biostudies-literatureAlexandrou SNational Breast Cancer FoundationE667https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC6387372biostudies-literatureUnknown20(3)Basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) is an aggressive molecular subtype that represents up to 15% of breast cancers. It occurs in younger patients, and typically shows rapid development of locoregional and distant metastasis, resulting in a relatively high mortality rate. Its defining features are that it is positive for basal cytokeratins and, epidermal growth factor receptor and/or c-Kit. Problematically, it is typically negative for the estrogen receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which means that it is unsuitable for either hormone therapy or targeted HER2 therapy. As a result, there are few therapeutic options for BLBC, and a major priority is to define molecular subgroups of BLBC that could be targeted therapeutically. In this review, we focus on the highly proliferative and anti-apoptotic phenotype of BLBC with the goal of defining potential therapeutic avenues, which could take advantage of these aspects of tumor development.International journal of molecular sciencesThe Proliferative and Apoptotic Landscape of Basal-like Breast Cancer.PMC6387372EC-17-002ECF-17-002Alexandrou SCaldon CELim EOrmandy CJOakes SRGeorge SMfalseThe Proliferative and Apoptotic Landscape of Basal-like Breast Cancer.Basal-like breast cancer (BLBC) is an aggressive molecular subtype that represents up to 15% of breast cancers. It occurs in younger patients, and typically shows rapid development of locoregional and distant metastasis, resulting in a relatively high mortality rate. Its defining features are that it is positive for basal cytokeratins and, epidermal growth factor receptor and/or c-Kit. Problematically, it is typically negative for the estrogen receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), which means that it is unsuitable for either hormone therapy or targeted HER2 therapy. As a result, there are few therapeutic options for BLBC, and a major priority is to define molecular subgroups of BLBC that could be targeted therapeutically. In this review, we focus on the highly proliferative and anti-apoptotic phenotype of BLBC with the goal of defining potential therapeutic avenues, which could take advantage of these aspects of tumor development.2019-01-01T00:00:00Z2019 Feb2024-11-08T09:35:59.556Z2019-06-06T20:53:55ZS-EPMC63873723072071810.3390/ijms20030667