Sorafenib: A Brief Review with Emphasis on its Possible Role in Breast Cancer

Abstract

SUMMARY The treatment of metastatic breast cancer is palliative and usually requires hormone treatment, and/or chemotherapy and trastuzumab for HER2-positive disease. Randomized studies only demonstrate marginal survival benefit with combination chemotherapy, as opposed to sequential single agents or nontaxane versus taxane-containing regimens. Metastatic breast cancer remains an unmet medical need. Sorafenib is an oral multikinase inhibitor that exhibits antiangiogenic activity by targeting numerous proangiogenic pathways. Sorafenib has marketing authorization for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell, hepatocellular and thyroid carcinomas. Recent studies have explored the usage of sorafenib as a single agent and in combination with chemotherapy. An overview of sorafenib is presented in this article with the current data and potential future usage in patients with metastatic breast cancer.