New treatments for breast cancer

The development of new treatments for breast cancer has been fueled by the plateau in median survival which has been observed using standard drugs. Chemotherapy scheduling and dose-intensity are areas of intense research. As the same time, new drug development has been remarkably productive. Novel agents have been evaluated that induce high response rates. Clinical superiority may ultimately emerge as new spindle poisons, topoisomerase inhibitors, and antifolates are compared with standard therapy. New inhibitors have also been developed for hormone sensitive breast cancer. Immunologic therapy has reached phase III trials. Novel liposomal delivery systems allow maximum bioavailability with minimal toxicity. Finally, palliation of bone pain is now possible with site-specific agents such as pamidronate and 89Strontium. As the arsenal of treatments continues to expand, these new agents are primed to enter clinical practice. If current progress continues, the next decade promises exciting hope for the treatment of breast cancer.