[Neoadjuvant therapy in breast cancer]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Breast Cancer Research
• Translational Medicine

Context:

• Neoadjuvant treatment is standard for inflammatory and locally advanced breast cancer.
• It is also used for primary operable breast cancer to enable breast-conserving surgery.
• This approach facilitates a deeper understanding of breast cancer biology.

Purpose:

• To review the role of preoperative treatment in breast cancer management.
• To discuss the evolution of neoadjuvant therapies beyond chemotherapy.
• To highlight the significance of pathologic complete response as an outcome predictor.

Summary:

• Neoadjuvant therapy, encompassing chemotherapy, hormonotherapy, and targeted treatments (e.g., trastuzumab for HER2+), yields survival outcomes comparable to postoperative regimens.
• While survival is equivalent, achieving pathologic complete response with neoadjuvant treatment indicates favorable long-term prognosis.
• The neoadjuvant strategy is crucial for advancing breast cancer research and understanding tumor biology.

Impact:

• Enhances understanding of breast cancer heterogeneity and treatment response.
• Promotes the development of personalized treatment strategies.
• Supports translational research by providing in-vivo drug sensitivity data.