Point: Combination Versus Single-Agent Chemotherapy: The Argument for Sequential Single Agents

Authors:
Alison K. Conlin From the Breast Cancer Medicine Service, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.

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 MD, MPH
and
Andrew D. Seidman From the Breast Cancer Medicine Service, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.

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Volume/Issue:
Volume 5: Issue 8
Online Publication Date:
Sep 2007
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.6004/jnccn.2007.0068
Full access

Metastatic breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, and treatment decisions depend on several individualized patient and tumor characteristics. Although combination therapy often shows improved response rates in metastatic breast cancer, few studies have shown superiority in overall survival. The choice of combination versus sequential single-agent treatment, therefore, must consider many factors, with no one strategy right for all patients. This article reviews several important clinical trials that address this issue, and argues for single-agent sequential therapy for most patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Correspondence: Andrew D. Seidman, MD, Breast Cancer Medicine Service, Division of Solid Tumor Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021. E-mail: seidmana@mskcc.org
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Copyright:
Copyright © 2007 by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network
Page Numbers:
5
Article Category:
Research Article
Received:
26 Apr 2007
Accepted:
21 May 2007
Print Publication Date:
01 Sep 2007
Online Publication Date:
Sep 2007
Keywords:
Single agent; sequential therapy; combination therapy; chemotherapy; metastatic breast cancer
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