Recent advances in the systemic therapy of breast cancer.

A number of advances have been made over the last decade in the systemic therapy of breast cancer, including 1) the introduction of the taxanes, paclitaxel and docetaxel, into the treatment regimes for both early and advanced breast cancer; 2) a greater understanding of the use of high-dose chemotherapy, supplemented with stem cell rescue; 3) the development of newer parenteral and oral chemotherapeutic drugs; 4) the first biologic therapy for breast cancer; 5) the first demonstration of effective drug therapy to prevent the development of breast cancer; and 6) effective agents to palliate and/or prevent complications from bone metastasis. These and other developments are allowing both the extension of life and a better quality of life for those stricken with the breast cancer.