The Current Stage of Immunotherapy Development in the Breast Cancer Field

Abstract

Breast cancer is a disease that accounts for about 30% of all new cancer cases in women annually in the United States. It is also the deadliest cancer amongst  women, taking 42,000 lives on average each year. Though most common in females, this devastating disease also affects male populations. Breast cancer starts when breast cells rapidly divide and grow, causing a tumor to form. Metastasis is the leading cause of death from breast cancer, as this tumor can spread to lymph nodes and other parts of the body. As of now, the standard of care for breast cancer includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, however all of these treatments have harmful and long term side effects. In this review article, I will explore an emerging form of treatment called immunotherapy, a method that aims to use the power of the body’s own immune system to target and kill breast cancer cells. Though still fairly experimental, many immunotherapy trials have shown promising results with fewer side effects than traditional systems of care. This article will delve into CAR-T cell therapy, TIL therapy, and monoclonal antibodies, including trastuzumab and pertuzumab.