Inflammation-associated drug resistance and tumor growth in TNBC

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive and clinically challenging subtype of breast cancer characterized by the absence of hormone receptors and HER2 amplification. This molecular profile limits the effectiveness of targeted therapies, leaving chemotherapy as the mainstay of treatment...

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Main Authors: Arij Fouzat Hassan, Hadeel Kheraldine, Lama Abujamous, Hamda Al-Thawadi, Abdelbary Elhissi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Immunology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1623137/full
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author Arij Fouzat Hassan
Hadeel Kheraldine
Lama Abujamous
Hamda Al-Thawadi
Abdelbary Elhissi
author_facet Arij Fouzat Hassan
Hadeel Kheraldine
Lama Abujamous
Hamda Al-Thawadi
Abdelbary Elhissi
author_sort Arij Fouzat Hassan
collection DOAJ
description Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive and clinically challenging subtype of breast cancer characterized by the absence of hormone receptors and HER2 amplification. This molecular profile limits the effectiveness of targeted therapies, leaving chemotherapy as the mainstay of treatment a strategy often met with limited success due to rapid disease progression and high recurrence rates. Increasing evidence underscores the pivotal role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in driving TNBC pathogenesis, particularly through chronic inflammation and cytokine dysregulation. Inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-6, and IL-10 orchestrate a complex network of cellular interactions that remodel the TME into an immunosuppressive niche. This inflammatory landscape not only promotes tumor cell proliferation and metastasis but also compromises antitumor immune responses and contributes to therapeutic resistance. Recent preclinical and clinical studies have explored the therapeutic potential of targeting cytokine signaling to disrupt this inflammatory axis and overcome resistance. In this review, we critically examine the multifaceted interplay between cytokines, inflammation, and the TME in TNBC, with a focus on mechanisms of resistance. We further evaluate current and emerging therapeutic approaches targeting the inflammatory axis, highlighting both the promise and the complexities of this evolving landscape.
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publishDate 2025-08-01
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spelling doaj-art-d71f3c5be7aa433284dde34c4e0e55f42025-08-26T05:27:51ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Immunology1664-32242025-08-011610.3389/fimmu.2025.16231371623137Inflammation-associated drug resistance and tumor growth in TNBCArij Fouzat Hassan0Hadeel Kheraldine1Lama Abujamous2Hamda Al-Thawadi3Abdelbary Elhissi4College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, QatarCollege of Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Science, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, QatarCollege of Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Science, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, QatarCollege of Medicine, Department of Basic Medical Science, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, QatarCollege of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha, QatarTriple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive and clinically challenging subtype of breast cancer characterized by the absence of hormone receptors and HER2 amplification. This molecular profile limits the effectiveness of targeted therapies, leaving chemotherapy as the mainstay of treatment a strategy often met with limited success due to rapid disease progression and high recurrence rates. Increasing evidence underscores the pivotal role of the tumor microenvironment (TME) in driving TNBC pathogenesis, particularly through chronic inflammation and cytokine dysregulation. Inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-6, and IL-10 orchestrate a complex network of cellular interactions that remodel the TME into an immunosuppressive niche. This inflammatory landscape not only promotes tumor cell proliferation and metastasis but also compromises antitumor immune responses and contributes to therapeutic resistance. Recent preclinical and clinical studies have explored the therapeutic potential of targeting cytokine signaling to disrupt this inflammatory axis and overcome resistance. In this review, we critically examine the multifaceted interplay between cytokines, inflammation, and the TME in TNBC, with a focus on mechanisms of resistance. We further evaluate current and emerging therapeutic approaches targeting the inflammatory axis, highlighting both the promise and the complexities of this evolving landscape.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1623137/fulltriple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)tumor microenvironment (TME)inflammationcytokinesdrug resistance
spellingShingle Arij Fouzat Hassan
Hadeel Kheraldine
Lama Abujamous
Hamda Al-Thawadi
Abdelbary Elhissi
Inflammation-associated drug resistance and tumor growth in TNBC
Frontiers in Immunology
triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)
tumor microenvironment (TME)
inflammation
cytokines
drug resistance
title Inflammation-associated drug resistance and tumor growth in TNBC
title_full Inflammation-associated drug resistance and tumor growth in TNBC
title_fullStr Inflammation-associated drug resistance and tumor growth in TNBC
title_full_unstemmed Inflammation-associated drug resistance and tumor growth in TNBC
title_short Inflammation-associated drug resistance and tumor growth in TNBC
title_sort inflammation associated drug resistance and tumor growth in tnbc
topic triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC)
tumor microenvironment (TME)
inflammation
cytokines
drug resistance
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2025.1623137/full
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AT lamaabujamous inflammationassociateddrugresistanceandtumorgrowthintnbc
AT hamdaalthawadi inflammationassociateddrugresistanceandtumorgrowthintnbc
AT abdelbaryelhissi inflammationassociateddrugresistanceandtumorgrowthintnbc