ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of breast conservation therapy (BCT) and mastectomy (Mast) on the prognosis of early luminal breast cancer (ELBC).MethodsBy retrieving the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang data, and VIP databases, the meta-analysis was performed on the documents that met the inclusion criteria. The Review Manager 5.3 and Stata 12.0 were used for statistical analysis.ResultsA total of 25 articles were included, involving 13 032 patients with ELBC, of which 8 419 underwent the BCT and 4 613 underwent the Mast. The results of meta-analysis showed that there was no significant difference in the postoperative local regional relapse (LRR) between the BCT and the Mast in the treatment of all patients with ELBC [OR=0.84, 95% CI (0.43, 1.64), P=0.61]. For treating with BCT, the local relapse (LR), distant metastasis rate (DMR), disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) in the patients with luminal A ELBC were better than those in the patients with luminal B ELBC (P<0.05); Using the same method, the DMR and DFS in the patients with luminal A/B ELBC were better than those in the patients with luminal-HER2 ELBC (P<0.05). For treating with Mast, the LRR, LR, DMR, and OS in the patients with luminal A ELBC were better than those in the patients with luminal B ELBC (P<0.05); Using the same method, the LRR in the patients with luminal A/B ELBC was better than that in the patients with luminal-HER2 ELBC (P<0.05).ConclusionsFor patients with ELBC, similar LRR can be obtained by BCT and Mast treatment. Regardless of the surgical strategy, patients with luminal A ELBC are more likely to obtain relatively ideal clinical prognosis. Luminal-HER2 ELBC has the worst prognosis after BCT treatment.