title: Recent Progress in Breast Conserving Therapy: From Experiences in Japan.
abstract: Breast conserving therapy (BCT) was conducted in 22.1% of breast cancer patients in 1994 in Japan and is being performed with increasing frequency. According to the data already published, 10-27% of patients treated with BCT had a positive surgical margin. The recurrence rate in the breast is 1-2% annually, The 5-year overall survival in patients mostly consisting of stage I is 90% or higher at the present time. A case-control analysis of a multicenter study revealed that significant risk factors for breast recurrence were a positive surgical margin and absence of radiation therapy. Progress in basic research and diagnosis has also been instrumental in improving treatment results.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgery, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, 1-3-3 Nakamichi, Higashinari-ku, Osaka 537, Japan.
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Koyama
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Inaji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Motomura