From the Guidelines
The treatment for invasive ductal carcinoma typically involves a multidisciplinary approach tailored to the specific characteristics of the cancer, with surgery, radiation therapy, and systemic treatments such as chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapies being considered based on factors like tumor size, grade, stage, hormone receptor status, HER2 status, and patient preferences 1.
Overview of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma
Invasive ductal carcinoma is a type of breast cancer that begins in the milk ducts of the breast and invades the surrounding tissue. It is the most common type of breast cancer, accounting for about 70-80% of all breast cancer diagnoses.
Treatment Approach
The treatment approach for invasive ductal carcinoma usually involves a combination of the following:
- Surgery: either breast-conserving surgery (lumpectomy) or mastectomy, often accompanied by sentinel lymph node biopsy or axillary lymph node dissection to check if cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes 1.
- Radiation therapy: commonly recommended after lumpectomy to eliminate any remaining cancer cells.
- Systemic treatments: may include chemotherapy, hormone therapy for hormone receptor-positive cancers, and targeted therapies for HER2-positive cancers.
Factors Influencing Treatment Decisions
Treatment decisions are based on several factors, including:
- Tumor size, grade, and stage
- Hormone receptor status
- HER2 status
- Patient's overall health and preferences
- Presence of genetic mutations, such as BRCA1 or BRCA2
Recent Guidelines and Recommendations
According to recent guidelines, breast conservation (wide local excision and RT) is the local treatment of choice in the majority of patients with invasive cancer 1. Additionally, trastuzumab combined with chemotherapy in patients with HER2 overexpression/amplification approximately halves the recurrence risk and improves overall survival (OS), compared with chemotherapy alone 1.
Quality of Life Considerations
The goal of treatment is not only to eliminate the cancer and reduce the risk of recurrence but also to maintain the best possible quality of life for the patient. This includes considering the potential side effects of treatment, such as hair loss, fatigue, and nausea, and providing supportive care to manage these symptoms. Oncoplastic procedures can achieve better cosmetic outcomes, especially in patients with large breasts, with a less favourable tumour/breast size ratio or with a cosmetically difficult location of the tumour in the breast 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
Invasive ductal carcinoma is not directly defined in the provided drug labels. However, the labels discuss the treatment of breast cancer, including ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), with tamoxifen.
The FDA drug label does not directly answer the question regarding the definition and treatment of invasive ductal carcinoma. However, based on the information provided about breast cancer treatment, tamoxifen is indicated for the treatment of node-positive breast cancer in women following total mastectomy or segmental mastectomy, axillary dissection, and breast irradiation 2.
- The decision regarding therapy with tamoxifen for the reduction in breast cancer incidence should be based upon an individual assessment of the benefits and risks of tamoxifen therapy.
- Tamoxifen reduces the occurrence of contralateral breast cancer in patients receiving adjuvant tamoxifen therapy for breast cancer 2.
- Current data from clinical trials support 5 years of adjuvant tamoxifen therapy for patients with breast cancer 2.
It is essential to consult a healthcare professional for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan for invasive ductal carcinoma, as the provided information does not directly address this specific condition.
From the Research
Invasive Ductal Carcinoma Overview
- Invasive ductal carcinoma is a type of breast cancer that begins in the milk ducts and invades the surrounding tissue [(3,4)].
- It is the most common type of breast cancer, accounting for approximately 70-80% of all breast cancer diagnoses.
Treatment Options
- Treatment for invasive ductal carcinoma typically involves a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and medication [(3,4,5)].
- Surgery may involve a lumpectomy (removal of the tumor and surrounding tissue) or a mastectomy (removal of the entire breast) [(6,5)].
- Radiation therapy may be used to kill any remaining cancer cells after surgery [(7,5)].
- Medications such as trastuzumab, pertuzumab, and anastrozole may be used to treat HER2-positive or hormone-positive invasive ductal carcinoma [(3,4,7)].
Treatment Outcomes
- Studies have shown that treatment with trastuzumab and pertuzumab can result in complete response in some patients with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer [(3,4)].
- Anastrozole has been shown to be effective in reducing the risk of breast cancer recurrence in postmenopausal women with ductal carcinoma in situ 7.
- Lumpectomy and radiation therapy have been shown to be effective in treating invasive lobular carcinoma and invasive ductal carcinoma, with low rates of local recurrence and equivalent overall survival 5.