Primary systemic therapy and whole breast irradiation for locally advanced breast cancer: a systematic review

Abstract

The current management of locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) is based on tri-modality treatment including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. The concept of preoperative concurrent or sequential chemoradiation for LABC was initially reported more than a decade ago; however this concept did not gain popularity because of the low benefit/risk ratio and the lack of strong data supporting the concept. The purpose of the current systematic review was to explore the published data about preoperative chemoradiation (sequential and/or concurrent) using whole breast irradiation in terms of toxicity and outcome.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Chemoradiation; Chemotherapy; Irradiation; Neoadjuvant; Preoperative; Radiotherapy.