Over the last 5 years significant advances have been made in our understanding of the biology of breast cancer. As a result of linking observations made in the laboratory to new treatment strategies, the outcome of breast cancer patients with both early and late stage disease has continued to improve.

This volume highlights recent important advances that have improved the understanding of the biology and therapeutics of breast cancer. It

gathers a renowned group of breast cancer experts and provides their perspective on management issues that directly affect patients on a day-to-day basis. The authors in this book have succeeded in providing the most recent data available on their respective topics. In addition, they also offer insight into where challenges remain in optimizing the care of breast cancer patients.

Klappentext

The optimal management of breast cancer patients relies on the expertise of a team of medical specialists including radiologists, surgeons, radiation therapists and medical oncologists. Much of the progress in breast cancer management made over the last several years reflects the translation of observations made in the laboratory to the clinic. Critically evaluating the impact of new treatment approaches relies on a commitment to well-designed clinical trials. In this volume, Advances in Breast Cancer Management, a renowned group of breast cancer experts have been asked to provide their perspective on management issues that directly effect patients on a day-to-day basis. Dr. Melody Cobleigh discusses the consequences of estrogen deprivation and the ways of ameliorating secondary symptoms and the potential long-term morbidity. Drs. Haigh and Guiliano review the sentinel lymph node biopsy technique including results from their extensive experience. Dr. Abram Recht places into perspective the potential benefit of post-mastectomy radiotherapy and reviews recent trials that address this issue. Dr. Dennis Slamon takes from us from the laboratory to the clinic in explaining the development of Herceptin as a paradigm for therapy targeted to specific molecular characteristics of breast cancer tumor cells. Drs. Nieto, Shpall, Crump and Pritchard offer different perspectives on the future of high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell transplantation as a treatment for breast cancer patients. Drs.

Inhalt

1. Managing Menopausal Problems.- 2. Sentinel Lymphadenectomy in Node Negative Breast Cancer.- 3. Postmastectomy Radiotherapy.- 4. The Molecular and Cellular Biology of HER2/neu Gene Amplification/ Overexpression and the Clinical Development of Herceptin (Trastuzumab Therapy for Breast Cancer.- 5. High-Dose Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer.- 6. High Dose Therapy with Stem Cell Support for Breast Cancer: The Jury Is Still Out.- 7. Preoperative Chemotherapy for Operable Breast Cancer.- 8. Overview of Randomized Trials of Systemic Adjuvant Therapy.- 9. Chemoprevention of Breast Cancer.