Overview of preoperative radiochemotherapy in breast cancer: past or future?

Abstract

Radiochemotherapy is a standard approach in human solid tumours, with localised stage and radical treatment intention. In the early-intermediate stages of breast cancer model, neoadjuvant radiochemotherapy is an alternative to induction chemotherapy alone and might further impact the surgical technical treatment characteristics (a downsizing effect). In the era of targeted therapy and personalised treatment for breast cancer patients with initial localised disease, radiochemotherapy needs to be explored as a component of optimised local treatment to potentially improve relevant local results, such as breast conservation, breast cosmesis and individualised breast cancer radiochemotherapy response prediction. An overview of available literature data regarding neoadjuvant treatment including radiotherapy component is analysed and discussed.