ADJUVANT THERAPY OF EARLY NODE-NEGATIVE BREAST-CANCER

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