Systemic treatment
Your options for systemic treatment depend on the properties of cancer. This includes hormone and HER2 receptor status, as well as other distinct tumor markers or genetic mutations. Any previous cancer treatments should also be considered and adjusted if necessary.
Systemic treatments may include:
- chemotherapy such as topoisomerase inhibitors, mitotic inhibitors, anti-metabolites, antitumor antibiotics [5], and corticosteroids [6]
- hormone therapy such as tamoxifen, aromatase inhibitors, or fulvestrant
- anti-HER2 drugs such as trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and many others
- targeted therapy such as CDK4/6 inhibitors, PARP inhibitors, and many others
- immunotherapy (biologic therapy) such as atezolizumab or pembrolizumab in combination with chemotherapy
Clinical trials are reviews that research the potency of new therapies. You are likely to get new treatments that are not seen anywhere else if you participate in a trial. You should ask your doctor for information about trials that might suit you.