Adjuvant systemic therapy for breast cancer.

Abstract

During the past year, the literature on adjuvant systemic therapy for breast cancer has focused on three main areas of interest. First, new information on biologic factors that might help in the determination of prognosis has been released but is still unlikely to have an impact on daily clinical practice. More important in this regard is the issuing by a consensus panel of practical recommendations for the treatment of node-negative breast cancer according to classic and well-validated prognostic and predictive factors. Second, new therapeutic strategies such as increasing the dose intensity of chemotherapy or incorporating new drugs into adjuvant regimens have been further explored. In addition, important new data regarding the optimal duration of tamoxifen administration in the adjuvant setting have been provided by a Swedish and a National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) trial. Lastly, increased attention has been given to the toxicity of systemic adjuvant therapy, and new considerations such as preservation of quality of life have been taken into account.