Sunday Sept 2013 (foodconsumer.org) -- A new study in the medical journal Yonago Acta Medica suggests that chemotherapy does not help extend relapse-free survival for luminal A breast cancer although it may delay relapse events.  

Luminal A breast cancer is a group of tumors that are estrogen receptor (ER) positive and progesterone receptor (PR) positive, but negative for Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor - 2 (HER-2).   Mayo Clinic claims on its website that "Luminal A breast cancers are likely to benefit from hormone therapy and may also benefit from chemotherapy," a statement contradictory to the finding of the current study.

Japanese scientists N. Uchida of Clinic of Surgery, Tottori Prefectural Kosei Hospital in Kurayoshi

Japan and colleagues conducted the study and found  tumor size and positive lymph node status are two major factors that affect the relapse-free survival and chemotherapy did not help relapse-free survival in patients with breast cancer tumor size greater than 2 cm and or positive lymph node status.

The authors say in their report adding chemotherapy to endocrine therapy for luminal A breast cancer generally provides little benefit.  

The study was based on data from 140 patients with luminal A breast cancer who underwent surgery at Tottori University Hospital in Japan between 2001 and 2010 and were given endocrine therapy after the surgery.

The researchers concluded " Chemotherapy could provide little benefit to patients with luminal A breast cancer. However, chemotherapy may bring them longer relapse-free periods." (DL)