Metastatic Breast How Targeted Therapies Work
Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that uses drugs or other substances to specifically target and destroy cancer cells while leaving healthy cells unharmed. In metastatic breast cancer, targeted therapies may be used alone or in combination with other treatments, such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or surgery.
There are several different types of targeted therapies that can be used to treat metastatic breast cancer, including:
* CDK4/6 inhibitors: These drugs block the activity of cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4 and CDK6), which are proteins that play a role in cell division. By blocking CDK4 and CDK6, these drugs can prevent cancer cells from dividing and growing. CDK4/6 inhibitors are approved by the FDA to treat HR-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer in combination with hormone therapy.
* HER2-targeted therapies: These drugs target the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) protein, which is overexpressed in some breast cancers. HER2-targeted therapies can block the HER2 protein from sending signals that tell cancer cells to grow and divide. HER2-targeted therapies are approved by the FDA to treat HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.
* PARP inhibitors: These drugs block the activity of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), an enzyme that helps repair damaged DNA in cells. By blocking PARP, these drugs can prevent cancer cells from repairing their DNA and can lead to cell death. PARP inhibitors are approved by the FDA to treat BRCA-mutated metastatic breast cancer.
* mTOR inhibitors: These drugs block the activity of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a protein that plays a role in cell growth and proliferation. By blocking mTOR, these drugs can prevent cancer cells from growing and dividing. mTOR inhibitors are approved by the FDA to treat HR-positive, HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer in combination with hormone therapy.
Targeted therapies can be an effective treatment for metastatic breast cancer, but it is important to note that they may not be suitable for everyone. Talk to your doctor about whether targeted therapy is right for you.