Optimal adjuvant chemotherapy in breast cancer: selection of agents

Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2014 Sep;7(5):605-11. doi: 10.1586/17512433.2014.945429. Epub 2014 Aug 1.

Abstract

Historically, the selection of the most effective adjuvant regimen for breast cancer patients was based on tumor size and nodal status but this approach took into account the stage only, without considering that the biology of the tumor matters as well, as breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease at the molecular level. In the present manuscript we will attempt to address the issue of selecting the most appropriate cytotoxic agents for adjuvant programs in the clinically and biologically distinct subgroups of endocrine responsive (luminal A and luminal B), HER2 positive and triple negative breast cancer patients.

Keywords: breast cancer; chemotherapy; predictive factor; subtype.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / pathology

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Receptor, ErbB-2