Treatment options when breast cancer becomes unresponsive to chemotherapy

UC expert speaks with Everyday Health

The University of Cincinnati's Mahmoud Charif was featured in an Everyday Health article discussing treatment options when metastatic triple-negative breast cancer (mTNBC) becomes unresponsive to chemotherapy.

Even though chemotherapy is the standard treatment for mTNBC, it’s not uncommon for these drugs to stop working eventually. 

Charif, MD, a University of Cincinnati Cancer Center member, associate professor in the UC College of Medicine and a UC Health physician, said breast cancer cells can become resistant to chemotherapy over time, making the treatment less effective. This is especially the case for mTNBC, which is typically a more aggressive form of cancer.

Treatment options when mTNBC becomes unresponsive to chemotherapy include immunotherapy, clinical trials and a class of drugs called antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs). Charif explained ADCs combine an antibody therapy and chemotherapy to work together to kill cancer cells.

Read the Everyday Health article.

Featured photo of 3D breast cancer cell courtesy of the National Cancer Institute.

Related Stories

2

Driven by curiosity, guided by care

May 14, 2026

Max Wilson, a University of Cincinnati College of Allied Health Sciences health sciences major on the pre-physician assistant track, found his path expanding beyond the classroom and into hands-on research focused on human performance and patient care.

3

New cohort of nursing students get ready to join co-ops

May 14, 2026

A new chapter is beginning for more than 100 University of Cincinnati College of Nursing rising seniors as they embark on one of the most distinctive experiences in undergraduate nursing education: the UC Nursing Co-op Program. The incoming cohort will fan out across Cincinnati's premier healthcare institutions, stepping into some of the most dynamic and specialized clinical environments in the region. Placement sites include UC Medical Center (UCMC), West Chester Hospital, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC) Burnet, College Hill, and Liberty campus.