A comprehensive inventory of commonly used drugs and treatment options for breast cancer

A comprehensive review of commonly used drugs and treatment options for breast cancer

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors in women worldwide. With the advancement of medical technology, the treatment methods and drugs for breast cancer have been continuously updated, greatly improving the survival rate and quality of life of patients. This article will introduce the commonly used drugs and treatment plans for breast cancer.

1. Surgical treatment

Surgery is one of the most common treatments for breast cancer and includes the following:

  1. Mastectomy : There are two types of surgery: partial mastectomy (lumpectomy) and total mastectomy. A partial mastectomy preserves most of the breast tissue, while a total mastectomy removes the entire breast.

  2. Breast-conserving surgery : For patients with early breast cancer, breast-conserving surgery can be chosen, such as tumor resection, followed by radiotherapy to reduce the risk of recurrence.

  3. Sentinel lymph node biopsy and axillary lymph node dissection : Used to determine whether cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes.

2. Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer cells. It is often used before and after surgery for breast cancer, as well as for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Common chemotherapy drugs include:

  1. Anthracyclines: Such drugs as Adriamycin and Epirubicin work by interfering with DNA replication and repair in cancer cells.

  2. Taxanes , such as paclitaxel and docetaxel, inhibit the division of cancer cells.

  3. Alkylating agents , such as cyclophosphamide, work by damaging the DNA of cancer cells.

  4. Antimetabolites : Such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and capecitabine, which block DNA synthesis in cancer cells.

3. Endocrine therapy

Endocrine therapy is mainly suitable for patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, which controls cancer growth by blocking or inhibiting the effects of estrogen. Commonly used drugs include:

  1. Tamoxifen : A selective estrogen receptor modulator commonly used in premenopausal and postmenopausal women.

  2. Aromatase inhibitors : such as letrozole, anastrozole and exemestane , are mainly used in postmenopausal women to reduce the production of estrogen in the body by inhibiting aromatase.

  3. Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists : such as goserelin and leuprolide, reduce estrogen levels by inhibiting ovarian function and are suitable for premenopausal women.

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy is a treatment method that targets specific cancer molecular targets and is often used in patients with HER2-positive breast cancer. Commonly used drugs include:

  1. Trastuzumab : An anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody that blocks the signaling of HER2 receptors, thereby inhibiting the growth of cancer cells.

  2. Pertuzumab (Perjeta, Pertuzumab) : Used in combination with trastuzumab, it can enhance the effect of anti-HER2 treatment.

  3. Lapatinib (Tykerb, Lapatinib) : A small molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor that is often used in patients who have failed trastuzumab treatment.

  4. Ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla) : An antibody-drug conjugate that combines trastuzumab with a cytotoxic drug for the treatment of HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

5. Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment method that fights cancer by activating the patient's own immune system. In recent years, immune checkpoint inhibitors have shown some effectiveness in the treatment of breast cancer, such as the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor atezolizumab.

6. Radiotherapy

Radiation therapy is a treatment that uses high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells or stop their growth. It is usually used with surgery and chemotherapy. Radiation therapy is mainly used to:

  1. Postoperative adjuvant therapy : reduce the risk of local recurrence.

  2. Palliative care : Relieves symptoms, such as bone pain, in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Conclusion

The treatment of breast cancer varies depending on the specific situation of the patient, and usually requires a multidisciplinary team to work together to develop an individualized treatment plan. With the continuous advancement of medical technology, the treatment of breast cancer is also constantly enriched and optimized. Through the combined application of surgery, chemotherapy, endocrine therapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy and radiotherapy, the survival rate and quality of life of patients can be significantly improved. I hope that more innovative therapies will be introduced in the future to bring more hope and good news to breast cancer patients.

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