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Chemotherapy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer: A Paradigm in Flux

University of Texas College of Pharmacy, Pharmacotherapy Education and Research Center and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio

Jodi L. Grabinski, PharmD, MS, BCOP

University of Texas College of Pharmacy, Pharmacotherapy Education and Research Center and the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, grabinski{at}uthscsa.edu

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy among women in the United States. A reduction in breast cancer mortality has been observed over recent years and is in part attributable to general use of adjuvant chemotherapy and trastuzumab. Besides the addition of specific therapeutic agents, the therapy of early-stage breast cancer has benefited from dose-dense approaches, identification of molecular markers, and translational research innovations such as prognostic gene expression assays. Treatment recommendations for adjuvant breast cancer chemotherapy are traditionally guided by results from clinical studies reflecting a general population; however, molecular and genomic information can potentially enable clinicians to formulate more refined therapeutic decisions. These advances also generate further questions regarding situations where application of therapy is necessary to optimize efficacy and circumstances where sparing therapy is appropriate. Taken together, the advances made through early-stage breast cancer chemotherapy positions us closer to fulfilling the promise of personalized medicine. This article reviews the recent progress of adjuvant chemotherapy and trastuzumab in breast cancer.

Key Words: breast cancer • adjuvant • chemotherapy • trastuzumab

Journal of Pharmacy Practice, Vol. 21, No. 1, 46-56 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/0897190008314777


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