Open Access

REVIEW

Clinical Applications of CDK4/6 Inhibitors in HR+/HER2, and Personalized Treatment Strategies: A Narrative Review

Guoliang Zhong¹, Tianqing Yang¹, Shuqi Lin¹, Muyi Zhong^1,2,*

1 The First School of Clinical Medicine, Guangdong Medical University, Zhanjiang, China
2 Department of Breast Surgery, Dongguan People’s Hospital, Dongguan, China

* Corresponding Author: Muyi Zhong. Email:

(This article belongs to the Special Issue: Novel Biomarkers and Treatment Strategies in Solid Tumor Diagnosis, Progression, and Prognosis (Ⅱ))

Oncology Research 2026, 34(6), 11 https://doi.org/10.32604/or.2026.076300

Received 18 November 2025; Accepted 27 February 2026; Issue published 21 May 2026

Abstract

Hormone Receptor-positive/Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2−) breast cancer treatment has made a breakthrough due to the introduction of cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6) inhibitors. This article mainly reviews the mechanisms of action, clinical efficacy, and current application status of CDK4/6 inhibitors, including Palbociclib, Ribociclib, Abemaciclib, and the emerging Dalpiciclib. The advantages and limitations of different treatment stages are also discussed. CDK4/6 inhibitors have excellent efficacy in prolonging progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), and have become a key option for HR+/HER2− breast cancer first-line and adjuvant treatment. The issues of drug resistance and adverse reactions remain severe. Strategies such as combining phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors, immunotherapy, or new estrogen receptor (ER)-degrading agents are being actively explored for drug-resistant patients. The personalized precision therapy may become the core direction for optimizing the application of CDK4/6 inhibitors in the future, which will improve patients’ quality of life.

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Keywords

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