Small Molecule Therapeutics in Breast Cancer: Current Approaches and Future Directions

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a challenging subtype with poor prognosis due to limited therapeutic options. Traditionally, chemotherapy has been the most widely used treatment to stop the growth of tumor cells, but due to its extreme toxicity and unfavorable side effects, safer alternative therapeutic techniques are becoming more popular. Nowadays, surgery, radiation, and biotherapy are frequently paired with medication treatments to create the main approaches for treating cancer. The objective of this chapter is to showcase the progress and fascinating discoveries in small-molecule targeted treatments for Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), which is one of the highly invasive and most prevalent forms of cancer. The possible advantages of combining immunotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy to improve treatment outcomes for this difficult cancer subtype have been investigated. This chapter highlights the promising therapeutic targets that have demonstrated promise in small-molecule therapy for TNBC, such as EGFR, PARPI, mTOR, CDK4/6 and Hedgehog (Hg), nuclear export protein-1 (XPO1), and PROTACs. A thorough summary of the current situation and prospects for the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer is also provided. This chapter also emphasizes the effectiveness of clinical treatments of these targeted small-molecule drugs, delves into the mechanisms of resistance and possible solutions to overcome these challenges in both monotherapies and combination therapies. This comprehensive analysis underscores the potential of small-molecule therapies to transform TNBC treatment.