Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) – which when examined by a
pathologist lacks expression of the estrogen receptor, the
progesterone receptor, and HER2 – accounts for a little more
than 1 out of every 7 breast cancer cases. Not infrequently, it
occurs in younger women and also is the most common breast
cancer type in women with a Hereditary Breast and Ovarian
Cancer-predisposing BRCA1 gene mutation. The connection between
BRCA1 mutations and TNBC has led clinical researchers and cancer
geneticists to question whether the presence of TNBC in a young
women should be utilized clinically as a signal that she should
be offered testing for genetic predisposition to Hereditary
Breast and Ovarian Cancer. This is potentially quite important
information, as the identification of a BRCA1 mutation in the
woman often can impact both clinical management decisions for
the breast cancer and have implications for future health
decision-making for both the woman with breast cancer and other
family members who may be at risk