Newest Treatments for Metastatic Breast Cancer
Over the last several decades, advanced cancer treatments have made great strides, leading to a rise in positive outlooks for patients. Through the hard work of physicians and cancer research institutions, even the most invasive cancer forms are being fought more efficiently and with greater success rates. This article focuses on recent breakthroughs in metastatic breast cancer treatments.
As described by BreastCancer.org, “metastatic breast cancer – also known as stage IV breast cancer – is breast cancer that has spread to another part of the body, most commonly the bones, lungs, brain, or liver.”
Innovative treatments are increasing survival rates and improving the quality of life for those with metastatic breast cancer. While there is a long road ahead before a definitive cure is found, many exciting technologies provide hope for combatting the disease.
Targeted therapy advancements for metastatic breast cancer
New drugs are continually being developed for breast cancer treatment. Targeted therapy uses drugs or other agents to attack breast cancer cells while minimizing harm to healthy cells specifically.
HER2-positive treatments
HER2-positive breast cancer is a fast-developing cancer defined by an overabundance of the HER2 protein. This protein accelerates cancer cells’ growth and spread. Targeted therapy has been used for the past two decades to treat this form of the disease. New drugs have shown great promise as viable treatment options in recent years.
- Trastuzumab deruxtecan: An antibody-drug conjugates (ADC), this treatment combines a monoclonal antibody’s cancer cell-targeting capabilities with a potent chemotherapy drug to destroy the cells. It is one of the first targeted therapies to receive FDA approval
- Tucatinib: An inhibitor drug that targets the HER2 protein and prevents it from encouraging further cancer growth. While it is not the first HER2 inhibitor on the market, tucatinib has been approved as a metastatic breast cancer treatment since 2020. Since 2023, it has been used to treat both breast cancer and colorectal cancer.
Treating triple-negative breast cancer
Triple-negative breast cancer is a particularly aggressive form of cancer that spreads quickly. Due to a lack of receptors and HER2 protein, targeted therapy and hormone therapy are generally unable to latch onto triple-negative breast cancer cells.
However, in 2020, the ADC Trodelvy (sacituzumab govitecan-hziy) was approved by the FDA to treat triple-negative breast cancer. According to Mayo Clinic, immunotherapy is also approved for triple-negative breast cancer. It is the only type of breast cancer that typically receives immunotherapy through the drug pembrolizumab.
As opposed to invasive measures commonly used to treat metastatic breast cancer, immunotherapy conditions the body to use its immune system to fight off cancer cells. With this type of treatment, the immune system can more accurately target cancer cells and bolster its responsiveness to new cancer cells as they emerge.
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PARP inhibitors as breast cancer treatment
When used as a treatment for metastatic breast cancer, PARP inhibitors prevent cancer cells from restoring tumor DNA. Currently, there are two PARP inhibitors for patients who fit the criteria:
- Talazoparib (Talzenna)
- Olaparib (Lynparza)
PARP inhibitors like Talazoparib and Olaparib are best designed for patients with a BRCA1 or BRCA2 (BRCA1/2) inherited gene mutation.
Research about the effectiveness of PARP inhibitors is still ongoing. Recent studies have shown that some cases of breast cancer can develop PARP inhibitor resistance during treatment. However, this has led to more research focusing on combining PARP inhibitors with other therapies and overcoming resistance.
Radiation therapies for metastatic breast cancer
Radiation therapy is one of the most common approaches to treat metastatic breast cancer. It can treat any stage of cancer and is frequently used alongside other cancer treatments. Known for being powerfully effective, radiation therapy kills cancer cells and shrinks the size of cancerous tumors using high-energy particles, X-rays and other methods like proton radiation.
Advancements in research have led to the evolution of radiation therapy, giving patients multiple treatment options.
Hypofractionated radiation therapy
Unlike routine radiation treatments that can be difficult to schedule, a hypofractionated treatment schedule for breast cancer accelerates the post-operation radiation treatments to last as little as three to five weeks. This not only allows a quicker and more convenient treatment option, but patients usually experience fewer side effects compared to those who opt for a conventional treatment length.
Intraoperative radiation therapy
An alternative approach to radiation therapy called intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) differs from traditional radiation therapy in multiple ways. Instead of performing radiation postoperatively, IORT is administered during a lumpectomy operation, which removes a tumor and surrounding tissue from the breast. As soon as the tumor is removed, IORT targets only the affected area as opposed to the entire breast, making sure healthy tissue is not exposed to radiation.
A 2024 study published in the International Journal of Breast Cancer examined survival outcomes and found that “IORT in selected low-risk patients can achieve an excellent prognosis with low rates of recurrence and metastasis.” Along with these promising results, IORT also reduces the number of follow-up visits and radiation treatments needed. This saves patients time and reduces the odds of missing a treatment due to scheduling burdens.
Proton therapy for breast cancer
When healthy tissue is exposed to radiation, patients can be more susceptible to side effects like fatigue, hair loss, tenderness and swelling. This makes the targeting accuracy of radiation therapy a key concern for patients choosing a breast cancer treatment.
Compared to X-ray radiation, proton therapy delivers the particles solely to the affected tissue, leaving the surrounding and underlying tissue untouched. In a 2020 study, patients who received proton therapy were far less likely to develop serious side effects than patients undergoing traditional radiation treatments. While the study had considerable limitations, researchers expressed optimism about the indications of proton therapy’s efficacy. Clinical trials are ongoing to discover more benefits.
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New metastatic breast cancer treatments on the horizon
Medicine is constantly evolving, with new treatments being introduced for metastatic breast cancer. This year, City of Hope Research is leading a clinical trial on a type of immunotherapy called (CAR) T-cell therapy. This new treatment aims to help those diagnosed with ER2-positive breast cancer that has spread to the brain.
Meanwhile, at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, researchers are investigating the combination of a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor with two types of immunotherapy checkpoint inhibitors to treat HER2-negative breast cancer and triple-negative breast cancer.
All over the country, physicians and medical researchers are dedicated to discovering breakthroughs in breast cancer treatment. Over the years, treatments have drastically improved life expectancy and quality of life. The advancements yet to come will help even more people living with metastatic breast cancer.
Stage IV cancer treatment in Raleigh
Thanks to increased knowledge and technological advancements, the future holds great promise for people diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer. Finding a knowledgeable oncologist is crucial when seeking the best treatment options.
Our board-certified oncologist at Personalized Hematology-Oncology is on the cutting edge of advanced treatments. We provide patients with skilled cancer care in a comfortable environment. Contact us today to learn more about metastatic breast cancer treatments.
