14th St. Gallen International Breast Cancer Conference 2015: Evidence, Controversies, Consensus - Primary Therapy of Early Breast Cancer: Opinions Expressed by German Experts

Abstract

The key topics of this year's 14th St. Gallen Consensus Conference on the diagnosis and therapy of primary breast cancer were again questions about breast surgery and axillary surgery, radio-oncology and systemic therapy options in consideration of tumor biology, and the clinical application of multigene assays. This year, the consensus conference took place in Vienna. From a German perspective, it makes sense to substantiate the results of the vote of the international panel representing 19 countries in light of the updated national therapy recommendations of the AGO (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynäkologische Onkologie). Therefore, 14 German breast cancer experts, 3 of whom are members of the International St. Gallen Panel, have commented on the voting results of the St. Gallen Consensus Conference 2015 in relation to clinical routine in Germany.

Keywords: Endocrine therapy; Local therapy; Multigene assay; Sentinel node biopsy; St. Gallen Consensus 2015; Systemic therapy; Targeted substances.

Fig. 1

Surgical procedure of the axilla before or after NACT. SLNB = Sentinel lymph node biopsy; NACT = neoadjuvant chemotherapy; LoE = level of evidence; GR = grade of recommendation; BET = breast-conserving therapy; ALND = axillary lymphadenectomy; CNB = core needle biopsy; FNA = fine needle aspiration; ACOSOG = American College of Surgeons Oncology Group.

Fig. 2

Radiotherapy (RT) after breast-conserving surgery (invasive cancer): whole breast irradiation (LoE: Level of evidence).