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The Real Impact of Target Therapy in Breast Cancer Patients: Between Hope and Reality

Sebastiano Bordonaro1, Massimiliano Berretta2, Antonino Carmelo Tralongo1

  • 1Division of Medical Oncology, "Umberto I" Hospital - RAO - Siracusa, Italy.

Current Cancer Drug Targets
|February 11, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Targeted therapies have significantly advanced breast cancer treatment over 15 years by targeting specific molecular pathways and receptors. This approach, guided by biomolecular classification, improves prognosis for both localized and advanced disease.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Breast cancer treatment has evolved with targeted drugs acting on specific cellular biomolecular targets.
  • Over-expression of receptors (ER, PgR, HER-2, VEGF-R) and altered signaling pathways (PI3K-AKT-mTOR, MEK-MAPK) impact recurrence and progression.
  • Biomolecular classification (Luminal A/B, HER2-driven, Basal-like) aids in personalized treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review major targeted drugs approved for breast cancer treatment.
  • To correlate drug indications with specific molecular targets and disease stages (localized and advanced).

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of targeted therapies in breast cancer.
  • Analysis of drug indications based on molecular targets (hormonal receptors, HER2, VEGF, m-TOR, PARP).
  • Consideration of disease classification and stage.

Main Results:

  • Significant expansion in targeted drug development over the past 15 years.
  • Identification of key molecular targets and pathways crucial for breast cancer progression.
  • Established link between biomolecular subtypes and targeted treatment efficacy.

Conclusions:

  • Targeted therapies represent a major advancement in breast cancer management.
  • Personalized treatment based on molecular profiling and targeted drugs improves patient outcomes.
  • Ongoing research continues to expand the armamentarium against breast cancer.
Keywords:
Breastbiomolecularcancermetastasesreceptorstargettreatment.

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