Milan Summit on Breast Cancer

RATIONALE

Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed malignancy among women worldwide and one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality. Approximately 70% of breast tumors express the estrogen receptor (ER+), making endocrine therapy a cornerstone of treatment in both early-stage and advanced disease. In recent years, however, there has been a growing need to overcome the limitations of traditional endocrine therapies, particularly the emergence of primary or acquired resistance and the adverse effects associated with prolonged treatment. In this context, selective estrogen receptor degraders (SERDs) have emerged as a significant therapeutic innovation. While initially limited to the injectable formulation (fulvestrant), the development of next generation oral SERDs has ushered in a new era in the management of ER+ breast cancer.


These new agents offer several key advantages, including:

• greater bioavailability and improved patient convenience,
• an optimized pharmacokinetic profile,
• an enhanced mechanism of action, involving estrogen receptor degradation and inhibition
of its transcriptional activity—even in the presence of mutations such as ESR1,
• promising efficacy data both as monotherapy and in combination with CDK4/6 inhibitors or other targeted therapies.


The international symposium "New Perspectives in the Use of Oral SERDs in Breast Cancer" aims to explore and discuss the most recent scientific evidence, ongoing clinical trial data, and practical considerations for integrating oral SERDs into routine clinical practice—through the contributions of leading experts from around the world. At a time when oncology is increasingly moving toward personalized and molecularly driven approaches, the use of oral SERDs represents a new therapeutic frontier, poised to redefine the treatment algorithm for patients with ER+ breast cancer.




Prof. Giuseppe Curigliano
Prof. Paolo Marchetti
Prof. Hope Rugo