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Targeted therapy for breast cancer and molecular mechanisms of resistance to treatment

Guowei Gu1, Derek Dustin2, Suzanne Aw Fuqua3

  • 1Lester & Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Current Opinion in Pharmacology
|November 25, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Recent breast cancer therapies show promise, with targeted treatments improving outcomes for HR-positive and HER2-positive subtypes. However, developing effective targeted therapies for triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a significant challenge.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Breast cancer treatment has advanced through subtype-specific therapies.
  • Hormone receptor (HR)-positive, HER2-positive, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) require distinct therapeutic strategies.
  • Preclinical studies reveal targetable pathways to overcome treatment resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advances in breast cancer therapy.
  • To highlight approved targeted therapies and their impact on disease-free survival (DFS).
  • To discuss challenges in developing targeted therapies for TNBC.

Main Methods:

  • Review of clinical trial data and preclinical studies.
  • Analysis of approved targeted therapies like everolimus and palbociclib for HR-positive MBC.
  • Examination of combination therapies for HER2-positive breast cancer, including pertuzumab and trastuzumab.

Main Results:

  • Everolimus (mTOR inhibitor) and palbociclib (CDK4/6 inhibitor) improved DFS in HR-positive metastatic breast cancer (MBC).
  • Combination of pertuzumab and trastuzumab with taxanes enhanced DFS in HER2-positive breast cancer.
  • Targeted therapy for TNBC, while needed, faces hurdles in patient selection and biomarker development.

Conclusions:

  • Targeted therapies have significantly improved outcomes in HR-positive and HER2-positive breast cancer.
  • Effective targeted treatment strategies for TNBC are still under development.
  • Biomarker discovery is crucial for advancing TNBC targeted therapy.

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