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Review
. 2018;11(3):172-179.
doi: 10.1007/s12254-018-0426-9. Epub 2018 Aug 17.

Cure in metastatic breast cancer

Theresa Westphal  1   2   3 , Simon Peter Gampenrieder  1   2   3 , Gabriel Rinnerthaler  1   2   3 , Richard Greil  1   2   4   3
Affiliations
Review

Cure in metastatic breast cancer

Theresa Westphal et al. Memo. 2018.

Abstract

Oligometastatic disease characterizes a distinct subgroup of metastatic breast cancer patients that might benefit from different treatment strategies to achieve long-lasting remission and potentially cure. Those long-lasting remissions are reported after locoregional treatment of the primary tumor and all metastatic sites in several case series; however, unlike other tumor entities, prospective data are lacking. Furthermore, tumor eradication by excellent systemic anticancer therapy with novel chemotherapies and targeted agents can lead to long-term survival. In addition, reactivation of the host immune defense by immuno-oncologic drugs can achieve long-lasting tumor control. So far, unfortunately, checkpoint inhibitors as monotherapy have led to responses only in a small percentage of patients with metastatic breast cancer. This short review summarizes available data on long-lasting remissions and potential cure in metastatic breast cancers. It describes and discusses data on locoregional treatment, chemo-, antibody- and immunotherapy and tries to select individual patients for whom a multidisciplinary treatment approach with curative intention might be an option to achieve long-term survival.

Keywords: Chemotherapy; Immunotherapy; Oligometastatic; Surgery; Targeted therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

T. Westphal, S.P. Gampenrieder, G. Rinnerthaler and R. Greil declare that they have no competing interests.

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