Clinical trial update: implications and management of residual disease after neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer.
Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer has a well-established role in the management of patients with locally advanced or early stage disease. Multiple trials have demonstrated superior survival outcomes in individuals achieving a pathologic complete response at the time of definitive surgery, and sophisticated genetic methods may predict which patients will be in this category. Those with less than a pathologic complete response remain at significant risk of recurrent disease, and currently no further standard therapy exists. Ongoing studies of novel agents may lead to improved therapeutic outcomes for this high-risk population.
Mayer
Erica L
EL
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, 44 Binney Street, Boston, MA 02115, USA. emayer@partners.org
Carey
Lisa A
LA
Burstein
Harold J
HJ
D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011379:Prognosis