Current Advancements and Future Perspectives of Immunotherapy in Breast Cancer Treatment

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and is a leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. Despite the available treatment options, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy and molecular targeted therapy, breast cancer treatment remains a challenge. The advent of immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of breast cancer as it utilizes the host’s immune system to directly target tumor cells. In this literature review, we aim to summarize the recent advancements made in using immunotherapy for treating breast cancer patients. We discuss the different types of existing immunotherapies for breast cancer, including targeted therapy using monoclonal antibodies against breast cancer specific antigens and the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors to elicit an immune response against cancer cells. Finally, we consider the development of breast cancer vaccines that train the immune system to specifically recognize cancer cells and the future perspectives of immunotherapy for breast cancer.