Dr. Tripathy on the Management of HR+ Early-Stage Breast Cancer

Debu Tripathy, MD, professor and chairman, Department of Breast Medical Oncology, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the management of hormone receptor (HR)-positive early-stage breast cancer.

The management of patients with early-stage breast cancer in the advanced setting is an area that has evolved tremendously in the last few years, says Tripathy. The most important thing about treating patients with HR+ metastatic breast cancer is confirming histology at the time of initial diagnosis. This serves as confirmation of metastasis and provides an opportunity to check the estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors can sometimes change from what the primary tumor was.

Treatment has shifted for metastatic breast cancer according to receptor subtype, explains Tripathy. Currently, endocrine therapy is generally used for patients with HR+ HER2-negative breast cancer. Physicians now know that if endocrine therapy is used first, patients will enjoy a better quality of life and may experience prolonged survival, as opposed to chemotherapy.