Breast Cancer Treatment and Staging (cont.)

Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer

Hormone therapy is an effective form of treatment for cancers that are positive for hormone receptors (ER and PR). Hormone therapy is designed to deprive the tumor cells of the hormones they need to grow and can be given as different types of drugs. Tamoxifen, a drug that interferes with the activity of estrogen in the body, is a common hormone therapy drug. It can be given to both premenopausal and postmenopausal women. Studies have shown that taking tamoxifen for five years after surgical removal of the tumor improves outcomes in women with ER-positive breast cancer. In postmenopausal women, the drug class known as aromatase inhibitors is also used as a form of hormone therapy. Examples of aromatase inhibitors approved by the FDA are anastrozole (Arimidex), letrozole (Femara), and exemestane (Aromasin).

Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer

Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells. Chemotherapy is added to the treatment regimen for some women. Chemotherapy may be given after surgery (known as adjuvant chemotherapy) or before surgery in certain cases (neoadjuvant chemotherapy). Most chemotherapy regimens involve combinations of drugs.

Targeted Therapy for Breast Cancer

Targeted therapy involves drugs designed to target the HER2 protein on the surface of breast cancer cells in tumors that overexpress this protein. These therapies are given to women who have tumors that have been classified as HER2-positive. Trastuzumab (Herceptin) is a monoclonal antibody that blocks the tumor growth-promoting activity of HER2. Other drugs that target HER2 activity have also been developed.

Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 3/24/2017

Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Medical Editor:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

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Breast Cancer Treatment and Staging Topic Guide