Local treatment in oligometastasis from breast cancer: an overview

Oligometastasic breast cancer (OMBC) consists of breast cancer patient with a limited number of systemic metastases (≤ 5), all of them candidates for local ablative treatment with the intention of achieving long-term control of the metastasis and, eventually, an increase in survival The first consensus for the management of patients with oligometastatic breast cancer (OMBC) was published in 2007, establishing that a more aggressive multidisciplinary strategy is recommended in order to increase the survival while maintaining a good quality of life. The current scientific evidence is based on observational studies, mainly retrospective, systematic reviews and meta-analyses, and only a randomized nonexclusive study of oligometastatic (OM) published. All trials with Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) in OM cancer have shown excellent tolerance and good local control, although first trials on Lung SBRT did not prove so excellent tolerance and had some deaths due to bronchus irradiation and secondary hemoptysis. There are multiple ongoing studies researching the benefit of SBRT in oligometastatic breast cancer. Despite the lack of impact on survival seen in the NRG BR-002 Trial, SBRT probably allows the delay of the systemic treatment until progression, and so, improves the quality of life of patients. We have to wait for the results of the ongoing and future studies for clarification of the role of local treatment in OMBC.