Adjuvant Hormonal Therapy for Early-Stage Breast Cancer

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 639-647 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harold J. Burstein ◽  
Jennifer J. Griggs
2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e12051-e12051
Author(s):  
Tal Sella ◽  
Gabriel Chodick

e12051 Background: Adjuvant hormonal therapy has been consistently proven to improve multiple outcomes in early breast cancer. Nonetheless, data on rates of adherence and persistence with therapy outside West Europe and North America are scarce. We assessed the adherence and persistence with adjuvant hormonal in a retrospective population based cohort of breast cancer survivors in Maccabi Health Services (MHS), Israel. Methods: We identified women who were diagnosed with breast cancer and initiated adjuvant hormonal therapy between January 2000 and November 2008. Subjects were followed retrospectively from first dispensed tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitor (AI) and up to the earliest of the following events: disease recurrence (indicated by surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or other related therapies), leaving MHS, death, or completion of 5 years of treatment. Discontinuation of therapy was defined as a 180-day or longer treatment gap. Adherence with therapy was assessed using proportion of days covered (PDC) during follow-up period. Survival analysis was used to determine the effect of adherence on all-cause mortality. Results: A total of 4178 women with breast cancer were followed for a median 7.8 years. Over 90% of patients received tamoxifen as the initial hormonal agent. Mean PDC was 84% with lower rates associated with younger age, smoking status, comorbidities and year of diagnosis. Residential area did not affect adherence. Differences were not found. Discontinuation of therapy occurred in 23% of study patients. Among persistent patients, 70% were optimally adherent with therapy (PDC>=80%). Association between adherence with therapy and survival is investigated. Conclusions: Adherence to adjuvant hormonal therapy among Israeli breast cancer patients with national health insurance is high in comparison to international reports. Nevertheless, suboptimal adherence was identified among younger (<45y) patients. Because of the efficacy of hormonal therapy in preventing recurrence and death in women with early-stage breast cancer, interventions are necessary to identify and prevent suboptimal adherence among high risk subgroups.


2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 261-267 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franco Lumachi ◽  
Davide A. Santeufemia ◽  
Giovanni M. Fadda ◽  
Renato Tozzoli ◽  
Giordano B. Chiara ◽  
...  

2010 ◽  
Vol 28 (27) ◽  
pp. 4120-4128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dawn L. Hershman ◽  
Lawrence H. Kushi ◽  
Theresa Shao ◽  
Donna Buono ◽  
Aaron Kershenbaum ◽  
...  

Purpose While studies have found that adjuvant hormonal therapy for hormone-sensitive breast cancer (BC) dramatically reduces recurrence and mortality, adherence to medications is suboptimal. We investigated the rates and predictors of early discontinuation and nonadherence to hormonal therapy in patients enrolled in Kaiser Permanente of Northern California health system. Patients and Methods We identified women diagnosed with hormone-sensitive stage I-III BC from 1996 to 2007 and used automated pharmacy records to identify hormonal therapy prescriptions and dates of refill. We used Cox proportional hazards regression models to analyze factors associated with early discontinuation and nonadherence (medication possession ratio < 80%) of hormonal therapy. Results We identified 8,769 patients with BC who met our eligibility criteria and who filled at least one prescription for tamoxifen (43%), aromatase inhibitors (26%), or both (30%) within 1 year of diagnosis. Younger or older age, lumpectomy (v mastectomy), and comorbidities were associated with earlier discontinuation, while Asian race, being married, earlier year at diagnosis, receipt of chemotherapy or radiotherapy, and longer prescription refill interval were associated with completion of 4.5 years of therapy. Of those who continued therapy, similar factors were associated with full adherence. Women age younger than 40 years had the highest risk of discontinuation (hazard ratio, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.23 to 1.85). By 4.5 years, 32% discontinued therapy, and of those who continued, 72% were fully adherent. Conclusion Only 49% of patients with BC took adjuvant hormonal therapy for the full duration at the optimal schedule. Younger women are at high risk of nonadherence. Interventions to improve adherence and continuation of hormonal therapy are needed, especially for younger women.


2013 ◽  
Vol 31 (26_suppl) ◽  
pp. 82-82
Author(s):  
Erin Healy ◽  
Lihong Qi ◽  
Jason Vuong ◽  
Richard J. Bold ◽  
Dominique Rash ◽  
...  

82 Background: Controversy exists regarding the benefit of whole breast radiation (RT) after breast conservation surgery (BCS) in elderly early stage breast cancer patients. We investigated the clinical and pathological characteristics that influence referral patterns and consent for RT. Methods: Between 2006 and 2011, 93 women, aged ≥ 70 were treated with BCS at the University of California Davis Medical Center (UCDMC). Electronic medical records were reviewed to identify pathological and clinical tumor characteristics, including stage, nodal involvement, lymphovascular invasion, margin status and molecular subtype. Patient factors including Karnofsky performance status, Charlson comorbidity index, and distance from UCDMC were recorded. Adjuvant therapy recommendations regarding RT, radiation dose and fractionation, hormonal and chemotherapy, and the ultimate treatment plan were noted. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the referral pattern data. Patient and tumor characteristics were compared between those referred and not referred for RT using chi-square tests for categorical variables and Student’s t tests for continuous variables. Similar comparisons were also conducted for those who consented and declined RT. Results: Of the 93 women eligible for adjuvant whole breast radiation, 79 (85%) were referred to radiation oncology. Sixty five patients had stage I, 16 had stage II, and 4 had stage III breast cancer. Seventy four patients had a luminal A molecular subtype, 11 of whom declined RT. Hormonal therapy was recommended for 78 patients, of which 11 were not referred to RT. The mean age of those referred to RT was significantly less than those not referred, 76 vs. 81 years, P = 0.006. Mean distance to UCDMC was 17.2 miles for those not referred and 34.4 miles for those referred, P = 0.02. There were no significant correlation between stage, molecular subtype, margin status or lymph node involvement and referral to RT. Conclusions: The majority of elderly patients are referred to RT but increased age and comorbidity were associated with non-referral. Patients’ perception of their own comorbidity, previous experience with RT and the decision to pursue hormonal therapy contributed to patients’ decisions to decline RT.


2018 ◽  
Vol 07 (02) ◽  
pp. 142-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Gupta ◽  
M. Singh ◽  
Amish Vora ◽  
G. Babu ◽  
M. Walia ◽  
...  

AbstractOptimization of adjuvant systemic therapy in women with early-stage hormone receptor-positive breast cancer includes the consideration of chemotherapy and duration of hormone therapy. Adjuvant hormonal therapy significantly improves long-term survival of breast cancer patients with hormone receptor-positive disease. Despite the proven clinical efficacy of tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors, many breast cancer survivors either fail to take the correct dosage at the prescribed frequency (adherence) or discontinue therapy (persistence). Expert oncologist discussed on the duration of adjuvant hormonal therapy for improvement of OS and quality of life of breast cancer patients by providing reduction in recurrence and mortality. This expert group used data from published literature, practical experience and opinion of a large group of academic oncologists to arrive at this practical consensus recommendations for the benefit of community oncologists.


2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 872-877 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda C. Harlan ◽  
Limin X. Clegg ◽  
Jeffrey Abrams ◽  
Jennifer L. Stevens ◽  
Rachel Ballard-Barbash

Purpose We describe trends in the use of chemotherapy and hormonal therapy by nodal and estrogen receptor (ER) status in women with early-stage breast cancer. Methods Cases were randomly sampled from the population-based Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program and physician verified treatment was examined. A total of 9,481 women, aged 20 years and older, diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer in 1987 to 1991, 1995, and 2000 were included in the study. Results The use of chemotherapy plus tamoxifen increased between 1995 and 2000 for women with node-negative, ER-positive breast cancer ≥ 1 cm (8% to 21%). Nearly 23% of women with node-negative and ER-positive tumors ≥ 1 cm received no adjuvant therapy. The use of chemotherapy alone increased to nearly 60% in women with node-negative, ER-negative tumors ≥ 1 cm (48% to 59%). However, in 2000, 16% of women with node-positive and ER-negative tumors received no adjuvant therapy and an additional 6% received tamoxifen alone. The influence of age can clearly be seen. Chemotherapy is given much less often in women 70 years or older. Conclusion The results from SEER areas across the United States suggest that physicians quickly responded to publications and guidelines regarding breast cancer therapy. The lack of definitive findings from clinical trials on the use of adjuvant therapy in women 70 years and older may explain the lower use in this group of women.


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