Abstract: As a safe and effective substitute and supplement of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT), neoadjuvant hormonal therapy (NHT) has been increasingly used in patients with locally advanced breast cancer whose hormone receptors are positive. However, there are many controversies of NHT in the standard treatment, indications and assessment of the treatment effects. To review the current situation and research progress of NHT, this article discusses the following aspects: comparison of NCT and NHT, comparison of different NHT treatments, duration of NHT, combination of NHT and other neoadjuvant treatments, predictors of response and prognosis, and adjuvant radiation indications after NHT.

Key words: Breast cancer, Neoadjuvant hormonal therapy, Progress