Breast Cancer

I.ManagementA.Stage 0 Lobular Carcinoma in-situ1.No treatment needed (biopsied lesion will not progress)
2.Increased risk of subsequent Breast Cancer developmenta.Consider Tamoxifen for prophylaxis


B.Stage 0 Ductal Carcinoma in-situ1.Breast-Conserving Surgery and Breast radiation or
2.Mastectomy (if extensive involvment or multifocal involvement)

C.Stage I and II1.Breast-Conserving Surgery
2.Breast radiation
3.Sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node sampling
4.Chemotherapy (except in tumor <1 cm and node negative)
5.Hormone therapy if Estrogen-receptor positive
6.Trastuzumab (Herceptin) if ERBB2 overexpression

D.Stage III Non-inflammatory1.Induction Chemotherapy (precedes resection)
2.Breast-Conserving Surgery
3.Breast radiation
4.Sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node sampling
5.Hormone therapy if Estrogen-receptor positive
6.Trastuzumab (Herceptin) if ERBB2 overexpression

E.Stage III Inflammatory1.Induction Chemotherapy (precedes resection)
2.Mastectomy
3.Axillary lymph node sampling

F.Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer1.Per patient wishes
2.Consider palliative Radiation Therapy for pain
3.Consider Bisphosphonates for bone pain
4.Consider Chemotherapy
5.Hormone therapy if Estrogen-receptor positive
6.Trastuzumab (Herceptin) if ERBB2 overexpression

G.Recurrent Breast Cancer - Local involvement after Breast-Conserving Surgery1.Mastectomy
2.Axillary lymph node sampling
3.Chemotherapy
4.Hormone therapy if Estrogen-receptor positive
5.Trastuzumab (Herceptin) if ERBB2 overexpression

H.Recurrent Breast Cancer - Local involvement after Mastectomy1.Wide excision
2.Axillary lymph node sampling

I.Recurrent Breast Cancer - inoperable1.Induction Chemotherapy
2.Axillary lymph node sampling


II.Management: SurgicalA.Breast Lumpectomy with Breast Radiation
B.Mastectomy
C.Breast Reconstruction

III.Management: ChemotherapyA.Indications1.Most beneficiala.Lymph node involvement
b.Primary Breast Cancer larger than 1 cm
c.Hormone receptor negative Breast Cancer

2.Questionable benefita.Age over 70 years
b.Small, node-negative Breast Cancers (<1 cm)
c.Favorable histologic subtypesi.Tubular cancers
ii.Mucinous cancers



B.Anthracyclines1.Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) IV q14-21 days for 4-6 cyclesa.Combined with Taxane (Docetaxel or Paclitaxel), and cyclophosphamide and/or fluorouracil

2.Epirubicin (Ellence) every 21-28 days for 3-8 cyclesa.Combined with cyclophosphamide or fluorouracil


C.Taxanes1.Docetaxel IV every 21 days for 3-4 cyclesa.Combined with anthracycline (doxorubicin or epirubicin), and cyclophosphamide and/or fluorouracil

2.Paclitaxel IV every 7-21 days for 4-12 cyclesa.Combined with doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide



IV.Management: Hormonal Manipulation (Estrogen inhibition)A.Indications: Suppress Estrogen synthesis1.Hormone receptor positive
2.Progesterone receptor positive (possible benefit)
3.Hormone receptor indeterminate

B.Protocol: Pre-Menopause1.Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator (SERM)a.Tamoxifen 1 tablet daily
b.Usually taken for first 5 years after diagnosis (2 years in some cases)
c.May be followed by Aromatase inhibitor
d.Reduces risk of cancer recurrence by 47%

2.Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone Agonist (LHRF agonist)a.Agent: Goserelin (Zoladex) SQ q1-3 months for 2 years


C.Protocol: Post-Menopause1.Aromatase inhibitora.Agents (typically taken for 5 years, may be as short as 2 years in some cases)i.Anastrozole (Arimidex) one tablet daily
ii.Letrozole (Femara) one tablet daily
iii.Exemestane (Aromasin) one tablet daily

b.Consider as sequential treatment with aromatase inhibitor after Tamoxifen discontinued
c.Osteoporosis risk (see Osteoporosis Prevention)
d.Avoid in premenopausal womeni.Osteoporosis risk
ii.Risk of Ovulation stimulation and higher risk of pregnancy
iii.Not as effective as in postmenopausal women




V.Management: Monoclonal AntibodyA.Trastuzumab (Herceptin)1.Herceptin IV given with first dose of Chemotherapy and then every 1-3 weeks for 1 year
2.Indicated for Her-2_neu positive, ERBB2 overexpressing patients with metastatic Breast Cancer
3.Improves survival for overexpressors of HER2 gene

B.References1.Slamon (2001) N Engl J Med 344:783-92
2.Smith (2007) Lancet 369:29-36