Multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of unresectable breast cancer.

Between January 1960 and December 1990, 163 patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) were treated by multidisciplinary treatment regimens. Forty-six cases received preoperative intraarterial perfusion of cytotoxic drugs. Fifty-four cases received preoperative systemic chemotherapy. Forty-one cases received preoperative radiotherapy, and twenty-two cases received both radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Preoperative systemic chemotherapy gives the best results. Postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy did not improve the survival rate as compared to the control group. The authors suggest that preoperative induction chemotherapy be used for LABC patients.