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Review
. 2021 Jun;38(3):263-277.
doi: 10.1007/s10585-021-10080-4. Epub 2021 Mar 6.

Breast cancer liver metastasis: current and future treatment approaches

Narmeen S Rashid  1 , Jacqueline M Grible  1 , Charles V Clevenger  1   2 , J Chuck Harrell  3   4
Affiliations
Review

Breast cancer liver metastasis: current and future treatment approaches

Narmeen S Rashid et al. Clin Exp Metastasis. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

Nearly all fatalities arising from breast tumors are attributable to distant metastases. Breast cancer liver metastasis (BCLM) is associated with poor prognoses, with the median survival time being 2 to 3 years. Tumor intrinsic subtype directs preferential metastasis to specific organs, with HER2-enriched tumors demonstrating the highest rates of metastasis to the liver, though all subtypes can grow in the liver. There is no singular established standard-of-care for BCLM; therapeutic selection is driven by histologic and molecular hallmarks of the primary tumor or biopsied metastasis samples. Given the poor prognosis of patients with hepatic spread, pre-clinical studies are necessary to identify and evaluate promising new treatment strategies. It is critical that these laboratory studies accurately recapitulate the BCLM disease process, standard progression, and histological attributes. In this review, we summarize the histologic and molecular characteristics of BCLM, evaluate the efficacy of existing surgical and medical treatment strategies, and discuss future approaches to preclinical study of BCLM.

Keywords: Breast cancer; In vivo models; Liver metastasis; Surgery; Targeted therapies.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The three most common histological growth patterns of liver metastasis
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Local treatment options for patients with BCLM
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Current in vivo models of BCLM
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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