Chemotherapy for breast cancer

Abstract

In 2010, one and a half million women will be diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide, and 49,000 in Brazil. Breast cancer is a constantly evolving area requiring from Mastologists and Oncologists a fast adaptation to new concepts. Furthermore, breast cancer does not consist of a single entity, therefore, it requires individualized treatment approaches. Chemotherapy is an important treatment modality, and it has been a rapidly evolving area that has been contributing to the decreasing breast cancer mortality observed in recent years, along with surgery, hormone therapy, radiotherapy, and other supportive treatments. Based on data from molecular profiling studies, more than 50% of the patients may be receiving unnecessary adjuvant chemotherapy. We aim to review the role of new molecular profiling tests and the current state of art in chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. We also address the important issue of chemotherapy treatment in elderly patients, and the management of HER-2 positive and metastatic disease.