Endocrine and molecular targeted therapy for breast cancer

Breast cancer patients should choose appropriate treatment methods according to their own conditions. Endocrine and molecular targeted treatment methods are available to patients.

Endocrine therapy

The main endocrine therapies for breast cancer include estrogen antagonists (tamoxifen) and aromatase inhibitors (third-generation aromatase inhibitors, such as letrozole, anastrozole, and exemestane, are commonly used now). Tamoxifen can be used by both pre- and post-menopausal women, and aromatase inhibitors are more effective for post-menopausal women. In addition, there are castration drugs (such as Zoladex) that can replace surgery and radiotherapy, which can be used in pre-menopausal (including peri-menopausal) patients or in combination with tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors.

Molecular targeted therapy

Humans can develop new drugs targeting different targets at the molecular level. Targeted drugs for the treatment of breast cancer are drugs targeting the HER-2 receptor family (trastuzumab/Herceptin, lapatinib), angiogenesis inhibitors (bevacizumab/Avastin) have been used clinically, and drugs targeting other targets such as the RAS family, farnesyl transferase inhibitors, and ubiquitin-protease pathways. Trastuzumab is the first molecular targeted drug in the field of breast cancer treatment, and its indication is HER-2 positive patients.

Tips: HER-2 positive means that the HER-2 expression is rated as +++ by immunohistochemistry, or positive by FISH test.