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more precise action against tumor cells, fewer side effects…The new targeted cancer therapies have everything to seduce. But what is their real face of breast cancer ? Chief of oncology at University Hospital of Besancon, Xavier Pivot answered questions.
Historically, the first targeted for breast cancer therapy based on SERMs (Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators), whose leader is the widely used tamoxifen. These drugs affect breast cancer with receptors for estrogen (about 70% of breast cancers). In fixing them, they inhibit tumor growth.
If the toxicity of these molecules is low and if their mode of action is unique to each, why not combine them and see them tomorrow replace chemotherapy? Be careful not to go too fast.
The chemotherapy has declined very important and helps to heal already a large number of breast cancers. Thus, these new molecules are now mainly associated with chemotherapy.
But you partly because the effectiveness and toxicity of different associations of targeted therapies (concurrently or sequentially - one after another) should be evaluated. It is largely the challenge of the coming years.
