TNBC
Medical abbreviation · Hematology and Oncology
| Stands for | Triple-negative breast cancer |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
TNBC stands for Triple-negative breast cancer, a hematology and oncology abbreviation.
Breast cancer that lacks estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and HER2 overexpression, so it does not respond to hormonal or HER2-targeted therapies. It accounts for roughly 10 to 15 percent of breast cancers and is more common in younger women, Black women and BRCA1 carriers.
Example: Stage II TNBC; neoadjuvant chemotherapy with pembrolizumab per KEYNOTE-522.
Usage notes
TNBC tends to grow quickly and recur within the first few years, though patients who achieve a pathologic complete response after neoadjuvant therapy have excellent outcomes. Adding pembrolizumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy improved survival in the KEYNOTE-522 trial, and the antibody-drug conjugate sacituzumab govitecan, approved in 2020, treats metastatic disease. Germline BRCA testing is recommended.
Related abbreviations
More hematology and oncology abbreviations
- SEER – Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program
- TACO – Transfusion-associated circulatory overload
- TKI – Tyrosine kinase inhibitor
- TLS – Tumor lysis syndrome
- TMA – Thrombotic microangiopathy
- TMB – Tumor mutational burden
- TNM – Tumor, Node, Metastasis
- TRALI – Transfusion-related acute lung injury
- TTP – Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
- VRd – Velcade (bortezomib), Revlimid (lenalidomide), dexamethasone
- VTE – Venous thromboembolism
- VWD – Von Willebrand disease
See all 144 hematology and oncology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.