Shedding light on triple negative breast cancer

Trials are under way for new drugs aimed at treating this aggressive type of the disease, which disproportionally strikes younger and African-American women

For now, no breast cancer that leaves the breast and the nodes for other organs appears to be curable, Winer said. The spread can happen more quickly for triple negative patients, and that's where the trial drugs may be able to help most. He was optimistic that potential new therapies such as the PARP inhibitors could improving the quality and quantity of life for many more patients.

"But we don't assume chemotherapy can't be effective for triple negative patients," said Winer. "Many women do exceedingly well."

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Triple negative breast cancer resources

• tnbcfoundation.org the latest on triple negative breast cancer, including forums for survivors

•breastcancer.org a clearing house of information on breast cancer, including trials

•komen.org information on breast cancer, including research

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