Current adjuvant treatments for operable breast cancer include chemotherapy, endocrine therapy in hormone-receptor positive tumors, and trastuzumab for HER2-positive tumors. Metanalyses of randomized trials show that in patients with hormone receptor positive breast cancer the effects of endocrine therapy and chemotherapy on survival are non-mutually exclusive. Most of these patients are therefore considered candidates to combined treatment. Recently, however, the endocrine-responsiveness of tumors has been redefined on clinical, histopathological and molecular bases. An emerging concept is that as endocrine-responsiveness increases, chemoresponsiveness decreases. In the adjuvant setting therapeutic choices are often based on small projected improvements clinical outcomes. As a consequence, the role of chemotherapy and traditional management algorithms in patients with hormone-receptor positive are being challenged. This review will address the current controversy regarding the role of adjuvant chemotherapy, including the newer anthracycline and taxanes-based programs, in these patients.

Hormone-receptor positive early breast cancer: controversies in the use of adjuvant chemotherapy.

AGLIETTA, Massimo
2009-01-01

Abstract

Current adjuvant treatments for operable breast cancer include chemotherapy, endocrine therapy in hormone-receptor positive tumors, and trastuzumab for HER2-positive tumors. Metanalyses of randomized trials show that in patients with hormone receptor positive breast cancer the effects of endocrine therapy and chemotherapy on survival are non-mutually exclusive. Most of these patients are therefore considered candidates to combined treatment. Recently, however, the endocrine-responsiveness of tumors has been redefined on clinical, histopathological and molecular bases. An emerging concept is that as endocrine-responsiveness increases, chemoresponsiveness decreases. In the adjuvant setting therapeutic choices are often based on small projected improvements clinical outcomes. As a consequence, the role of chemotherapy and traditional management algorithms in patients with hormone-receptor positive are being challenged. This review will address the current controversy regarding the role of adjuvant chemotherapy, including the newer anthracycline and taxanes-based programs, in these patients.
2009
Dec;16
4
1091
1102
http://erc.endocrinology-journals.org/content/16/4/1091.long
hormone receptor-positive; breast cancer
Montemurro F; Aglietta M.
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
Endocr Relat Cancer 2009_Montemurro F and Aglietta M.pdf

Accesso riservato

Tipo di file: POSTPRINT (VERSIONE FINALE DELL’AUTORE)
Dimensione 150.25 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
150.25 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2318/62112
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 8
  • Scopus 25
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 22
social impact