Learn About mBC and Treatment Types
Explore each category to learn more about how your mBC type and biomarkers may help determine which mBC treatments are options for you.
Types of mBC
Breast cancer is referred to as “metastatic” when it spreads outside the breast and to other parts of the body.
Understanding the type of metastatic breast cancer (mBC) you have could help you better partner with your oncologist to create a treatment plan.
Types of mBC are determined based on certain receptors or proteins in your cancer cells. Having hormone receptors (HR) that respond to estrogen or progesterone, or having human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) proteins, can help some cancers grow. Your oncologist may test for the presence of these receptors or proteins to help find potential treatment options.
This type of breast cancer tests positive for 1 or both hormone receptors (ie, estrogen and/or progesterone receptors) and negative for HER2 proteins. This means the cancer may grow with the help of these hormone receptors but without the help of HER2 proteins.
This type of breast cancer tests positive for 1 or both hormone receptors (ie, estrogen and/or progesterone) and positive for HER2 proteins. This means that the breast cancer may grow with the help of hormone receptors and HER2 proteins.
Breast cancer that tests positive for both hormone receptors and HER2 proteins is commonly referred to as triple-positive breast cancer.
This type of breast cancer tests negative for both hormone receptors (ie, estrogen and progesterone) but positive for HER2 proteins. This means that this type of cancer may use the HER2 proteins to grow.
This type of breast cancer tests negative for both hormone receptors (ie, estrogen and progesterone receptors) and for HER2 proteins. This means that the breast cancer may grow without the help of these hormone receptors or HER2 proteins.
Biomarkers
Biomarker testing of genes and proteins can be used to identify the presence or absence of specific DNA mutations and certain proteins. Testing is done by taking a sample from a biopsy of a tumor.
Biomarkers can be important as you consider treatment options, as well as your overall plan for living with mBC. Some treatments are designed specifically for cancers that carry certain biomarkers.
You can talk to your oncologist to find out about biomarker testing and what that information could mean for your treatment.
Types of Treatment
While everyone’s experience with mBC treatment is different, there are several general categories of treatment options for people with different types of mBC.
Chemotherapy (sometimes called chemo) is a type of treatment that uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing.
When you think about cancer treatment, chemo likely comes to mind.
Hormone therapies work by interfering with the activity of estrogen and/or progesterone hormones, which cancer cells can use to grow.
Hormone therapies may
- Slow or stop the body’s production of estrogen and/or progesterone hormones
- Interfere with the way hormone receptors work
ADCs are used to deliver anticancer medicine to certain types of cells, including some cancer cells.
ADCs are made up of an antibody attached to an anticancer medicine. The antibody looks for and can also attach to specific proteins that are found on certain types of cells, including some cancer cells. Once the ADC attaches to the cell, it is brought into the cell where it releases the anticancer medicine.
Targeted therapies are medicines that target the proteins cancer cells use to grow.
These targeted therapies work to destroy cancer cells or slow their growth.
Immunotherapy may help the immune system recognize, target, and destroy cancer cells.
In some cases, immunotherapy may be given with chemotherapy.
Sometimes, surgery can also be an option for mBC.
You may have the option of removing the cancer from your breast or other areas of the body where the cancer may have spread to.
New treatments are always being developed and studied. In a clinical trial, these new treatments are often tested to see if they work well or not, how safe they may be, and what the potential side effects are.
Depending on the type of mBC you have and the treatments you have tried in the past, you may be eligible to participate in a clinical trial. Talk to your oncologist and let them know if you are interested in participating. You can also search for clinical trials on clinicaltrials.gov.
