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Multimodal Concepts for Integration of Cytotoxic Drugs pp 251–265Cite as

Integration of Radiation Therapy and Systemic Therapy for Breast Cancer

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Part of the Medical Radiology book series (Med Radiol Radiat Oncol)

17.4 Conclusion

The last 20 years have yielded significant advances in the treatment of breast cancer. Adjuvant radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy have all been shown to improve event-free and overall survival and are now part of the standard treatment in the management of breast cancer. Although there has been significant progress in determining the optimal combination and sequencing of these treatments, additional studies are still required to better integrate these therapies with each other. Furthermore, newer treatments, such as aromatase inhibitors and trastuzumab, also need to be integrated with conventional therapies to maximize their effectiveness and minimize their toxicity; therefore, the importance of the multidisciplinary management of breast cancer, with participation of the surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, pathologists, and diagnostic radiologists, must once again be emphasized.

This is truly an exciting time in the management of breast cancer. Newer treatment techniques and modalities are constantly being developed. Coupled with the increasing knowledge about the biology of breast cancer, these treatments are allowing us to treat patients on a more individualized basis, with the aim of continually improving the rates of cure, as well as decreasing the risk of acute and late side effects.

Keywords

  • Breast Cancer
  • Clin Oncol
  • Radiat Oncol Biol Phys
  • Breast Conservation Therapy
  • National Surgical Adjuvant Breast

These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcolmbe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Seungtaek Choi MD & Thomas A. Buchholz MD

  2. Department of Biomathematics/Biostatistics, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcolmbe Blvd., Unit 1202, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Howard D. Thames PhD

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  1. Seungtaek Choi MD
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  3. Thomas A. Buchholz MD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Radiation and Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford School of Medicine, 269 Campus Drive Center for Clinical Science and Research, Rm 1255, Stanford, CA, 94305-5152, USA

    J. Martin Brown PhD

  2. Department of Human Oncology, University of Wisconsin Hospital Medical School, 600 Highland Ave., K4 312-3684, Madison, WI, 53792, USA

    Minesh P. Mehta MD

  3. Department of Radiation Oncology, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, Ismaninger Strasse 22, 81675, München, Germany

    Carsten Nieder MD

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Choi, S., Thames, H.D., Buchholz, T.A. (2006). Integration of Radiation Therapy and Systemic Therapy for Breast Cancer. In: Brown, J.M., Mehta, M.P., Nieder, C. (eds) Multimodal Concepts for Integration of Cytotoxic Drugs. Medical Radiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-35662-2_17

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