How Can Prognostic and Predictive Factors in Breast Cancer Be Used in a Practical Way Today?

Abstract

How prognostic and predictive factors might be used in breast cancer is intimately connected to the discussion of the treatment options available to patients today. Adjuvant therapy is only worthwhile if the improvement in outlook is great enough to more than balance the cost and toxicity of therapy. The questions to be addressed are not only whether adjuvant therapy should be given at all, but also which therapy. For example, would the incremental advantages of a given additional therapy justify its use. Basic adjuvant choices for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and -negative patients are illustrated in Fig. 1.