Mapping the current landscape of locoregional therapy de-escalation trials in early breast cancer: a systematic review

Abstract A systematic review undertaken to map the current landscape of locoregional de-escalation trials to inform future research. Online databases and trial registries were searched to identify ongoing, recently completed or published studies de-escalating surgery or radiotherapy in patients with...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Alan D. McCrorie, Hilary Stobart, David Dodwell, Stuart A. McIntosh, Shelley Potter
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:npj Breast Cancer
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41523-025-00744-9
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Summary:Abstract A systematic review undertaken to map the current landscape of locoregional de-escalation trials to inform future research. Online databases and trial registries were searched to identify ongoing, recently completed or published studies de-escalating surgery or radiotherapy in patients with early breast cancer. 97 trials evaluated de-escalation of surgery or radiotherapy in up to 94,866 participants. Surgery studies more commonly evaluated treatment omission/reduction after neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST) and de-escalation of nodal treatment. Radiotherapy studies were more frequently biomarker stratified. Patients were rarely involved in study design. Research questions focused on response-adjusted treatment after NST and omission/reduction of locoregional therapy in patients with low- or intermediate-risk disease. Significant duplication was identified with multiple studies addressing similar questions. This systematic review demonstrates that the current de-escalation portfolio is inefficient, lacks patient focus and needs improvement. An internationally collaborative approach using innovative study designs and patient partnership will be essential to address this.
ISSN:2374-4677