Primary chemotherapy for breast cancer: the evidence and the future.
The first generation of randomised trials assessing the role of primary chemotherapy in breast cancer has failed to demonstrate the expected survival benefit. However, it has established the role of this treatment in 'downstaging' tumours of patients with locally advanced disease and, consequently, in improving breast conservation rates. Also, a number of surrogates of outcome have been identified, which will hopefully lead to earlier results in breast cancer clinical trials. Encouraging results have also been reported in trials investigating a number of novel approaches.
Beatson Oncology Centre, Department of Medical Oncology, Glasgow, UK. max_mano@hotmail.com
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D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic