The Breast Cancer Alternative Hypothesis: Is There Evidence to Justify Replacing It?

SUMMARY Inconclusion: ● During the last two decades, as a result of the use of systemictherapy in conjunction with breast-conservation surgery andradiation therapy, the incidence of locoregional recurrencehas been reduced to a level where further reduction, a goalworthyofachieving,islikelytohavelittleimpactonsurvival. ● Despitetheextensiveinformationpresentedinthiscommen-tary, there is no new scientifically based evidence to justifyreplacing the current breast cancer hypothesis. ● It is likely that findings from research related to molecularbiologyandgeneticswillbethesourceofinformationthatwillresult in a new, testable thesis that will eventually replace thealternative hypothesis and thus the paradigm that currentlygoverns the treatment of breast cancer. Status of the Breast Cancer Hypothesis www.jco.org © 2009 by American Society of Clinical Oncology 373 Downloaded from jco.ascopubs.org on June 6, 2013. For personal use only. No other uses without permission.