Adjuvant drug treatment for resectable breast cancer Journal Article


Authors: Hudis, C. A.; Norton, L.
Article Title: Adjuvant drug treatment for resectable breast cancer
Abstract: Breast cancer is the most common life-threatening malignancy in Western women and the second most common cause of cancer-related death. A paradox in the care of patients with breast cancer is the observation that the majority appear to be curable at the time of initial surgery, yet a large number later experience relapse followed by death from disease. To combat this problem, systemic drug therapy in conjunction with surgery and radiation therapy is now standard for many patient subgroups. Standard medical treatment options include up to five years of tamoxifen for receptor positive amenorrheic patients, approximately six months of combination chemotherapy for younger patients and those who are receptor negative, and both in some patient subgroups. These interventions have a profound public health impact even though the majority of patients destined to recur do so even following 'optimal' treatment. Further improvements are hoped for as a result of ongoing research involving the use of high-dose chemotherapy, dose-dense chemotherapy, and newer agents. Clinical trials testing these approaches offer the best chance to continue our progress and help to better define appropriate and standard treatment strategies for the future.
Keywords: clinical trial; cancer recurrence; doxorubicin; fluorouracil; cancer combination chemotherapy; dose response; drug efficacy; risk benefit analysis; paclitaxel; adjuvant therapy; cancer adjuvant therapy; cancer radiotherapy; chemotherapy; methotrexate; breast cancer; cyclophosphamide; cancer mortality; docetaxel; cancer hormone therapy; tamoxifen; estrogen receptor; estradiol; granulocyte colony stimulating factor; hormone therapy; clinical trials; intravenous drug administration; oral drug administration; human; female; priority journal; article
Journal Title: The Oncologist
Volume: 2
Issue: 6
ISSN: 1083-7159
Publisher: Oxford University Press  
Date Published: 1997-01-01
Start Page: 351
End Page: 358
Language: English
PROVIDER: scopus
PUBMED: 10388069
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 17 March 2017 -- Source: Scopus
Citation Impact
MSK Authors
  1. Clifford Hudis
    905 Hudis
  2. Larry Norton
    758 Norton