Adjuvant chemo for stage 1b breast cancer – pro

Mammographic screening has led to an increase in the number of small, node-negative breast cancers being diagnosed. Node-negative breast cancers that are  1 cm are stage T1a,bN0M0. Controversy surrounds the prognosis of these patients with locoregional therapy only and the need for adjuvant systemic therapy.

Early studies reported 10-year relapse-free survival (RFS) rates higher than 90% without adjuvant systemic therapy, but some more recent data suggest inferior outcomes. High tumor grade is the most consistent factor associated with poor prognosis. Other adverse prognostic factors are younger age, lymphovascular invasion (LVI), high Ki-67, and larger tumors within the T1a,b subgroup. Patients with high-grade tumors and/or LVI may have 10-year RFS rates of less than 75% in the absence of systemic therapy. The prognostic significance of hormone receptor status is unclear. Current guidelines for the systemic management of early-stage breast cancer differ when applied to stage T1a,bN0M0, reflecting the controversial nature of the issue.

Whether Oncotype can provide a relaible method of making treatment decisions in these patients is not known. A phase III trial, Tailorx, is being conducted to answer this question.

O. Hanrahan, A. M. Gonzalez-Angulo, S. H. Giordano, R. Rouzier, K. R. Broglio, G. N. Hortobagyi, and V. Valero
Overall Survival and Cause-Specific Mortality of Patients With Stage T1a,bN0M0 Breast Carcinoma
J. Clin. Oncol., November 1, 2007; 25(31): 4952 – 4960.

Emer O. Hanrahan, Vicente Valero, Ana M. Gonzalez-Angulo, Gabriel N. Hortobagyi
Prognosis and Management of Patients With Node-Negative Invasive Breast Carcinoma That Is 1 cm or Smaller in Size (stage 1; T1a,bN0M0): A Review of the Literature Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 24, No 13 (May 1), 2006: pp. 2113-2122

L Mauriac, A Keshaviah, M Debled, H Mouridsen, J. Forbes, B Thurlimann, R Paridaens, A Monnier, I Lang, A Wardley, et al.
Predictors of early relapse in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in the BIG 1-98 trial
Ann. Onc., May 1, 2007; 18(5): 859 – 867.

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