Abstract

Advances in breast cancer treatment have significantly transformed patient outcomes over the past few decades. This review highlights key developments in the field, focusing on targeted therapies, immunotherapies, hormonal treatments, and advancements in surgical and radiation techniques. The advent of targeted therapies, such as HER2 inhibitors and PARP inhibitors, has provided more personalized and effective treatment options for patients with specific genetic profiles. Immunotherapy, particularly checkpoint inhibitors, has emerged as a promising strategy, leveraging the body’s immune system to combat cancer cells more effectively. Hormonal treatments have evolved with the development of selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs) and aromatase inhibitors, offering improved management of hormone receptor-positive breast cancers.

Surgical advancements, including oncoplastic surgery and sentinel lymph node biopsy, have enhanced the precision and cosmetic outcomes of breast cancer surgeries. Radiation therapy has seen innovations such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI), which aim to minimize damage to surrounding healthy tissues while effectively targeting cancer cells. Furthermore, the integration of multigene panel testing and next-generation sequencing has refined risk assessment, enabling more tailored treatment strategies.

Clinical trials continue to play a crucial role in validating these new approaches and uncovering novel therapeutic targets. The combination of these advanced treatments and personalized medicine approaches has led to improved survival rates and quality of life for breast cancer patients. However, challenges remain, including addressing disparities in access to advanced treatments, managing resistance to therapies, and understanding the long-term effects of new treatment modalities. Future research directions include the exploration of novel biomarkers, development of more effective combination therapies, and the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning to optimize treatment planning and outcomes.