Chinese expert consensus on endocrine therapy for breast cancer (2026 edition)

Endocrine therapy (ET) is the primary treatment for hormone receptor (HR)-positive breast cancer. Based on the 2023 expert consensus, the Chinese Consensus Group on Breast Cancer Endocrine Therapy updated this consensus by integrating clinical research data and practical experiences.

(I) Establishment of expert group: the expert group consists of experts from departments such as medical oncology, breast surgery, and pathology. (II) Literature search: mainly conducted in English databases (such as PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library) with a search cutoff date of Sep 30^th 2025. (III) Assessment of evidence quality and recommendation strength: evidence quality and recommendation opinions are graded based on the evidence category and recommendation level of the Chinese Society of Clinical Oncology (CSCO) guidelines.

The 2026 consensus updated clinical research data on ET for both early and advanced breast cancer, defined the eligible population for neoadjuvant ET, and clarified the application of adjuvant cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitor (CDK4/6i) therapy in moderate and high-risk patients. For advanced breast cancer, the consensus optimized the treatment strategy of first-line ET plus CDK4/6i, and recommended preferred post-CDK4/6i regimens for patients with distinct clinic-pathological characteristics. It also provides clear recommendations on the indication, optimal timing, and methodology of genetic testing.

This consensus may provide clinical guidance for the standardized application of ET, thereby facilitating precise and individualized treatment for HR-positive breast cancer.