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Updated: Jan 1, 2026
Single-Port Robotic-assisted Transaxillary Breast-conserving Surgery: A Prospective, Single-arm, Non-randomized Phase IIa Clinical Trial
Published on: August 19, 2025
Will surgery be a part of breast cancer treatment in the future?
1Breast Service, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 300 East 66th Street, New York, NY, 10065.
Abstract:
The combination of smaller, screen-detected cancers, improved efficacy of systemic therapy, and increasing use of neoadjuvant therapy with rising rates of pathologic complete response has prompted interest in studying elimination of surgery for some women with breast cancer. In order to determine whether this is a high priority area for research, knowledge of the proportion of cancers cured by surgery, the morbidity of current surgical approaches to breast cancer, and patient treatment preferences must be considered. This article reviews these topics and addresses some of the concerns about elimination of surgery in the settings of patients with small amounts of non-high-grade DCIS and in those who appear to have a pathologic complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Insights
Research is exploring eliminating surgery for some breast cancer patients due to smaller tumors and effective treatments. This review examines surgical cure rates, morbidity, and patient preferences to prioritize future research on breast cancer treatment de-escalation.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Surgical Oncology
- Breast Cancer Research
Background:
- Increasing detection of smaller breast cancers.
- Advancements in systemic therapy efficacy.
- Rising use of neoadjuvant therapy leading to higher pathologic complete response rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the feasibility of eliminating surgery for select breast cancer patients.
- To determine research priorities for breast cancer treatment de-escalation.
- To review current surgical outcomes and patient preferences.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of surgical cure rates for breast cancer.
- Analysis of morbidity associated with current breast cancer surgical approaches.
- Examination of patient treatment preferences regarding breast cancer surgery.
Main Results:
- Discussion of surgical cure rates in breast cancer.
- Overview of surgical morbidity in breast cancer treatment.
- Consideration of patient preferences in surgical decision-making.
Conclusions:
- Eliminating surgery is a potential research area for specific breast cancer subtypes.
- Further research is needed to establish safety and efficacy of non-surgical approaches.
- Patient-centered outcomes and preferences are crucial for treatment de-escalation strategies.
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