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New Approaches for Hormone-Receptor Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

  • Clinical Trials (MN Dickler, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Overcoming endocrine resistance remains critical to further enhancing the benefit of existing endocrine therapies in estrogen receptor (ER) positive metastatic breast cancer. Preclinical research has significantly improved our understanding of molecular mechanisms associated with endocrine resistance. In turn, clinical research is focusing on designing trials that combine endocrine therapies with targeted inhibitors of specific signalling pathways that have been implicated in endocrine resistance. To date, first line studies have largely been disappointing, with many phase III trials failing to demonstrate a significant delay in endocrine resistance by the addition of a given targeted therapy. In contrast, the more successful trials have been performed in selected populations with acquired endocrine resistance. Numerous therapeutic agents are currently being tested in combination with endocrine therapies based on varying levels of preclinical data to support their use. In this review we provide the most recent advances in ER+ breast cancer, giving emphasis to recently concluded or ongoing trials with the potential to change current clinical practice.

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Conflict of Interest

Eirini Thanopoulou has received payment for a speaking engagement from Novartis. Stephen R.D. Johnston has received payment for consulting from Novartis, GlaxoSmithKline, Roche, and Genentech; research support from Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, and AstraZeneca; and payment for speaking engagements from Novartis and Roche.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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  1. Department of Medicine, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Fulham Road, Chelsea, London, SW3 6JJ, UK

    Eirini Thanopoulou & Stephen R. D. Johnston

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Thanopoulou, E., Johnston, S.R.D. New Approaches for Hormone-Receptor Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer. Curr Breast Cancer Rep 5, 309–320 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12609-013-0122-z

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