ADJUVANT THERAPY OF EARLY NODE-NEGATIVE B REAST-CANCER

Lymphe node status remains the most important prognostic factor in bre ast cancer However only 70% of the node negative breast cancer patient s are alive al 10 years. Several randomized trials have shown that sys temic adjuvant therapy, either chemo or hormonotherapy, increases surv ival in these patients. A recent meta-analysis confirms these findings . In 1992, a consensus conference recommended no therapy in low risk p atients (tumor size less than 1 cm), tamoxifen in good risk patients ( tumor less than 2 cm, oestrogen or progesteron receptors positive, wel l differenciated) and chemotherapy in premenopausal or hormonotherapy in postmenopausal high risk patients (receptor-negative less than 1 cm tumor or high pathological grade).