Systemic therapy for advanced breast cancer

An intriguing, yet highly logical area of research for breast cancer therapy is the exploration of growth factor pathways. Areas of investigation include epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) targeting. Although results of these studies to date have been less than promising, they have yielded important insights into critical factors that must be taken into consideration when devising growth factor-targeted therapies. Even though the results of EGFR and VEGF studies have not met with expectations, several preclinical models assessing new combinations of biologic agents with either hormonal therapy or chemotherapy are beginning to show promise.