Locally advanced breast cancer in developing countries: the place of surgery

Most breast cancer patients in developing countries still present with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Because surgery is the most widely available treatment modality, we examine its place in the management of LABC. Historically, single local treatment modalities have had disappointing results, and multimodality therapy has become the norm for combatting LABC. Combining surgery and radiotherapy will lead to superior local control rates. Surgery should precede radiotherapy. Preoperative systemic treatment-with the possible exception of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluououracil (CMF) chemotherapy-does not influence surgical complication rates. Hormonal therapy is understudied and underutilized; its benefits become apparent only in prolonged follow-up. Sequencing of local and systemic treatments does not influence oncologic outcome, but failure to respond to preoperative systemic therapy may identify patients with a poor prognosis. With multimodality management including hormonal therapy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, local control rates of more than 80% and 5-year survival rates of more than 50% have become the norm.