Doctors define different types (subtypes) of MBC depending on whether cancer has or does not have three markers—estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2. Doctors then use the subtype and other information to select a person’s treatment. This month, we begin a series about MBC subtypes and expert thoughts on the subtype.
Hormone receptor-positive (ER+ and/or PR+) MBC is typically treated with hormone therapy plus other therapies. Read below for the latest expert opinions on treatments, and some unanswered questions that need to be answered in clinical trials.
Introduction to HR+ MBC
- Living Beyond Breast Cancer: HR+ MBC has estrogen receptors and/or progesterone receptors and is typically treated with hormone therapy and targeted therapy
Experts Weigh in on HR+ MBC
- OncLive (video): Dr. Virginia Kaklamani talks about quality of life consideration when giving hormone therapy and a CDK 4/6 inhibitor and that clinical trials are needed to test which CDK 4/6 inhibitor is best
- Cure Today: Dr. Rou-Xi Hong reported results of the MECCA trial showing that giving capecitabine (Xeloda®) at a low dose and more often than standard dosing (called “metronomic dosing”), plus an aromatase inhibitor, led to longer survival than an aromatase inhibitor alone in people with HR+ MBC
- Everyday Health: Doctors and patients describe what antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) are and what it is like to receive this type of drug
MBC Clinical Trials
- Metastatic Trial Search: Trials Specifically for People with Hormone Receptor-Positive MBC
Last Modified on December 1, 2025