Breast cancer: Molecular basis and therapeutic strategies (Review)

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Biology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Breast cancer is a leading malignancy in women, often treated with chemotherapy and hormone therapy.
• Targeted therapy offers a more specific approach but faces challenges due to inter-individual drug response variability.
• The Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK pathway is crucial for cell cycle regulation and is frequently altered in breast cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the influence of genetic alterations on breast cancer development.
• To elucidate how anticancer drugs target aberrant cell proliferation in breast cancer.
• To discuss the mechanisms underlying resistance to breast cancer therapies.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies on breast cancer genetics and targeted therapies.
• Analysis of signal transduction pathways involved in breast cancer progression.
• Examination of drug resistance mechanisms in breast cancer treatment.

Main Results:

• Gene alterations significantly contribute to breast cancer initiation and progression.
• Targeted anticancer agents can effectively inhibit aberrant cell proliferation by interfering with specific molecular pathways.
• Variability in drug response and acquired resistance are significant hurdles in effective breast cancer treatment.

Conclusions:

• Understanding breast cancer biology and genetic alterations is key to developing effective targeted therapies.
• Targeted therapies show promise but require careful patient selection and monitoring to overcome resistance.
• Further research into resistance mechanisms is crucial for improving long-term outcomes for breast cancer patients.