Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, with over 2.1 million diagnosed cases and 626,000 deaths worldwide in 2018 alone.

Although progress has been made in the treatment and management of breast cancer, the search for effective and less invasive treatments continues. In recent years, researchers have been exploring the use of novel combinations of existing and new therapies to improve breast cancer treatment outcomes.

In this article, we will discuss some of the revolutionary combinations for breast cancer treatment.

1. Targeted Therapy + Hormone Therapy

Targeted therapy drugs such as trastuzumab (Herceptin), pertuzumab (Perjeta), and ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla) can be used in combination with hormone therapy drugs like tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors to treat hormone receptor-positive breast cancer that has also overexpressed HER2 protein. This combination treatment has shown improved outcomes in clinical trials, including a 44% reduction in the risk of cancer recurrence and 34% reduction in the risk of death.

2. Chemotherapy + Targeted Therapy

Chemotherapy is the most common treatment for breast cancer, but it often causes unpleasant side effects like hair loss and nausea.

Newer targeted therapies such as PARP inhibitors, CDK4/6 inhibitors, and PI3K inhibitors can be combined with chemotherapy to enhance its effectiveness. A combination of paclitaxel (chemotherapy) and nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane), along with the targeted therapy drug bevacizumab (Avastin), has been shown to increase progression-free survival in patients with HER2-negative breast cancer.

3. Immunotherapy + Targeted Therapy

Immunotherapy drugs work by activating the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells. Targeted therapy drugs can also selectively attack cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy cells.

In some cases, combining immunotherapy with targeted therapy has resulted in better outcomes than either therapy alone. A combination of the immunotherapy drug atezolizumab (Tecentriq) and the targeted therapy drug nab-paclitaxel has been shown to increase the response rate and overall survival in patients with triple-negative breast cancer.

4. Dual Targeted Therapy

Dual targeted therapy involves the use of two drugs that target different pathways involved in cancer growth and development.

An example of this is the combination of trastuzumab (targeted therapy) and lapatinib (a kinase inhibitor) in treating HER2-positive breast cancer. This combination has been shown to improve progression-free survival and overall survival, compared to trastuzumab alone.

5. Neoadjuvant Therapy + Surgery

Neoadjuvant therapy involves the use of chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, or targeted therapy prior to surgery to shrink tumor size and increase the chances of successful surgery.

Recent studies have shown that neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery can be as effective as surgery followed by adjuvant therapy in reducing the risk of cancer recurrence. Neoadjuvant therapy also allows for early assessment of tumor response to treatment, which can guide subsequent treatment decisions.

6. Radiation Therapy + Immunotherapy

Radiation therapy is often used after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells in the breast.

Recent studies have shown that combining radiation therapy with immunotherapy can enhance the immune system’s response to cancer cells and improve treatment outcomes. An ongoing clinical trial is investigating the use of the immunotherapy drug durvalumab (Imfinzi) in combination with radiation therapy in treating triple-negative breast cancer.

7. PARP Inhibitors + Chemotherapy

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are a new class of drugs that target a specific DNA repair pathway in cancer cells. They have been shown to be effective in treating patients with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations.

Combining PARP inhibitors with chemotherapy can increase their effectiveness, as both types of drugs target DNA repair pathways. One example is the combination of the PARP inhibitor olaparib (Lynparza) with the chemotherapy drug carboplatin in treating HER2-negative breast cancer.

8. Personalized Medicine

The use of personalized medicine involves tailoring treatment to a patient’s unique genetic makeup and tumor characteristics.

This can include using targeted therapies that specifically target genetic mutations or using genomic profiling to identify new targets for therapy. In some cases, personalized medicine can also include the use of stem cell transplants to rebuild the immune system after high-dose chemotherapy.

Although still in the experimental stage, personalized medicine has shown promising results in some patients with advanced or recurrent breast cancer.

9. Supportive Care

Supportive care plays an important role in breast cancer treatment, as it can help manage side effects and improve quality of life for patients. This can include nutritional support, physical therapy, and counseling for emotional support.

Recent studies have also shown that mind-body therapies such as meditation and yoga can help alleviate fatigue and improve sleep quality in breast cancer patients undergoing treatment.

10. Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are essential for advancing breast cancer treatment and discovering new therapies. Patients can participate in clinical trials to access new treatments or to help researchers gather data on the effectiveness and safety of new therapies.

Clinical trials also provide an opportunity for patients to receive high-quality care and regular monitoring by a team of medical experts.