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Breast carcinoma during pregnancy
Author(s) -
Loibl Sibylle,
von Minckwitz Gunter,
Gwyn Karin,
Ellis Paul,
Blohmer Jens U.,
Schlegelberger Brigitte,
Keller Monika,
Harder Sebastian,
Theriault Richard L.,
Crivellari Diana,
Klingebiel Thomas,
Louwen Frank,
Kaufmann Manfred
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/cncr.21610
Subject(s) - medicine , pregnancy , breast carcinoma , breast cancer , obstetrics , cancer , anthracycline , adverse effect , carcinoma , oncology , gynecology , genetics , biology
BACKGROUND Breast carcinoma during pregnancy (BCP) is a difficult clinical situation, as it appears to put the health of the mother in conflict with that of the fetus. METHODS An international expert meeting was conducted to form guidelines on how to diagnose and treat women with BCP. RESULTS The goal for treatment of the pregnant woman with breast carcinoma is the same as that of the nonpregnant breast carcinoma patient: local control of disease and prevention of systemic metastases. However, certain treatment modalities need to be modified because of the potential for adverse effects on the fetus. There is evidence to support the safety of anthracycline‐based chemotherapy during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy (Oxford Level of Evidence [LOE] 2b). Because of the lack of evidence, the expert opinion was not to recommend the routine use of newer cytotoxic drugs like the taxanes during pregnancy (LOE 5). CONCLUSION The recommendations provided should help to reach informed decision making by the patient. The ongoing prospective collection of data on BCP, such as that at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (UTMDACC) and that of the German Breast Group/Breast International Group (GBG/BIG), is necessary to further our knowledge regarding the treatment of this unique group of breast carcinoma patients. Cancer 2006. © 2005 American Cancer Society.