Which treatment approach involves the use of drugs to manipulate hormonal pathways in breast cancer management?

Hormonal therapy is the treatment approach that specifically targets hormonal pathways in the management of breast cancer, particularly in hormone receptor-positive cases. This therapy utilizes drugs to either lower hormone levels in the body or block the effects of hormones on cancer cells. In many breast cancers, estrogen can promote tumor growth, so hormonal therapies, such as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) like tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors, are utilized to disrupt this process.

By manipulating these hormonal pathways, hormonal therapy can effectively slow down or even stop the growth of certain types of breast cancer, making it a critical component of treatment for patients with hormone-sensitive tumors. This targeted approach not only helps in managing the disease but can also reduce the risk of recurrence.

Other treatment modalities do not focus on hormonal manipulation. For instance, immunotherapy aims to boost or restore the body's immune response against cancer, chemotherapy uses cytotoxic drugs to kill rapidly dividing cells, and radiation therapy employs high-energy particles or waves to destroy or damage cancer cells. Each of these plays a role in cancer management, but they do not specifically involve the hormonal pathways that are pivotal in some breast cancer cases.