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Published on: May 18, 2020
Targeting Breast Cancer: The Familiar, the Emerging, and the Uncharted Territories
Hamidreza Montazeri Aliabadi1, Arthur Manda1, Riya Sidgal1
1Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus, Irvine, CA 92618, USA.
Abstract:
Breast cancer became the most diagnosed cancer in the world in 2020. Chemotherapy is still the leading clinical strategy in breast cancer treatment, followed by hormone therapy (mostly used in hormone receptor-positive types). However, with our ever-expanding knowledge of signaling pathways in cancer biology, new molecular targets are identified for potential novel molecularly targeted drugs in breast cancer treatment. While this has resulted in the approval of a few molecularly targeted drugs by the FDA (including drugs targeting immune checkpoints), a wide array of signaling pathways seem to be still underexplored. Also, while combinatorial treatments have become common practice in clinics, the majority of these approaches seem to combine molecularly targeted drugs with chemotherapeutic agents. In this manuscript, we start by analyzing the list of FDA-approved molecularly targeted drugs for breast cancer to evaluate where molecular targeting stands in breast cancer treatment today. We will then provide an overview of other options currently under clinical trial or being investigated in pre-clinical studies.
Insights
Molecularly targeted drugs offer new breast cancer treatment avenues beyond chemotherapy. This review analyzes current FDA-approved options and emerging therapies, highlighting underexplored signaling pathways for future drug development.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer globally, with chemotherapy and hormone therapy as primary treatments.
- Despite advancements, many signaling pathways remain underexplored for novel molecularly targeted therapies.
- Current combinatorial treatments often pair targeted drugs with traditional chemotherapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze FDA-approved molecularly targeted drugs for breast cancer.
- To evaluate the current landscape of molecular targeting in breast cancer treatment.
- To provide an overview of emerging targeted therapies in clinical trials and preclinical studies.
Main Methods:
- Systematic review of FDA-approved molecularly targeted drugs for breast cancer.
- Analysis of signaling pathways targeted by approved and investigational drugs.
- Literature review of ongoing clinical trials and preclinical research in breast cancer targeted therapy.
Main Results:
- A limited number of molecularly targeted drugs, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, are FDA-approved for breast cancer.
- Numerous signaling pathways crucial to breast cancer progression are yet to be therapeutically exploited.
- A significant gap exists between approved targeted therapies and the potential offered by ongoing research.
Conclusions:
- Molecularly targeted therapy is an evolving field in breast cancer treatment, with significant room for expansion.
- Further research into underexplored signaling pathways is critical for developing next-generation breast cancer drugs.
- Future strategies may involve novel combinations of targeted agents to overcome treatment resistance and improve patient outcomes.
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