The present invention relates generally to a method of prognosing the survival of a patient with a breast neoplasm, more particularly a patient with a breast neoplasm which is estrogen receptor-/progesterone receptor-/HER-2-(“triple-negative”). The method of the present invention more particularly provides a method for prognosing breast cancer patient survival, in particular risk of metastatic spread, by screening for IRF9 expression. In a related aspect, the present invention provides a method of therapeutically or prophylactically treating patients with a triple-negative breast neoplasm, in particular those patients with triple-negative breast neoplasia which is characterised by a poor survival prognosis, still more particularly a high risk of metastatic spread, by upregulating type I IFN levels.