[Systemic adjuvant therapy in patients with operable breast cancer]

The results of adjuvant trials conducted from April, 1972 to August, 1978 showed that chemotherapy was more effective to premenopausal patients and endocrine therapy prolonged disease-free survival of postmenopausal patients compared with premenopausal ones. Preliminary analysis of randomized trial now on going suggests that endocrine therapy is best candidate for receptor-positive patients and chemotherapy for receptor-negative patients. Prognostic factors of primary breast cancer was discussed.