Treatment of metastatic breast cancer: a historical perspective

Metastatic breast cancer is incurable and treatment decisions are complex. Despite the range of therapeutic agents available and the use of different approaches with these agents, an efficacy plateau had been reached. The development of novel therapies based on a greater understanding of the aetiology of breast cancer has begun to produce unprecedented increases in efficacy. This paper reviews the latest advances in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer, including the established aromatase inhibitors and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-targeted therapies. The recent introduction of anti-angiogenic therapies, such as bevacizumab, may have even greater impact due to their potential to benefit all breast cancer patients.