A new therapeutic platform for treating breast cancer

the evolution of systemic neoadjuvant treatment

Abstract

Neoadjuvant therapy of breast cancer is related to the use of different treatment modalities prior to surgical removal of the disease. It has been accepted as an option for patients with nonmetastatic disease, because it renders inoperable tumors operable and increases the rates of breast-conserving surgery, while achieving the same long-term clinical outcomes as the adjuvant setting. The neoadjuvant strategy is being increasingly accepted as a research platform, where the biologic effects of anticancer agents can be evaluated, prognostic and predictive biomarkers can be identified, and the development of targeted agents can be accelerated. Surrogate endpoints that can predict long-term clinical outcome and are evaluable early on, such as the pathologic complete response, offer unique opportunities for prompt assessment of anticancer agents. Moreover, efforts for molecular profiling of the post-neoadjuvant residual disease may lead to a personalized therapy for breast cancer patients with early-stage high-risk disease.