Staging versus Biology in Breast Cancer

Kathy S. Albain, MD, medical oncologist, Loyola University Chicago, professor, Stritch School of Medicine, director, Breast Clinical Research Program, Thoracic Oncology Research Program, Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, discusses staging versus biology in breast cancer.

Clinical Pearls

• When patients have high-stage disease signified by many positive nodes, larger tumor, or aggressive biologic features, a physician’s decision is more straightforward
• When a patient’s stage of disease, tumor volume or disease burden is high but the biology of the cancer appears to be favorable or when a patient with small tumors has an aggressive or unfavorable biology, it is more challenging for a physician to decide on treatment