New agents in development for breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
This review summarizes the continuing value of some therapeutic drugs and new agents under development for the treatment of breast cancer.


RESULTS
Overexpression and activation of various growth factor receptors occurs frequently in human breast cancer. Therapeutic approaches mainly involve the epidermal growth factor receptor family, insulin-like growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor. Therapeutic agents targeting these receptors include the monoclonal antibodies trastuzumab and pertuzumab, and the small-molecule inhibitors gefitinib and erlotinib. Other small-molecule and dual inhibitors are in development, some of which have been demonstrated to have higher efficacy in the treatment of breast cancer. The selective estrogen receptor modulators and aromatase inhibitors continue to be valuable in the endocrine therapy of breast cancer. These drugs have been shown to have higher efficacy than conventional therapy agents, and to have extensive potential, especially in the treatment of postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
Approved agents including epidermal growth factor receptor-targeted inhibitor, selective estrogen receptor modulators and aromatase inhibitors continue to be valuable in treating breast cancer. To overcome the acquired resistance caused by these agents and to enhance the therapy effect, the development of new and specific dual inhibitors targeting various growth factor receptors will be important in the future.
Gao
Xiao-ping
XP
Institute of Materia Medica, KangHong Pharmaceutical Goup, Chengdu, People's Republic of China. gxplww2003@yahoo.com.cn
Liu
Fang
F
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015195:Drug Design; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D017978:Receptors, Growth Factor; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D066246:ErbB Receptors