SLFN12 and Triple Negative Breast Cancer: Unlocking New Possibilities in Chemotherapy Response

In the rapidly evolving field of cancer pharmacology, biomarkers are a key to fulfilling the promise of precision medicine. While many candidates have shown early promise only to lose momentum, recent findings suggest that Schlafen family member 12 may represent a clinically meaningful advancement. Increased expression of Schlafen 12 has been linked to triple-negative breast cancer survival and sensitization to chemotherapeutic agents. Additionally, transcriptomic analyses has identified an eight-gene SLFN12 signature that has potential to predict treatment response – advancing its efficacy as a biomarker for triple-negative breast cancer. Taken together, using Schlafen 12 as a biomarker in triple-negative breast cancer may increase patient survival while simultaneously provide a method of precision oncology to a patient base with limited targeted treatment options.