Endocrine therapy in metastatic breast cancer-more than just CDK4/6 inhibitors

Abstract

Advanced hormone receptor-positive breast cancer is one of the women's most common malignant diseases and remains incurable despite recent therapeutic innovations. The dependence of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer on hormonal growth signals offers the possibility of inhibiting this signaling pathway using anti-hormonal therapy. Nevertheless, the development of resistance to antitumoral drugs remains a challenge. Molecularlytargeted substances significantly improve survival rates and (as in the case of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and 6 inhibitors) are widely used in clinical practice and enhance endocrine therapy's efficacy. Agents such as everolimus, alpelisib, and capivasertib target the phosphoinositide 3 kinase/protein kinase B/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway, which is a promising approach to overcoming endocrine resistance. Novel therapies are being studied in numerous trials, and some already show significant benefits in survival rates. The development of new therapies to avert endocrine resistance is an urgent challenge in modern medicine. The following review will examine some promising therapeutic approaches.