[Adjuvant treatment of breast cancer: meta-analysis and therapeutic recommendations]

Adjuvant chemotherapy and hormonotherapy have a major impact on relapse-free and overall survival of patients with early-stage breast cancer. Providing effective medical care for these patients is an important public health issue. We reviewed the results of the meta-analysis performed by the "Early Breast Cancer Trialists' Cooperative Group". We summarize the recommendations and guidelines proposed by the International Consensus Panel during the St Gallen Conference, 1998. We discussed also the methodology used by the "Federation National des Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer" in France to establish guidelines for the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. Faster development and validation of effective treatments will only be possible if participation in clinical trials become more acceptable to the public as well as to the medical community.