Adjuvant chemotherapy: which patient? What regimen?

Am Soc Clin Oncol Educ Book. 2013:3-8. doi: 10.14694/EdBook_AM.2013.33.3.

Abstract

In the past, treatment decisions regarding adjuvant chemotherapy in early breast cancer (EBC) were made solely based on clinicopathologic factors. However, with increased awareness of the importance of underlying tumor biology, we are now able to use genomic analyses to determine molecular breast cancer subtype and thus identify patients with tumors that are chemotherapy resistant and unlikely to benefit from the addition of chemotherapy. Although genomics has allowed some patients to avoid chemotherapy-specifically those with luminal A-like breast cancer-these assays do not indicate which regimen is most appropriate. For this, consideration must be given to the combination of underlying tumor biology, tumor stage, and patient characteristics, such as age and tolerability of side effects.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Carcinoma / drug therapy*
  • Carcinoma / genetics
  • Carcinoma / metabolism
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant / methods
  • Female
  • Genome
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Patient Selection*
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism
  • Receptors, Progesterone / metabolism
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms / metabolism

Substances

  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • ERBB2 protein, human
  • Receptor, ErbB-2