Neoadjuvant Therapy in Early Breast Cancer: Treatment Considerations and Common Debates in Practice

Abstract

Neoadjuvant treatment offers a number of benefits for patients with early breast cancer, and is an important option for consideration by multidisciplinary teams. Despite literature showing its efficacy, the use of neoadjuvant therapy varies widely. Here we discuss the clinical evidence supporting the use of neoadjuvant therapy in early stage breast cancer, including patient selection, monitoring response, surgery and radiotherapy considerations, with the aim of assisting multidisciplinary teams to determine patient suitability for neoadjuvant treatment.

Keywords: Breast cancer; chemotherapy; endocrine therapy; multidisciplinary; neoadjuvant treatment; patient management.