team and go through internal medical review. They explain terms; they do not establish a diagnosis and do not recommend a treatment.