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Primary Chemotherapy

  • Chapter
Breast Cancer

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Oncology ((CCO))

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Abstract

Primary chemotherapy of breast cancer refers to the use of chemotherapy before definitive local treatment. Other synonymous terms include preoperative chemotherapy, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, induction chemotherapy, and upfront chemotherapy. Beginning in the early 1970s, primary chemotherapy has been explored to improve local control and survival in women with large breast tumors or inflammatory breast cancer. Primary chemotherapy produced regression of breast cancer in 60–90% of women (1) and made a significant impact on survival in inflammatory and locally advanced disease. Although primary chemotherapy was incorporated into standard treatment algorithms for select tumors such as Ewing’s sarcoma, and carcinomas, and locally advanced and inflammatory breast cancer, its role in the treatment of resectable breast cancer is undefined. The rationale, benefits, and disadvantages of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of operable breast cancer with a primary focus on the randomized clinical trials examining this modality are reviewed here. Recommendations on critical questions and potential future directions in this modality are addressed.

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Authors
  1. Deborah L. Toppmeyer MD
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Michael H. Torosian MD

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© 2002 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Toppmeyer, D.L. (2002). Primary Chemotherapy. In: Torosian, M.H. (eds) Breast Cancer. Current Clinical Oncology. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-161-9_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-161-9_14

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-61737-216-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-161-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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