Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy: What Are the Benefits for the Patient and for the Investigator?

Abstract

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy has several appealing potential benefits compared with classic adjuvant chemotherapy. Of these, the only proven benefit is to facilitate the surgical approach, either by converting an inoperable cancer to one that is operable, or by converting a patient who is felt to be a candidate for mastectomy to one who might be treated successfully with breast conserving therapy. Randomized trials comparing neoadjuvant chemotherapy with postoperative chemotherapy have failed to demonstrate prolongation of overall survival. The benefits of monitoring apparent response during neoadjuvant chemotherapy have not been proven. Conduct of phase II drug development trials in the neoadjuvant setting may be advantageous compared with performing such trials in the metastatic setting. However, such trials raise concerns that are not unavoidable but need to be addressed.

• Authors: Daniel F Hayes, Anne F Schott
• Journal: Journal of the National Cancer Institute. Monographs (J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr) Vol. 2015 Issue 51 Pg. 36-9 (May 2015) ISSN: 1745-6614 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 26063884 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © The Author 2015. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: [email protected].

Topics

• Breast Neoplasms (drug therapy, psychology, surgery)
• Chemotherapy, Adjuvant (methods)
• Female
• Humans
• Mastectomy, Segmental (methods)
• Neoadjuvant Therapy (methods)
• Outcome Assessment, Health Care (methods)
• Patients (psychology)
• Prognosis
• Remission Induction
• Research Personnel (psychology)
• Survival Analysis