Classified Treatment Strategy for De-novo Metastatic Breast Cancer After Systemic Adjuvant Therapy

This study analysed and summarized the outcomes of the primary and metastatic lesions after first-line systemic therapy in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer and then inferred the timing of surgical treatment. According to the tumour heterogeneity characteristics between the primary and metastatic tumours, the investigators investigated the following A, B and C scenarios. After systemic therapy in patients with de novo metastatic breast cancer, the outcomes of primary and metastatic lesions were mainly divided into four categories (Fig. 1a, b, c, d). It is worth noting that after treatment, the four conditions of a, b, c, and d may alternate with the progression of the tumour or modification of the treatment plan. Therefore, only a proactive evaluation and timely treatment can identify the time window for tumour treatment. The time window for surgical treatment is important because, once missed, the tumour may progress with new metastatic lesions. Figure 1-a: Imaging study indicates complete remission of primary and metastatic tumours. Diagnostic surgical treatment can be performed to determine whether a pathologic complete response (PCR) is achieved and to develop a subsequent treatment plan. Figure 1-b: Imaging study indicates complete remission of the metastatic tumour with residual primary tumour. The state of the patient in this scenario could be equivalent to that of patients with early resectable breast cancer. Surgical treatment of the primary tumour should be promptly performed. Figure 1-c: Complete remission of the primary and residual metastatic tumour. Surgical treatment can be selected for isolated and resectable metastatic tumour. Figure 1-d: No remission or even progression of the primary and metastatic tumours. The systemic treatment plan should be replaced, and the surgical treatment should not be considered.

Study Population Operable stage IV breast cancer patients, whose primary lesion is invasive breast cancer confirmed by pathology, and metastases can be confirmed by pathology or imaginology examination

Inclusion criteria

• Operable stage IV breast cancer patients,whose primary lesion is invasive breast cancer confirmed by pathology, and metastases can be confirmed by pathology or imageology examination.
• ECOG-PS 0-2.
• Bone marrow, liver and kidney should be fully functional.
• Patients didn't received the locoregional surgery of the primary tumor in de novo.
• For the patient who accepted systematic treatment before operation, the systematic treatment must be administered within a year since diagnosed.

Exclusion criteria

• Accompanied with other primary malignant tumors.
• More than two visceral organ involvement.
• Patients who can't plan for follow-up effectively and regularly.
• Multiple liver metastases with deranged liver function tests (SGOT/SGPT more than four times the upper normal limit).