J Breast Cancer.  2009 Dec;12(4):229-234. 10.4048/jbc.2009.12.4.229.

Molecular Targets for Treatment of Breast Cancer

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. wcpark@catholic.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Seoul, Korea.
  • 3Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Inje University, Busan, Korea.
  • 4Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
  • 5Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
  • 6Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
  • 7Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Kosin Unversity, Busan, Korea.
  • 8Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, Wonkwang University, Iksan, Korea.
  • 9Target Molecule Study Group of Korean Breast Cancer Society, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Advances in molecular biology have made it possible to understand the tumor biology of breast cancer at the molecular level and have revealed molecular targets for the therapy of breast cancer. Nowadays, targeting agents are used as mono-therapy or as combined therapy with other anti-cancer drugs for the treatment of breast cancer. Much more efforts is also being made in the development of better therapeutic agents targeting molecules having an important role in tumor biology. In this article, promising molecules for targeted therapy are reviewed for their roles in the pathophysiology and the treatment of breast cancer. We also introduce and summarize new preclinical agents, developed or on developing, with preliminary results from clinical trials. Given the progress currently being made, targeted therapy could become a main strategy for the treatment of breast cancer in the near future.

Keyword

Breast neoplasms; Therapy; Targeting agent

MeSH Terms

Biology
Breast
Breast Neoplasms
Molecular Biology

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