New options in systemic adjuvant therapy of breast cancer

Abstract

Significant survival benefits derived from the use of adjuvant systemic therapy in early breast cancer were progressively defined over the last years. Current practice guidelines recommend an important change in selection of adjuvant systemic therapy with priority to endocrine treatment. However, cytotoxic adjuvant therapy remains an only option for endocrine non-responsive patients and is also recommended in numerous clinical situations for endocrine responsive breast cancer. Reports from several randomised trials justified the use of taxoids within adjuvant chemotherapy. Finally, four trials demonstrated the substantial contribution of trastuzumab in appropriately defined patients. This review focuses on the use of taxoids and trastuzumab in adjuvant systemic therapy of early breast cancer.