ISSN:
1569-8041
Keywords:
breast
;
cancer
;
inflammatory
;
multimodality
;
surgery
;
therapy
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Background:In many centres surgery is used as part of a combinedmodality approach to the treatment of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC).Nevertheless, its value is controversial given the high risk of metastaticrelapse and poor overall prognosis. We have reviewed patients with true IBCprospectively treated at the Royal Marsden Hospital in chemotherapy trials toassess further the role of surgery as part of combined modality treatment. Patients and methods:Fifty-four patients who had responsive orstable disease to primary chemotherapy went on to have either radiotherapyalone (n = 35) or surgery plus radiotherapy (n = 19); thedecision on surgery was based partly on clinician preference and partly onclinical response. Results:The 35 patients undergoing radiotherapy alone had amedian progression-free survival (PFS) of 16 months and median overallsurvival (OS) of 35 months. Twenty-four patients (69%) have relapsedwith a total of twelve (34%) relapsing locally. In comparison, the 19patients receiving both surgery and radiotherapy had a PFS of 20 months, anda median OS of 35 months. Fifteen patients (79%) have relapsed, eight(42%) of these locally. None of these differences were statisticallysignificant. Conclusions:These results do not suggest a clinical advantage forsurgery in addition to chemotherapy and radiotherapy for patients with IBC.They support the need for a prospective randomised trial to address thisquestion.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1008374931854
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