Can Hormonal Therapy Help Treat Triple-Negative Breast Cancer?

New research suggests that estrogen plays a role in allowing hormone receptor-negative breast cancer to grow. This is because estrogen limits the ability of the immune system to attack cancer cells; it also makes immunotherapy medicines, like Keytruda (chemical name: pembrolizumab), less effective. Dr. Donald McDonnell, senior author of the study, explains the results and how they might make a difference for people with breast cancer. Listen to the episode to hear Dr. McDonnell explain: what eosinophils are and how he started studying them in connection with breast cancer how estrogen in the body affects the immune system how a hormonal therapy medicine, like tamoxifen, can make an immunotherapy medicine, like Keytruda, more effective