First-line chemotherapy with or without biologic agents for metastatic breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most important causes of morbidity and mortality representing the first tumor in the female sex in terms of incidence and the third in terms of mortality in the western world. An increased survival is evident in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) as a result of the introduction of novel therapeutic agents. Oncologists have several options available (chemotherapy, hormone-therapy and biologic agents such as anti-angiogenic and anti-HER2 drugs) and the challenge nowadays is the individualization of the therapy (tailored approach). Despite better diagnostic tools and new therapeutic agents, at the present the main treatment goal in MBC is still palliation. Into the attempt to better tailor treatments, the search for predictive factors deserves a huge effort. This review faces the different approaches in terms of first-line chemotherapy for ME C together with the biological therapies recently approved for the treatment of this tumor. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.