title: Management of locally advanced breast cancer-perspectives and future directions.
abstract: Locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) constitutes a heterogeneous entity that includes advanced-stage primary tumours, cancers with extensive nodal involvement and inflammatory breast carcinomas. Although the definition of LABC can be broadened to include some large operable breast tumours, we use this term to strictly refer to inoperable cancers that are included in the above-mentioned categories. The prognosis of such tumours is often unfavourable; despite aggressive treatment, many patients eventually develop distant metastases and die from the disease. Advances in systemic therapy, including radiation treatment, surgical techniques and the development of new targeted agents have significantly improved clinical outcomes for patients with this disease. Notwithstanding these advances, LABC remains an important clinical problem, particularly in developing countries and those without widely adapted breast cancer awareness programmes. The optimal management of LABC requires a multidisciplinary approach, a well-coordinated treatment schedule and close cooperation between medical, surgical and radiation oncologists. In this Review, we discuss the current state of the art and possible future treatment strategies for patients with LABC.
authors: European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) Headquarters &Breast Cancer Group, Avenue Mounier 83/11, 1200 Brussels, Belgium.
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Tryfonidis
authors: Department of Oncology and Radiotherapy, Medical University of Gdansk, Ul Debinki 7, 80211 Gdansk, Poland.
authors: Elzbieta
authors: E
authors: Senkus
authors: Breast Unit, Champalimaud Clinical Centre, Avenida De Brasília s/n, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors: Maria J
authors: MJ
authors: Cardoso
authors: Breast Unit, Champalimaud Clinical Centre, Avenida De Brasília s/n, 1400-038 Lisbon, Portugal.
authors: Fatima
authors: F
authors: Cardoso
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D019468:Disease Management; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors