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Targeted therapies in early-stage breast cancer: achievements and promises

George W Sledge1, Aparna C Jotwani, Lida Mina

  • 1Indiana University, Simon Cancer Center, Indiana Cancer Pavilion, 535 Barnhill Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. gsledge@iupui.edu

Surgical Oncology Clinics of North America
|July 13, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Targeted therapies represent a major advance in breast cancer treatment, shifting from nonspecific chemotherapy to precision medicine based on tumor genetics. This review explores the evolution and future of targeted breast cancer treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Genomics
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Breast cancer treatment has been revolutionized by targeted therapies over the last decade.
  • Understanding the genomic underpinnings of specific breast cancer subtypes is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To define targeted therapy in the context of breast cancer.
  • To review the genomic basis and evolution of targeted therapies in breast cancer.
  • To explore current and emerging targeted therapies for breast cancer.

Main Methods:

  • Review of scientific literature on targeted therapies in breast cancer.
  • Examination of the genomic basis for targeted therapy development.
  • In-depth analysis of Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (HER2)-targeted therapy.
  • Exploration of novel targeted agents in development and clinical trials.

Main Results:

  • Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2 (HER2)-targeted therapy is a principal example of successful targeted treatment in the adjuvant setting.
  • Emerging targeted therapies include anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapy, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors for triple-negative breast cancer, and receptor activator of NF-kB (RANK) ligand inhibitors for bone metastasis.
  • Chemotherapy is evolving towards targeted approaches with improved understanding of breast cancer biology.

Conclusions:

  • Targeted therapies have significantly improved breast cancer treatment outcomes.
  • Continued research into breast cancer genomics will drive the development of more precise and effective targeted treatments.
  • The future of breast cancer therapy lies in personalized approaches tailored to specific tumor subtypes and genetic profiles.

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