Unveiling the paradigm shift: systemic treatment strategies in small, node-negative breast cancer

Abstract The implementation of screening mammography has significantly altered the size distribution of breast tumors, with approximately 20% of newly diagnosed breast cancers measuring 10 mm or smaller with node-negative disease (T1aN0 and T1bN0). The management of these early-stage breast cancers...

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Main Authors: Mariana Carvalho Gouveia, Mariana Scaranti, Bruna Migliavacca Zucchetti, Renata Colombo Bonadio, Romualdo Barroso-Sousa, Jose Pablo Leone
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:npj Breast Cancer
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41523-025-00761-8
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author Mariana Carvalho Gouveia
Mariana Scaranti
Bruna Migliavacca Zucchetti
Renata Colombo Bonadio
Romualdo Barroso-Sousa
Jose Pablo Leone
author_facet Mariana Carvalho Gouveia
Mariana Scaranti
Bruna Migliavacca Zucchetti
Renata Colombo Bonadio
Romualdo Barroso-Sousa
Jose Pablo Leone
author_sort Mariana Carvalho Gouveia
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The implementation of screening mammography has significantly altered the size distribution of breast tumors, with approximately 20% of newly diagnosed breast cancers measuring 10 mm or smaller with node-negative disease (T1aN0 and T1bN0). The management of these early-stage breast cancers remains a subject of debate. Historically, patients with T1aN0 and T1bN0 breast cancer have been excluded from adjuvant chemotherapy trials due to their excellent prognosis, with reported 10-year disease-specific survival rates exceeding 90%. However, the optimal treatment strategy for this subgroup of patients continues to be controversial, as the potential benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy must be carefully weighed against the risks of overtreatment. In this review, we summarize current evidence on outcomes and treatment strategies, highlight gaps in the literature, and provide future perspectives on the management of T1aN0 and T1bN0 breast cancer, according to immunohistochemical subtypes.
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series npj Breast Cancer
spelling doaj-art-d4f38d8c4f094adcae150c6a7df150022025-08-20T03:07:51ZengNature Portfolionpj Breast Cancer2374-46772025-05-011111610.1038/s41523-025-00761-8Unveiling the paradigm shift: systemic treatment strategies in small, node-negative breast cancerMariana Carvalho Gouveia0Mariana Scaranti1Bruna Migliavacca Zucchetti2Renata Colombo Bonadio3Romualdo Barroso-Sousa4Jose Pablo Leone5Department of Medical Oncology, DASA OncologyDepartment of Medical Oncology, DASA OncologyDepartment of Medical Oncology, DASA OncologyDepartment of Medical Oncology, Instituto D’Or de Pesquisa e Ensino (IDOR)Department of Medical Oncology, DASA Oncology, Brasília Hospital, DASADepartment of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical SchoolAbstract The implementation of screening mammography has significantly altered the size distribution of breast tumors, with approximately 20% of newly diagnosed breast cancers measuring 10 mm or smaller with node-negative disease (T1aN0 and T1bN0). The management of these early-stage breast cancers remains a subject of debate. Historically, patients with T1aN0 and T1bN0 breast cancer have been excluded from adjuvant chemotherapy trials due to their excellent prognosis, with reported 10-year disease-specific survival rates exceeding 90%. However, the optimal treatment strategy for this subgroup of patients continues to be controversial, as the potential benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy must be carefully weighed against the risks of overtreatment. In this review, we summarize current evidence on outcomes and treatment strategies, highlight gaps in the literature, and provide future perspectives on the management of T1aN0 and T1bN0 breast cancer, according to immunohistochemical subtypes.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41523-025-00761-8
spellingShingle Mariana Carvalho Gouveia
Mariana Scaranti
Bruna Migliavacca Zucchetti
Renata Colombo Bonadio
Romualdo Barroso-Sousa
Jose Pablo Leone
Unveiling the paradigm shift: systemic treatment strategies in small, node-negative breast cancer
npj Breast Cancer
title Unveiling the paradigm shift: systemic treatment strategies in small, node-negative breast cancer
title_full Unveiling the paradigm shift: systemic treatment strategies in small, node-negative breast cancer
title_fullStr Unveiling the paradigm shift: systemic treatment strategies in small, node-negative breast cancer
title_full_unstemmed Unveiling the paradigm shift: systemic treatment strategies in small, node-negative breast cancer
title_short Unveiling the paradigm shift: systemic treatment strategies in small, node-negative breast cancer
title_sort unveiling the paradigm shift systemic treatment strategies in small node negative breast cancer
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41523-025-00761-8
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