Perspectives of EGFR co-targeting with nanocarriers for anti-TNBC purposes

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a particularly aggressive and therapeutically challenging subtype of breast tumor, frequently marked by the relatively high expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). As a tyrosine kinase, this enzyme plays a crucial role in driving tumor cell proliferation, progression, and metastases. This review describes the restricted clinical benefits of single EGFR targeting, its expression profile across TNBC subtypes, and the genomic and non-genomic determinants of EGFR transcription, followed by the possibilities of combinatorial and multi-targeted therapy approaches. By analyzing patterns of gene expression in EGFR-high and EGFR-low samples, additional co-targeting factors were identified, which could enhance the efficacy of anti-EGFR strategies in TNBC and serve as more precise and personalized treatment standards. The impact of simultaneous EGFR and selected factors on patient survival is presented. Finally, we mention the available nanocarriers capable of delivering two inhibitors, siRNAs, and antibodies, or their mixtures, for the reduction of EGFR and co-expressed partners.