Author(s)

Jessica Kalra, Lincoln A. Edwards

Experimental Therapeutics, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, Canada&Department of Biology, Langara College, Vancouver, Canada.
Neuro-Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Neuro- logical Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA..

Significant advances in breast cancer treatment have been made where it is now possible to treat localized disease to a curable state. However, for approximately 30% of women with primary disease, metastatic breast cancer (MBC) or recurrent disease, treatment has remained challenging. Major obstacles in the effective treatment of breast cancer in these populations include: 1) the molecular heterogeneity of the disease; 2) treatment of MBC and more specifically brain metastasis; and 3) defining combination therapies that address the evolution of resistance with disease relapse. The acknowledgement of these difficulties has led to an effort to further understand the roadblocks to therapy with the anticipation that more appropriate treatments will result. Here we describe the current state of breast cancer treatment, and the potential for improved therapy.

Breast Cancer; Brain Metastasis; Drug Combinations

J. Kalra and L. Edwards, "Breast Cancer Therapies Present and Future," Journal of Cancer Therapy, Vol. 3 No. 6, 2012, pp. 1140-1150. doi: 10.4236/jct.2012.36149.