Emerging Intrinsic Therapeutic Targets for Metastatic Breast Cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer is now the most common cancer worldwide, and it is also the main cause of cancer-related death in women. Survival rates for female breast cancer have significantly improved due to early diagnosis and better treatment. Nevertheless, for patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer, the survival rate is still low, reflecting a need for the development of new therapies. Mechanistic insights into metastatic breast cancer have provided excellent opportunities for developing novel therapeutic strategies. Although high-throughput approaches have identified several therapeutic targets in metastatic disease, some subtypes such as triple-negative breast cancer do not yet have an apparent tumor-specific receptor or pathway to target. Therefore, exploring new druggable targets in metastatic disease is a high clinical priority. In this review, we summarize the emerging intrinsic therapeutic targets for metastatic breast cancer, including cyclin D-dependent kinases CDK4 and CDK6, the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, the insulin/IGF1R pathway, the EGFR/HER family, the JAK/STAT pathway, poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARP), TROP-2, Src kinases, histone modification enzymes, activated growth factor receptors, androgen receptors, breast cancer stem cells, matrix metalloproteinases, and immune checkpoint proteins. We also review the latest development in breast cancer immunotherapy. Drugs that target these molecules/pathways are either already FDA-approved or currently being tested in clinical trials.

Targeting CENPN to inhibit breast cancer progression: insights into cell growth and aerobic glycolysis modulation

“…The AKT signaling pathway is essential in regulating biological functions such as proliferation, apoptosis and invasion [42] and is known to be hyperactivated in various cancers, making it a pivotal target for cancer therapy [43,44]. Specifically, AKT has been identified as a key therapeutic target for breast cancer, playing a significant role in aerobic glycolysis [45].…”

Identification of cuproptosis-related miRNAs in triple-negative breast cancer and analysis of the miRNA–mRNA regulatory network

“…In the current study, 75% of patients with breast cancer showed the activation of the insulin/IGF-1R signaling pathway. This signal transduction axis is related to the increase in cancer progression, angiogenesis, and metastasis [ 29 ]. The IGF signal axis is implicated in TNBC, and the IGF gene signature is upregulated in TNBC and TNBC cell lines.…”

Oxidative Stress in Breast Cancer: A Biochemical Map of Reactive Oxygen Species Production

“…TrxR/Trx regulate glyceral dehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) by altering the glycolytic pathway [39]. Moreover, TrxR/Trx activate p53 and hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α), affecting cell proliferation [40], as well as angiogenesis and metastasis [41,42], which may have applications in the development of therapeutic strategies [43][44][45].…”