[Design, goals and preliminary results of the first national breast cancer study--the Federal Ministry of Research and Technology study of "small breast cancer"].

In the multicentre trial sponsored by the Federal Ministry for Research and Technology (= BMFT), mastectomy is compared with breast preservation in patients with pT1 NO MO breast cancer. On the basis of that protocol breast preservation can also be performed by smaller institutions thus implementing the health policy programme of effecting new treatment modalities on a broad basis. We can already recognise a substantial improvement in treatment standards applied by the different disciplines in the hospitals involved in the study. Special emphasis is placed on an optimal patient information about the possible treatment modalities involving the patients in the treatment decision. The evaluation of various prognostic factors will result in additional information on the biology of breast cancer. As a consequence, the definition of the group of patients suitable for breast preservation therapy can be clarified further.