CONSERVATIVE SURGERY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF INVASIVE AND NONINVASIVE CARCINOMA OF THE BREAST - NSABP TRIALS

In 1976 the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) initiated a randomized trial (B-06) to evaluate the worth of lumpectomy in the treatment of patients with stages I and II breast cancer. This report presents, for the first time, findings from that trial through 10 years of follow-up relative to ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR), distant disease-free survival, and survival of patients who were treated by modified radical mastectomy, lumpectomy, or lumpectomy followed by breast irradiation. The report indicates that the incidence of IBTR observed in the B-06 trial is decreased by effective systemic therapy as well. Also commented on are a number of issues regarding the use of lumpectomy that are of concern to clinicians. They relate to the need for tumor specimen margins, the size of tumors amenable to lumpectomy, treatment of breast tumor recurrence, lumpectomy in older women, and other concerns. No patient or tumor characteristics have been identified that preclude the use of lumpectomy and radiation therapy. All evidence continues to justify the use of lumpectomy and breast irradiation for the treatment of invasive breast cancer. In addition, we have noted findings that indicate the propriety of lumpectomy and breast irradiation for treatment of localized ductal carcinoma in situ.