Current trials of the German Adjuvant Breast Cancer Group (GABG)

Since 1981 the German Adjuvant Breast Cancer Study Group (GABG) has recruited approximately 5000 patients with primary breast cancer in randomized trials to evaluate systemic therapies. More than 70 hospitals all over Germany are participating in this group. Allocation to the different trials is based on a risk-oriented selection of patients (menopausal status, nodal involvement and hormonal receptor content). In the currently running trials chemo-endocrine or endocrine-endocrine sequences are investigated. In premenopausal patients the value of GnRH analogues are compared with conventional CMF chemotherapy. The aim of two further trials is to reduce local surgery or radiotherapy in patients with low risk for locoregional relapse. In a recently started study dose-intensified preoperative chemotherapy in combination with or without tamoxifen is evaluated in patients with operable breast tumors > or = 3 cm.