Breast Cancer - Metastatic: Latest Research

Approved by the Cancer.Net Editorial Board, 11/2022

ON THIS PAGE: You will read about the scientific research being done to learn more about this type of cancer and how to treat it. Use the menu to see other pages.

Doctors are working to learn more about metastatic breast cancer, including ways to prevent it, how to best treat it, and how to provide the best care to people diagnosed with this disease. The following areas of research may include new options for patients through clinical trials. Always talk with your doctor about the best diagnostic and treatment options for you.

  • Understanding the metastatic breast cancer process and finding ways to prevent and stop it.

  • Developing ways to best evaluate the genes and proteins contributing to cancer growth in each patient and each metastatic breast cancer to determine the best treatment options.

  • Testing new drugs and treatment combinations, such as new chemotherapies, hormonal treatments, and targeted therapies.

  • Studying the use of immunotherapy, which boosts the body’s natural defenses to fight cancer.

  • Determining the best ways to give hormonal therapy, and how to overcome tumor resistance to hormonal therapy.

  • Determining if surgical removal of the primary breast tumor can improve survival rates.

  • Testing various drugs for effectiveness against HER2-positive breast cancer that metastasizes to the brain.

  • Identifying new and effective treatments for triple-negative breast cancer.

  • Finding ways to check how well treatments are working against metastatic breast cancer and predict survival rates.

  • Learning more about the social and emotional factors that may affect patients’ treatment plans and quality of life.

  • Finding better ways of reducing symptoms and side effects of current metastatic breast cancer treatments to improve comfort and quality of life for patients and their caregivers.

Looking for More About the Latest Research?

If you would like more information about the latest areas of research in metastatic breast cancer, explore these related items that take you outside of this guide:

  • To find clinical trials specific to your diagnosis, talk with your doctor or search online clinical trial databases.

  • Visit the Cancer.Net Blog to review news and information about metastatic breast cancer, including research announced at recent scientific meetings or in the American Society of Clinical Oncology's (ASCO's) peer-reviewed journals.

  • Listen to podcasts from an ASCO expert discussing metastatic breast cancer research from 2021 and 2020 scientific meetings.

  • Get updates from Cancer.Net delivered right to your inbox. Subscribe to the Inside Cancer.Net email newsletter.

  • Visit the website of Conquer Cancer, the ASCO Foundation, to find out how to help support cancer research. Please note that this link takes you to a different ASCO website.

The next section in this guide is Palliative and Supportive Care. It describes how the symptoms and side effects of metastatic breast cancer and its treatment can be managed. Use the menu to choose a different section to read in this guide.