Excellent response of refractory triple-negative breast cancer to sintilimab plus chemotherapy: a case report

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer with a high propensity for invasion and a high incidence of lymph node metastasis. Systemic chemotherapy is considered the primary treatment for patients with TNBC; however, immune checkpoint inhibitors in addition to chemotherapy have been associated with better outcomes. Sintilimab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, was developed in China. Herein, the authors report a 49-year-old woman diagnosed with TNBC with extensive lung and sternal metastases. Treatment with sintilimab plus paclitaxel and carboplatin was found highly effective after failure of first-line chemotherapy. This combinational therapy can be considered for the treatment of TNBC after necessary investigations and clinical trials. Plain language summaryTriple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer that has no target for endocrine or targeted therapy, and the standard treatment for patients with TNBC was chemotherapy alone. Recent studies have suggested that immune checkpoint inhibitors plus chemotherapy might be effective and safe for advanced TNBC. Pembrolizumab and atezolizumab have been approved by the US FDA for the treatment of PD-L1-positive TNBC patients. Sintilimab, a Chinese immune checkpoint inhibitor, has not been reported in the treatment of TNBC. This case report presents excellent outcomes of a patient with TNBC who received sintilimab plus chemotherapy after the failure of standard chemotherapy. This combinational therapy can be considered for the treatment of TNBC after necessary investigations and clinical trials.