Research and clinical trials are continuously advancing breast cancer treatment. New therapies and innovative approaches are being developed to improve outcomes for patients. Here are some of the latest treatments and clinical trials available:

New Treatments

1. Immunotherapy
   • Description: Immunotherapy uses the body's immune system to fight cancer. Pembrolizumab (Keytruda) is an immunotherapy drug approved for certain types of breast cancer, particularly triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).
   • Sources: American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute
2. Antibody-Drug Conjugates (ADCs)
   • Description: ADCs are targeted cancer drugs that combine an antibody specific to cancer cells with a cytotoxic drug. An example is trastuzumab deruxtecan (Enhertu), used for HER2-positive breast cancer.
   • Sources: BreastCancer.org, American Cancer Society
3. PARP Inhibitors
   • Description: PARP inhibitors, such as olaparib (Lynparza) and talazoparib (Talzenna), are used for breast cancers with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.
   • Sources: National Cancer Institute, BreastCancer.org
4. PI3K Inhibitors
   • Description: Alpelisib (Piqray) is a PI3K inhibitor used in combination with hormone therapy for HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer with PIK3CA mutations.
   • Sources: American Cancer Society, BreastCancer.org

Ongoing Clinical Trials

1. Immunotherapy Trials
   • Focus: Trials are investigating the efficacy of combining immunotherapy with other treatments, such as chemotherapy and targeted therapies, for various subtypes of breast cancer.
   • Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov, National Cancer Institute
2. CDK4/6 Inhibitor Trials
   • Focus: Evaluating new combinations and sequences of CDK4/6 inhibitors with other therapies to enhance their effectiveness in HR-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer.
   • Sources: BreastCancerTrials.org, ClinicalTrials.gov
3. HER2-Positive Breast Cancer Trials
   • Focus: Investigating new HER2-targeted therapies and combinations, including bispecific antibodies and novel ADCs.
   • Sources: National Cancer Institute, ClinicalTrials.gov
4. Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) Trials
   • Focus: Exploring new drug candidates, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and novel targeted therapies to improve outcomes for TNBC patients.
   • Sources: BreastCancer.org, ClinicalTrials.gov

How to Find Clinical Trials

Patients interested in participating in clinical trials can search for ongoing studies using the following resources:

• ClinicalTrials.gov
• BreastCancerTrials.org
• National Cancer Institute's Clinical Trials Search

Summary

New treatments and clinical trials for breast cancer are continuously emerging, offering hope for improved outcomes and quality of life. Patients should discuss potential new treatments and clinical trial options with their healthcare providers to determine the best course of action.

Further Reading

• American Cancer Society: Breast Cancer Research
• BreastCancer.org: Research News
• National Cancer Institute: Breast Cancer Research

These resources provide comprehensive and up-to-date information on the latest advances in breast cancer treatment and research.