European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

THE ROLE OF ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM STRESS IN TRIPLE NEGATIVE BREAST CANCER

Surabhi Pradhan and Sumit Saha*

ABSTRACT

Triple Negative Breast cancer (TNBC) is a clinically aggressive subgroup of breast cancers characterized by lack of Estrogen receptors (ER), Progesterone receptors (PR) and Human epidermal growth factor receptor2 (HER2) receptors. TNBC is associated with poor prognosis owing to lack of defined molecular targets and resistance to conventional drug therapies. Recently, Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress leading to Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) is regarded as an upcoming strategy against solid malignancies like TNBC for seeking defined molecular targets. The role of ER stress has been fairly established in TNBC malignancy in the past few years through cross-talks by ER stress elements for promoting tumor incidence and neo-angiogenesis. A major complexity still deals with the tumor recurrence and drug resistance of TNBC which may be related with tumor dormancy and Epithelial to mesenchymal transitions (EMT) leading to stem cell-like properties owing to ER stress elements. This review therefore aims to bring forth the role of ER stress in understanding future research prospects and therapeutic approaches against TNBC.

Keywords: Breast Cancer, TNBC, ER Stress.