Metastatic breast cancer

Magnavita C.; Roque K.; Oliveira L. · Medical Oncology Compendium (2025) · DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-443-15609-0.00015-5

Resumen

Comprehensive, restaging imaging is indicated in patients with distant recurrence to confirm the diagnosis, determine the anatomic distribution of disease and its extent, as well as to guide decision-making for systemic therapy. Core biopsy of disease sites is recommended, especially in patients who initially had in situ breast cancer, as well as those with discordant receptor status between the primary tumor and the metastasis (Vashisht & Bagler, 2011). Appropriate systemic therapy for each of the biological subtypes of breast cancer is key in the comprehensive management of MBC. According to the international treatment guidelines, human epidermal growth factor 2-enriched disease and triple-negative breast cancer are strong candidates for combination chemotherapy. To date, the backbone of endocrine-driven therapy for hormone receptor–positive breast cancer has consisted of cytostatic hormone therapy with or without an mTOR inhibitor.