ADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY IN THE NODE-NEGATIVE BREAST-CANCER PATIENT

Adjuvant therapy in women with axillary node metastases from breast ca ncer is beneficial, but the role of adjuvant therapy in women with nod e-negative breast cancer is controversial. By definition, all clinical ly apparent disease can be removed surgically in patients with early b reast cancer. Although the majority of patients with early breast canc er are cured with surgical therapy alone, about 30% of node-negative p atients eventually will die of their disease. The identification of th is subgroup of high-risk patients is imperative in order to decrease d isease recurrence.