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World J Clin Oncol. Aug 10, 2014; 5(3): 248-262
Published online Aug 10, 2014. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i3.248
Published online Aug 10, 2014. doi: 10.5306/wjco.v5.i3.248
Mechanisms and therapeutic advances in the management of endocrine-resistant breast cancer
Meng Zhao, Bhuvaneswari Ramaswamy, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, United States
Author contributions: Zhao M and Ramaswamy B contribute substantially to the conception and design, acquisition, analysis and interpretation of data; Zhao M drafts the article; Ramaswamy B revises it critically for important intellectual content; both authors give final approval of the version to be published.
Correspondence to: Bhuvaneswari Ramaswamy, MD, MRCP, Assistant Professor, Division of Medical Oncology, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH 43210, United States. bhuvaneswari.ramaswamy@osumc.edu
Telephone: +1-614-2936401 Fax: +1-614-2937529
Received: January 20, 2014
Revised: March 11, 2010
Accepted: June 20, 2014
Published online: August 10, 2014
Revised: March 11, 2010
Accepted: June 20, 2014
Published online: August 10, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Endocrine therapy is the important systemic therapy for hormone receptor positive breast cancer. However, treatment resistance is common. Multiple mechanisms responsible for endocrine resistance have been identified over the past decade. New treatment combinations targeting estrogen receptor and growth factor receptor signaling which block the crosstalk between these pathways are effective in preclinical models and clinical studies. In this review, we summarize the complex genomic and epigenetic regulatory pathways involved in endocrine resistance, in particular focusing on the clinical trials utilizing novel strategies to overcome therapeutic resistance.