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Background Validated targeted therapy is currently unavailable for patients with invasive breast cancer negative for oestrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and HER2 [i.e., those with triple-negative (TN) disease]. ADAM-17 is a protease involved in the activations of several ligands that bind to and promotes intracellular signalling from the EGFR/HER family of receptors. Patients and methods Expression of ADAM-17 was measured in 86 triple-negative and 96 non-triple-negative breast cancers. The ADAM-17 specific inhibitor, PF-5480090 (TMI-002, Pfizer) was tested in a panel of breast cancer cell lines for effects on functional outputs. Results In this study we show using both Western blotting and immunohistochemistry that ADAM-17 is expressed at significantly higher levels in TN than non-TN breast cancers. Using a panel of breast cancer cell lines in culture, PF-5480090 was found to decrease release of the EGFR ligand, TGF-alpha, decrease levels of phosphorylated EGFR and block cell proliferation in a cell-type-dependent manner. Potentially important was the finding of a significant and moderately strong correlation between ADAM-17 activity and extent of proliferation inhibition by PF-5480090 (r = 0.809; p = 0.003; n = 11). Pretreatment of cell lines with PF-5480090 enhanced response to several different cytotoxic and anti-EGFR/HER agents. Conclusion It is concluded that inhibition of ADAM-17, especially in combination with chemotherapy or anti-EGFR/HER inhibitors, may be a new approach for treating breast cancer, including patients with TN disease. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]