Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies among women in the western world. Well-designed scientific trials in the diagnosis and management of this disease remain paradigms for investigators in all fields.

The value of a multimodality approach to each patient’s care cannot be overemphasized.

Radiologists, pathologists, surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists have all contributed to the improvements that have been achieved in the rates of survival from this disease. Their continued collaboration will assure further advances and, ultimately, the conquest of breast cancer.

Karen D. Schupak
American College of Physicians

References

1. Veronesi U, Banfi A, Salvadori B et al. Breast conservation is the treatment of choice in small breast cancer: Long term results of a randomized clinical trial. Eur J Cancer 1990; 26:668-670.
2. Fisher B, Anderson S, Redmond C et al. Reanalysis and results after 12 years of follow up in a randomized clinical trial comparing total mastectomy with lumpectomy with and without irradiation in the treatment of breast cancer. N Engl J Med 1995; 333:1456-1461.
3. Sarrazin D, Le M, Arriagada R et al. Ten-year results of a randomized trial comparing a conservative treatment to mastectomy in early breast cancer. Radiother Oncol 1989; 14:177-184.
4. Blichert-Toft M, Rose C, Andersen J et al. Danish randomized trial comparing breast conservation therapy with mastectomy: Six years of life-table analysis. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 1992; 11:19-25.
5. VanDongen J, Bartelink H, Fentiman I et al. Randomized clinical trial to assess the value of breast-conserving therapy in Stage I and II breast cancer, EORTC 10801 trial. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr 1992; 11:15-18.
6. Jacobson JA, Danforth DN, Cowan KH et al. Ten-year results of a comparison of conservation with mastectomy in the treatment of stage I and II breast cancer. N Engl J Med 1995; 332:907-911.
7. Holland R, Vleing S, Mravunac M et al. Histologic multifocality of Tis, T1-2 breast carcinomas: Implication for clinical trials of breast conserving treatment. Cancer 1985; 56:979-991.
8. Holland R, Connolly J, Gelman R et al. The presence of an extensive intraductal component (EIC) following a limited excision correlates with prominent residual disease in the remainder of the breast. J Clin Oncol 1990; 8:113-118.
9. Leopold KA, Recht A, Schnitt S et al. Results of conservative surgery and radiation therapy for multiple synchronous cancers of the breast. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1989; 16:11-16.
10. Kurtz JM, Jacquemier J, Amalric R et al. Breast-conserving therapy for macroscopically multiple cancers. Ann Surg 1990; 212:38-44.
11. Fleck R, McNeese M, Ellerbroek N et al. Consequences of breast irradiation in patients with pre-existing collagen vascular disease. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 1989; 17:829-833.
12. Robertson J, Clarke D, Pevner M et al. Breast conservation therapy: Severe breast fibrosis after radiation therapy in patients with collagen vascular disease. Cancer 1991; 68:502-508.
13. Recht A, Come S, Henderson IC et al. Sequencing of chemotherapy and radiotherapy after conservative surgery for early-stage breast cancer. N Engl J Med 1996; 334:1356-1361.
14. Denham JW, Sillar RW, Clarke D. Boost dosage to the excision site following conservation surgery for breast cancer: It’s easy to miss. Clin Oncol 1991; 3:257-261.
15. Gilligan D, Hendry JA, Yarnold JR. The use of ultrasound to measure breast thickness to select electron energies for breast boost radiotherapy. Radiother Oncol 1994; 32:265-267.
16. ...

Complete References