Abstract
Background
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy among women, with 2.3 million new cases and over 670,000 deaths annually. Despite advances in detection and therapy, relapse, metastasis, and resistance remain significant challenges. Tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) regulate abnormal cell division, whereas oncogenes, which arise from proto-oncogenes, can inhibit TSGs and promote cancer progression. MicroRNAs further influence cellular processes in both normal and malignant states. Pharmaceutical agents such as tamoxifen and paclitaxel have demonstrated efficacy, while natural products, including baicalin and ursolic acid, show promise in modulating oncogenic pathways. Understanding BC subtypes is crucial, as they guide prognosis and enable more precise and personalized treatment strategies. These insights emphasize the complex molecular landscape and evolving approaches to BC therapy.
Objective
The review was conducted using a defined set of keywords to search PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, and SciSearch databases covering publications from the inception of each database through August 2, 2025.
Key Findings
This review outlines BC subtypes and their molecular features, highlighting TSGs, oncogenes, and miRNAs as therapeutic targets. Both synthetic drugs and natural compounds demonstrate potential applications in advancing BC treatment strategies.
Conclusion
BC subtypes, defined by morphology and molecular features, remain vital for targeted therapy advancement. TSGs, oncogenes, and miRNAs play key roles in subtype regulation and require further study for precise detection and treatment. Synthetic drugs and natural compounds show promise as therapeutic agents. However, continued molecular research is essential to improve personalized strategies and overcome relapse, metastasis, and resistance in BC management.
