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Progress in New Agents to Treat Breast Cancer

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Oncology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 November 2025 | Viewed by 1799

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
Department of Basic Sciences, Health School of Medicine, Loma Linda University, 11021 Campus St., Alumni Hall Room 101, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA
Interests: breast cancer; global health disparities; tumor microenvironment; epigenomics; chemoresistance; cancer stem cells; phytomedicine; experimental therapeutics; single cell genomics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide; however, breast cancer incidence varies. Overall, breast cancer survival rates have been increasing, in part due to breakthrough therapeutics that target sites within tumors that cells rely on for growth. Chemotherapeutic agents continue to demonstrate efficacy, particularly when combined with targeted therapy agents. However, chemoresistance onset and toxicities limit the utility of chemotherapeutic agents. Resistance can occur even among patients who use targeted therapy. Furthermore, disparities in breast cancer survival exist based on patient ancestry. This Special Issue explores research progress of new drugs designed to treat breast cancer more effectively.

We invite contributions that explore these dimensions of new drugs for breast cancer treatments. Through this Special Issue, we aim to foster a comprehensive dialog that propels the breast cancer field forward.

Dr. Eileen Brantley
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • breast cancer
  • chemotherapeutic agents
  • DNA-alkylating drugs
  • anthracyclines
  • antimetabolites
  • taxanes

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Review

12 pages, 852 KB  
Review
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists in Breast Cancer: A New Frontier in Obesity and Prognosis Management
by Juliana G. Xande and Auro del Giglio
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(16), 7744; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26167744 - 11 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1127
Abstract
Obesity is a well-established risk factor for both the incidence and poorer clinical outcomes of Breast Cancer (BC), particularly among hormone receptor-positive postmenopausal women. However, conventional weight loss interventions have yielded limited success in altering cancer prognosis. Recently, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 [...] Read more.
Obesity is a well-established risk factor for both the incidence and poorer clinical outcomes of Breast Cancer (BC), particularly among hormone receptor-positive postmenopausal women. However, conventional weight loss interventions have yielded limited success in altering cancer prognosis. Recently, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, have emerged as effective pharmacologic agents for sustained weight loss and are under investigation in oncology. This narrative review synthesizes evidence linking obesity to poor BC prognosis and evaluates the therapeutic potential of GLP-1 RAs in this context. Mechanistically, obesity exacerbates tumor progression through hormonal imbalance, chronic inflammation, and adipokine and insulin signaling, targets that may be modifiable through weight reduction. GLP-1 RAs offer multiple benefits, such as appetite suppression, delayed gastric emptying, and enhanced insulin sensitivity. Clinical studies in BC patients have shown weight loss ranging from 2.3% to 5%, likely attenuated by concurrent endocrine therapy. Preliminary data suggest that GLP-1 RA use does not increase the risk of cancer recurrence and may reduce cardiovascular morbidity. However, prospective studies are needed to confirm long-term oncologic safety and efficacy. Disparities in access and cost remain barriers to widespread adoption. Nevertheless, GLP-1 RAs represent a promising adjunct to manage obesity among BC patients, potentially improving metabolic health and long-term cancer outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Progress in New Agents to Treat Breast Cancer)
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