Author Reply: Surgery in Stage IV Breast Cancer Patients: Continued Controversy

Excerpt

We appreciate the opportunity to respond to Dr. Fitzal’s letter to this journal regarding our 2008 study evaluating the impact of timing on surgical intervention at the primary tumor site in Stage IV breast cancer.1 The limitations of any retrospective analysis are well known; currently, however, these are the data available to guide treatment decisions and future trials. In this light, there are multiple retrospective single-institution and database reviews that indicate a possible survival advantage.2‐5 Included in these are both our initial analysis comparing surgical intervention and systemic therapy versus systemic therapy alone,2 as well as the Fields’ et al. publication supporting our initial findings.4 …