Table 3.
Presented various breast cancer treatments along with their advantages and disadvantages.
| S. No. | Breast Cancer Treatment | Source | Advantages | Disadvantages | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Traditional Molecular Engineering-Based Therapy | Plant-based therapy | -Lowers the side effects of chemotherapy or radiation treatment. -Increases general well-being and offers immune support, which could be helpful for patients undergoing cancer management. |
-Lacks the thorough clinical studies required to demonstrate safety and efficacy in treating or preventing breast cancer. -Herbal products are not as strictly controlled as pharmaceuticals; thus, the purity, dose, and quality of herbal cures can vary greatly. |
[98,99] |
| Nanomaterial based therapy | -Nanomaterials can improve medication delivery to cancer cells through active and passive targeting mechanisms. -Nanoparticles protect medicines against degradation, extending their half-life and ensuring their stability in the body. |
-Some nanomaterials are hazardous to the liver, kidneys, and brain if not prepared and delivered appropriately. -Producing nanomaterials for cancer therapy requires careful control over particle size, surface chemistry, and drug loading. -Only a few nanomaterial-based medicines have gained extensive clinical usage for breast cancer, owing to regulatory barriers and long-term safety concerns. |
[100,101] | ||
| miRNA targeting-based therapy. | -miRNAs can selectively control gene expression, enabling the precision targeting of cancer-related pathways. For example, miR-21 and miR-155 are frequently overexpressed in breast cancer, and lowering their levels can slow tumor growth by controlling apoptosis, cell proliferation, and immunological responses. -miRNA-based treatments can make tumours resistant to chemotherapy. For example, miR-29 downregulation has been associated with chemotherapy resistance, and increasing its levels can boost sensitivity to treatment. |
-miRNAs are freely destroyed in circulation, necessitating improved delivery techniques, such as nanoparticles. -Despite encouraging preclinical outcomes, miRNA-based treatment are still in the early phases of research. Their clinical translatability has yet to be thoroughly demonstrated. -Because breast cancer is so diverse, it is challenging to discover universally effective miRNA targets that work for all patients. |
[102,103,104] | ||
| 2. | Current Advanced Therapy | CRISPR-based therapy | -CRISPR enables precise editing of genes implicated in cancer development and metastasis. -It has the potential to enhance breast cancer therapy by knocking off oncogenes or repairing faulty tumor suppressor genes. |
-One of the main issues with CRISPR is the likelihood of immunogenic toxicity, or accidental gene modifications, which might result in undesirable changes and raise the risk of new tumors. | [105,106,107] |
| Immunotherapy | Provides longer-term protection, perhaps leading to remission even after therapy is discontinued, particularly in aggressive types such as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). -It can be used with other therapies such as chemotherapy or targeted therapy, increasing overall treatment results in certain patient populations. |
Side effects include inflammation, skin rashes, and autoimmune responses, which may necessitate extra therapy. -Immunotherapy is quite expensive and may not be completely reimbursed by insurance, which limits access for certain patients. |
[108,109] | ||
| Personalized medicine-based therapy | -Treatments can be tailored to an individual’s genetic profile, increasing their efficacy. -Targeting certain genetic abnormalities, such as HER2 mutations, can greatly improve outcomes for breast cancer. |
-Genetic testing and the creation of personalized treatments are costly. -While DNA sequencing prices have dropped, medicines based on genetic profile are still financially prohibitive for many patients. |
[110] | ||
| 3. | Surgery | Robotic-based surgical treatment of breast cancer | -Minimizes incisions compared to standard open operations. -Provides surgeons with better accuracy and control, allowing for more comprehensive cancer removal while protecting healthy tissues. |
-The expenses of robotic systems, including maintenance and disposable devices, are considerably greater. -Robotic-assisted mastectomy necessitates specialized training, which takes months to master. As a result, just a few centers throughout the world now provide it. |
[111,112,113] |