Inhibitors of the cycline‑dependent kinases 4/6 in the treatment of patients with breast cancer

04/2021

MUDr. Marta Krásenská

Klinika komplexní onkologické péče, Masarykův onkologický ústav, Brno

SUMMARY

Hormone receptor positive breast cancers are characterized by the presence of receptors for estrogen and/or progesterone and represent up to 75 %. Endocrine therapy is effective in neoadjuvant and adjuvant setting and remains the basic treatment modality for advanced disease. Up to half of patients with metastatic disease develop resistance to endocrine therapy. In order to modify the development of resistance to endocrine therapy, inhibitors of the cyclin-dependent kinases 4/6 have been developed. Palbociclib, ribociclib and abemaciclib have shown statistically and clinically significant efficacy in many III phase clinical trials. Consistently, they almost double progression free survival, increase the overall response rates, and prolong patient survival. In combination with an aromatase inhibitor and fulvestrant, they have become the new standard for first and second line treatment of hormone receptor positive metastatic breast cancer.

Key words

breast carcinoma, resistance, CDK4/6 inhibitors, palbociclib, ribociclib, abemaciclib