The Role of Adjuvant Endocrine Therapy in Primary Breast Cancer

Abstract

Women accept the toxicity imposed by adjuvant chemotherapy in a trade-off for the expectation of a prolonged disease-free interval and a longer life. However, a recent review of the results of randomised controlled trials of adjuvant chemotherapy suggests that whilst a 30% reduction in the risk of dying over the first 5 years may be achieved following the treatment of pre-menopausal women with node-positive disease, the benefits for post-menopausal women are, to say the least, marginal (Goldhirsch et al. 1986). It also appears that, whatever combination regimen is used, there is likely to be a significant delay in the time to first relapse.