Locally advanced breast cancer pathological response

The goal of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in locally advanced breast cancer is cure. Complete pathologic response, determined at the time of surgery, is the desired end point. 

The management of locally advanced breast cancer and inflammatory breast cancer has evolved over the past twenty years. In general, surgery has maintained a role in the combined management of this disease but most studies have tested strategies to increase the extent of pathological response, especially in view of its prognostic implications. 

Formenti SC, Dunnington G, Uzieli B, et al. Original p53 status predicts for pathological response in locally advanced breast cancer patients treated preoperatively with continuous infusion 5-fluorouracil and radiation therapy. Int J Radiat Oncol, Biol, Physics 1997 39 1059-1068. 

Formenti SC, Cohen D, Tsao-Wei DD, et al. Clinical Course of Locally Advanced Breast Cancer (LABC) Patients with pathological response to primary concurrent 5-fluorouracil and radiation (FU/ RT). Int JRadiat Oncol Biol Phys 2001 51 195-196 (abstract 1039). 

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