scholarly journals A Smartphone-Based App to Improve Adjuvant Treatment Adherence to Multidisciplinary Decisions in Patients With Early-Stage Breast Cancer: Observational Study

10.2196/27576 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (9) ◽  
pp. e27576
Author(s):  
Jing Yu ◽  
Jiayi Wu ◽  
Ou Huang ◽  
Xiaosong Chen ◽  
Kunwei Shen

Background Multidisciplinary treatment (MDT) and adjuvant therapy are associated with improved survival rates in breast cancer. However, nonadherence to MDT decisions is common in patients. We developed a smartphone-based app that can facilitate the full-course management of patients after surgery. Objective This study aims to investigate the influence factors of treatment nonadherence and to determine whether this smartphone-based app can improve the compliance rate with MDTs. Methods Patients who had received a diagnosis of invasive breast cancer and had undergone MDT between March 2013 and May 2019 were included. Patients were classified into 3 groups: Pre-App cohort (November 2017, before the launch of the app); App nonused, cohort (after November 2017 but not using the app); and App used cohort (after November 2017 and using the app). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the factors related to MDT adherence. Compliance with specific adjuvant treatments, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, and targeted therapy, was also evaluated. Results A total of 4475 patients were included, with Pre-App, App nonused, and App used cohorts comprising 2966 (66.28%), 861 (19.24%), and 648 (14.48%) patients, respectively. Overall, 15.53% (695/4475) patients did not receive MDT recommendations; the noncompliance rate ranged from 27.4% (75/273) in 2013 to 8.8% (44/500) in 2019. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that app use was independently associated with adherence to adjuvant treatment. Compared with the patients in the Pre-App cohort, patients in the App used cohort were less likely to deviate from MDT recommendations (odds ratio [OR] 0.61, 95% CI 0.43-0.87; P=.007); no significant difference was found in the App nonused cohort (P=.77). Moreover, app use decreased the noncompliance rate for adjuvant chemotherapy (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.27-0.65; P<.001) and radiotherapy (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.25-0.96; P=.04), but not for anti-HER2 therapy (P=.76) or endocrine therapy (P=.39). Conclusions This smartphone-based app can increase MDT adherence in patients undergoing adjuvant therapy; this was more obvious for adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Yu ◽  
Jiayi Wu ◽  
Ou Huang ◽  
Xiaosong Chen ◽  
Kunwei Shen

BACKGROUND Multidisciplinary treatment (MDT) and adjuvant therapy are associated with improved survival rates in breast cancer. However, nonadherence to MDT decisions is common in patients. We developed a smartphone-based app that can facilitate the full-course management of patients after surgery. OBJECTIVE This study aims to investigate the influence factors of treatment nonadherence and to determine whether this smartphone-based app can improve the compliance rate with MDTs. METHODS Patients who had received a diagnosis of invasive breast cancer and had undergone MDT between March 2013 and May 2019 were included. Patients were classified into 3 groups: Pre-App cohort (November 2017, before the launch of the app); App nonused, cohort (after November 2017 but not using the app); and App used cohort (after November 2017 and using the app). Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the factors related to MDT adherence. Compliance with specific adjuvant treatments, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, endocrine therapy, and targeted therapy, was also evaluated. RESULTS A total of 4475 patients were included, with Pre-App, App nonused, and App used cohorts comprising 2966 (66.28%), 861 (19.24%), and 648 (14.48%) patients, respectively. Overall, 15.53% (695/4475) patients did not receive MDT recommendations; the noncompliance rate ranged from 27.4% (75/273) in 2013 to 8.8% (44/500) in 2019. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that app use was independently associated with adherence to adjuvant treatment. Compared with the patients in the Pre-App cohort, patients in the App used cohort were less likely to deviate from MDT recommendations (odds ratio [OR] 0.61, 95% CI 0.43-0.87; <i>P</i>=.007); no significant difference was found in the App nonused cohort (<i>P</i>=.77). Moreover, app use decreased the noncompliance rate for adjuvant chemotherapy (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.27-0.65; <i>P</i><.001) and radiotherapy (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.25-0.96; <i>P</i>=.04), but not for anti-HER2 therapy (<i>P</i>=.76) or endocrine therapy (<i>P</i>=.39). CONCLUSIONS This smartphone-based app can increase MDT adherence in patients undergoing adjuvant therapy; this was more obvious for adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy.


2003 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 395-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Winter-Roach ◽  
L. Hooper ◽  
H. Kitchener

A systematic review and meta analysis has been undertaken in order to evaluate the effectiveness of adjuvant therapy following surgery for early ovarian cancer. Trials reported since 1990 have been of a higher quality enabling a meta analysis of adjuvant chemotherapy vs adjuvant radiotherapy and a meta analysis of adjuvant chemotherapy vs observation. There was no significant difference between radiotherapy and chemotherapy, though these comprised studies which demonstrated considerable heterogeneity. Chemotherapy did confer significant benefit over observation in terms of both overall and disease free survival. Except for women in whom adequate surgical staging has revealed well differentiated disease confined to one or both ovaries with intact capsule, platinum chemotherapy should be offered to reduce risk of recurrence.


Mastology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Suppl 1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bianca Pamela Soares ◽  
Grasiela Benini dos Santos Cardoso ◽  
Marcia Fernanda Roque da Silva ◽  
Roberto Odebrecht Rocha

Introduction: Breast cancer remains the second most common type of cancer in the world and the first among women, with breast cancer incidence rates doubling in the last thirty years. In 2013, the St Gallen Consensus recommended the use of a study of the multigene profile and phenotyping to indicate adjuvance by use of the MammaPrint and Oncotype4 applications; however, as they are not available in the Unified Health System (Sistema Único de Saúde–SUS), clinical predictive criteria and laboratory tests are used for indication of adjuvant therapy. Objective: Evaluation of clinical and laboratory criteria in the selection of patients with breast cancer after surgery for adjuvant chemotherapy and quantification of the factors used in the selected patients and their results. Method: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional observational study with patients over 18 years of age, without gender and race restriction, diagnosed with breast cancer at a public hospital in São Paulo, from 09/10/18 to 10/12/18, who underwent surgical treatment and discussed adjuvant therapy. Patients with metastatic neoplasia and/or undergoing neoadjuvant treatment were excluded. Data collected were: TNM staging, histological type and hormone receptors, age and comorbidities in all medical records collected. Results: 1,390 consultations were carried out, with 42 patients selected, according to the study criteria. Since 40% of the patients were outside the recommended range for breast cancer screening, regarding TNM, late diagnoses were evidenced, with 69% presenting ≥T2 and 36% with lymph node involvement. Of the 42 patients, 98% received adjuvant therapy. Conclusion: It was evidenced by Paik et al., that 92.1% of the 668 patients enrolled in the NSABP B-14 study were considered of intermediate or high risk according to the NCCN and St. Gallen criteria, and by Oncotype DX, 50.6% of the patients were classified as at low risk of recurrence. However, as these are not available in SUS, the present study shows the need to use clinical and laboratory factors to indicate adjuvant therapy, and with these, of the 42 patients, 98% had indication, showing that they are not such effective means in the use of genetic tests, and patients treated by SUS initiate their treatments late, which impacts disease-free survival, since less than 10% of patients received care with early stage neoplasia.


2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 10765-10765
Author(s):  
C. J. Tai ◽  
C. K. Pan ◽  
C. H. Wu ◽  
C. S. Chen

10765 Background: In this study, we are evaluating the utilizing trastuzumab as an adjuvant combination with chemotherapy in an half year interval for breast cancer (1–3). Methods: Patients after October 2000 with HER2-positive (3+ by immunohistochemistry; if 2+, should fit over expression by FISH) stage II/III breast cancer who received adjuvant trastuzumab (4mg/kg ×1, then 2mg/kg/wk ×22, equals 6 bottles of trastuzumab) in combination with chemotherapy. The chemotherapy utilized for stage II breast cancer patients received CEF only and for those patients with LN(+) but ER/PR(−/−) also added paclitaxel for another 4 cycles besides CEF with interval of 3 weeks, and for those with stage III breast cancer patient with ER or PR(+), the docetaxel was given with CEF for 6 cycles). Clinical response rates were followed by using imaging studies with chest films, CT scanning, bone scan and sonography. Results: Overall, there were 37 patients enrolled in this study. The median age was 43 years old (22–74 y/o). Two patients (including the youngest one) were found to have bilateral breast cancer on diagnosis but both were still alive without disease so far. There were 3 patients developed disease progression after adjuvant chemotherapy with trastuzumab and 2 of them died thereafter and all these 3 patients were stage III disease. The oldest patient was one of the exception without receiving adjuvant chemotherapy and received monotherapy of trastuzumab only and so far, she was still alive without disease. The side effect including chills (24.32%), dizziness (8.10%), cough (2.10%), cold sweating (2.10%). Conclusions: For her2/neu overexpression patients, trastuzumabwith chemotherapy may have positive role in adjuvant therapy. In this study, our main goal is to achieve patient’s treatment outcome in disease free status. Nonetheless, the cost was high if we applied trastuzumab as adjuvant therapy with 1- or 2-year interval (4–6). Even if this required further time to demonstrate this study’s final outcome, I suppose that utilization of trastuzumab as adjuvant treatment plus chemotherapy in a half interval will be a good alternative treatment option. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e12532-e12532
Author(s):  
Shana Berwick ◽  
Brittney Shulman Zimmerman ◽  
Sara Malin Hovstadius ◽  
Julia Blanter ◽  
Erin Moshier ◽  
...  

e12532 Background: Aromatase inhibitors (AIs) compose the backbone of adjuvant endocrine therapy for early-stage HR+ breast cancer. Prior studies have demonstrated equivalence in efficacy between aromatase inhibitors in current clinical use. Thus choice of aromatase inhibitors is initially influenced by provider patterns and tailored based on adverse side effects. This study retrospectively evaluates the prevalence of intolerance to AIs warranting a change in therapy. Methods: We identified 181 post-menopausal patients with early-stage, HR+ breast cancer within a database of women who underwent oncotype testing at a large, urban medical center, with 167 (92%) receiving an AI. Patients were excluded if they had received chemotherapy. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate median duration of endocrine therapy (ET). The Fisher’s exact test was used to compare proportions of patients requiring a switch in adjuvant AI and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used to compare age distributions. Results: Of the patients identified, 153 (90%) had stage IA disease with a median oncotype RS of 19. 167 (92%) patients received an AI as adjuvant therapy. Median duration of endocrine therapy (ET) was 83.5 months, with over 90% of patients on ET more than 5 years. Among the 152 patients with available data on ET interruptions, 52 (34%) patients had a change or interruption in their ET of these 40 (77%) were attributed to a medication side effect. The AI prescribed most frequently as initial therapy was anastrozole 138/165 (84%). 33 (24%) of patients who received anastrozole required a drug switch within the class, (no sig difference based on initial adjuvant therapy; p=0.4281). 12 (7%) patients required a switch from an AI to tamoxifen at some point during therapy. Changes in AI adjuvant therapy were most commonly attributed to joint pains 24 (46%), followed by hot flashes 2 (4%) and weight gain, 2 (4%). There was no statistically significant difference in median age between patients who interrupted ET due to medication side effect or other reason; p=0.2906. Conclusions: This study enforces previous findings that a significant proportion of women require a change in their adjuvant ET, most commonly due to adverse medication effects such as joint pain. The majority of the women in this database were initiated on anastrozole as initial adjuvant ET of whom 24% required a drug switch.[Table: see text]


2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frida Barak ◽  
Lev A. Ostrowsky ◽  
Shulamith Kreitler

AbstractObjective:Findings show that there is a certain degree of refusal on the part of breast cancer patients to undergo adjuvant therapy. Accordingly, the major goals of the study were, first, to learn more about the beliefs of breast cancer patients in regard to adjuvant therapy; second, to find out about the sources of the patients’ beliefs; and third, to learn about the attitudes of oncologists concerning the same aspects of adjuvant therapy to which the patients’ beliefs referred.Method:The participants were 92 breast cancer patients (mean age 61.2) and 57 doctors of both genders specialized in oncology or affiliated domains. Both groups were administered questionnaires referring to goals of adjuvant treatment, the chances of attaining these goals, side effects, and difficulty of the treatment. Doctors were specifically asked about the views they thought proper to communicate to patients in regard to the mentioned issues. Patients were also asked about whether they had doubts about the treatment and sources of information.Results:The findings showed disparities between the views of patients and doctors in regard to goals, chances of attainment, side effects, and difficulty of treatment. Patients endorsed more goals than doctors and tended to assign to them lower chances of attainment. Doctors were divided in their views about whether to communicate the side effects and difficulties.Significance of results:The results reveal the importance of outlining goals for patients undergoing adjuvant treatment and the disagreements between doctors about what should be communicated to patients, and highlight the complexity of providing to patients information that is both scientifically correct and emotionally helpful.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. e12065-e12065
Author(s):  
Christian A. Thomas

e12065 Background: Adjuvant hormone therapy is a crucial part of the treatment for patients with early stage breast cancer and an important quality measure for programs such as QOPI and the oncology care model (OCM). However, it is not known which factors influence some patients with early stage breast cancer to decline adjuvant hormone therapy. We hypothesized that specific self-reported symptoms might impact a patient’s decision to accept or decline adjuvant hormone therapy. Methods: Patients with stage 0 or I breast cancer were identified by chart review from 2011-2016 and de-identified. On the day patients received a recommendation for adjuvant treatment the following patient reported outcome measures (PROs) were analyzed: difficulty sleeping (DS), fatigue (F), mood (M such as anxiety and depression), and pain (P) on a 0-4 symptom scale based on CTCAE v. 4. PROs were then linked with a patient’s decision to accept or decline adjuvant therapy. Results: A total of 287 patients with stage 0 (n = 80) or stage I (n = 207) breast cancer were identified. 38 stage O and 103 stage I patients had evaluable PROs on the same day a recommendation for adjuvant hormone therapy was made. Overall 18/38 (47.4%) of stage 0 patients and 90 of 103 (87.4%) of stage I patients accepted adjuvant treatment. Stage 0 patients declining adjuvant therapy reported any grade of PROs: DS (40%, n = 8), F (35%, n = 7), M (35%, n = 7), P (20%, n = 4). Stage 0 patients accepting treatment reported: DS (22%, n = 4), F (44%, n = 8), M (6%, n = 1), P (20%, n = 4). Stage I patients who declined treatment reported: DS (54%, n = 7), F (46%, n = 6), M (38%, n = 5), P (62%, n = 8). Stage I patients accepting treatment reported: DS (41%, n = 37), F (49%, n = 44), M (31%, n = 28), P (36%, n = 32). Conclusions: Early stage breast cancer patients declining adjuvant hormone therapy are more likely to self report symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, mood disturbances (anxiety, depression), and pain than those accepting treatment.


2002 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 466-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan E. Minton ◽  
Pamela N. Munster

Background The majority of women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer have an excellent long-term prognosis, but many will undergo temporary or permanent chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea. Methods While breast cancer is more common in older women, about 1 in 200 women under the age of 40 is at risk to develop breast cancer. Many of these women benefit from chemotherapy but are afraid to risk the opportunity to bear children. The authors review the current studies on the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy on amenorrhea and fertility in women with breast cancer. Results The likelihood of amenorrhea is based on the specific adjuvant chemotherapy regimen administered and the age of the patient. Future childbirth is a viable option for women treated for breast cancer at an early stage. While the use of tamoxifen as a hormonal therapy in premenopausal breast cancer is now the standard of care, no conclusive data confirm the benefit of GnRH agonists in adjuvant therapy after treatment with chemotherapy followed by tamoxifen. Conclusions As more women over the age of 35 consider pregnancy, fertility issues are becoming important areas of investigation for the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer. Whether chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea has a prognostic effect remains unclear, and further studies are warranted.


2006 ◽  
Vol 24 (18_suppl) ◽  
pp. 20012-20012 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Xenidis ◽  
D. Mavroudis ◽  
S. Apostolaki ◽  
M. Perraki ◽  
A. Stathopoulou ◽  
...  

20012 Background: To evaluate the effect of adjuvant treatment on the peripheral blood CK-19 mRNA circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in patients with early-stage breast cancer. Methods: CTCs were detected by real-time RT-PCR assay, in 119 patients with estrogen or/and progesterone receptors-positive tumors at the following time points: before the initiation and after the completion of adjuvant chemotherapy and every 3 or 6 months during the period of adjuvant tamoxifen administration. Results: Adjuvant chemotherapy failed to “eliminate” the CTCs in 17 (47%) out of 36 patients with detectable cells in pre-chemotherapy samples; in addition, adjuvant tamoxifen failed to “eliminate” the CTCs in 8 (36.4%) of 22 patients displaying detectable cells in post-chemotherapy samples. The incidence of clinical relapse was significantly (p = 0.017) higher for patients with post-chemotherapy detectable CTCs as well as for patients with persistently detectable CTCs throughout the follow-up period compared with those who did not (65.3% vs 7.3%, respectively; p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, post-chemotherapy detection of CTCs and their persistence throughout the follow-up period were significantly associated (p = 0.001 and 0.003, respectively) with early relapse. Conclusions: The detection of CK-19 mRNA+ CTCs after adjuvant chemotherapy and during tamoxifen administration is an independent prognostic factor associated with unfavorable outcome. No significant financial relationships to disclose.


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