Emerging drugs in metastatic breast cancer: an update

Abstract

Introduction: The incidence of breast cancer at an advanced stage has decreased in the modern world due to screening programs and usage of novel chemotherapy agents at an adjuvant setting. Recurrence is the major problem seen in > 50% of breast cancer patients diagnosed at an early stage. Developing new drugs for metastatic breast cancer is a huge and challenging research area.

Areas covered: Emerging drugs showed positive results in clinical studies and agents in routine clinical usage are updated. Current treatment strategies as a combination of biologic agents and overcoming drug resistance are discussed. Literature search is made from PubMed, ASCO and San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium Meeting abstracts.

Expert opinion: A number of drugs caused survival benefit for advanced breast cancer. Hundreds of new studies with tens of agents are conducted for treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Tumor resistance and treatment related toxicities are unavoidable which are two main search areas for improving metastatic breast cancer management. Understanding the pathways of genesis and progression yielded many targets for treatment. However, cure in metastatic breast cancer is still a far aim and new agents and treatment strategies are needed.

Keywords:

• biologic agent
• chemotherapy
• metastatic breast cancer
• new drugs