Breast Cancer: Focus on CDK4&6 Inhibitors

Denise A. Yardley, MD, discusses the promise of CDK4&6 inhibitors in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer, as well as the potential with immunotherapy agents. 

Richard S. Finn, MD, covers the evolution of CDK4&6 inhibition in the field of breast cancer and appropriately selecting patients for this type of therapy.

Prospects for patients with breast cancer have improved with the use of CDK4&6 inhibitors, including palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib; however, the effects of these inhibitors in many subsets of patients have not been investigated.

The development of CDK4&6 inhibitors has provided promising data regarding this new therapeutic option for patients with cancer, particularly for patients with breast cancer. Currently, there are 3 FDA-approved CDK4&6 inhibitors for the treatment of patients with breast cancer.

The second most common cancer worldwide, breast cancer remains a significant global burden despite decreased incidence in Western countries. Breast cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in the United States, with more than 40,000 estimated deaths in 2017.