Which subtype is ER-, PR-, HER2-?

Which subtype is ER-, PR-, HER2-?

• A. Triple-negative breast cancer
• B. Luminal A
• C. Luminal B
• D. HER2-enriched

Answer: (A)

Breast cancer subtypes are defined by receptor status: estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2. When a tumor tests negative for all three, it is classified as triple-negative. This means there are no hormonal targets (ER or PR) and no HER2 target available for therapy, so endocrine therapies and HER2-directed treatments aren’t options. Clinically, triple-negative cancers can behave more aggressively and are often treated with chemotherapy, with immunotherapy or PARP inhibitors considered in certain settings. Luminal A and luminal B are driven by ER signaling, with PR usually present and HER2 negative (luminal A) or varying features including higher proliferation or occasional HER2 expression (luminal B). HER2-enriched tumors lack ER and PR but overexpress HER2. So the defining feature of triple-negative is the absence of all three receptors, which is why it’s the correct classification for an ER-, PR-, HER2- profile.

Breast cancer subtypes are defined by receptor status: estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2. When a tumor tests negative for all three, it is classified as triple-negative. This means there are no hormonal targets (ER or PR) and no HER2 target available for therapy, so endocrine therapies and HER2-directed treatments aren’t options. Clinically, triple-negative cancers can behave more aggressively and are often treated with chemotherapy, with immunotherapy or PARP inhibitors considered in certain settings.

Luminal A and luminal B are driven by ER signaling, with PR usually present and HER2 negative (luminal A) or varying features including higher proliferation or occasional HER2 expression (luminal B). HER2-enriched tumors lack ER and PR but overexpress HER2. So the defining feature of triple-negative is the absence of all three receptors, which is why it’s the correct classification for an ER-, PR-, HER2- profile.