Landmark trials in the medical oncology management of early stage breast cancer

Semin Oncol. 2020 Oct;47(5):278-292. doi: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2020.08.001. Epub 2020 Aug 30.

Abstract

With the advent of breast cancer screening programs, the majorities of patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer are diagnosed with early stage disease and are likely to experience cure with proper treatment. Significant advances have been made in the management of early-stage breast cancer to personalize treatment according to disease biology. This progress has led to improvement in survival outcomes and quality of life for our patients. In this review, we discuss landmark clinical trials in medical oncology that have shaped the current standard of care for early stage ER-positive, HER2-positive, and triple negative breast cancer.

Keywords: Adjuvant; Breast cancer; Clinical trials; HER-2; Hormone receptor; Neoadjuvant trastuzumab; Pertuzumab; T-DM1; Trastuzumab emtansine; Triple negative.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Breast Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Clinical Trials as Topic
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Medical Oncology / methods
  • Quality of Life
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / genetics
  • Receptors, Estrogen / genetics

Substances

  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Receptor, ErbB-2