Adjuvant systemic therapy in elderly patients with breast cancer: A Brazilian single center experience

Abstract

e20711 Background: Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer in women in Brazil and in the western world. Despite the high incidence of breast cancer in elderly women, there is no solid information regarding the real impact of the adjuvant systemic therapy in this population, considering the underrepresentation of patients with 65 years of age or older in cancer-treatment trials. Moreover, elderly patients may face some difficulties to receive adequate adjuvant systemic treatment in the routine clinical practice. Methods: Two hundred fifty eight patients with 65 years of age or older at the time of diagnosis of operable breast cancer and treated in our Institution from February 2000 to December 2005 were retrospectively studied. Clinical and pathological data were recorded as well as the type of adjuvant systemic therapy: hormonal therapy (HT), chemotherapy (CT) or both. We evaluated the disease free survival and overall survival and compared the results between the group of patients treated with HT only and the group of patients treated with both HT and CT. Results: Ninety five (37.5%) patients were stage I, 150 (58.1%) were stage II and 6 (2.3%) were stage III, while 5 (1.9%) patients were diagnosed with DCIS. Ductal carcinoma was the most frequent histological type (81%) and grade II were reported in the majority of patients (47.3%). Mostly of patients were hormonal sensible (74.4% were ER+ and 64% were PR+) and HER 2 negative (81.8%). One hundred seventy eight (69%) patients received any kind of adjuvant HT while 91 (35.3%) received any kind of adjuvant CT. There was no statistical difference between patients treated with HT when compared with the group of patients treat with HT and CT, regarding disease free survival and overall survival. However, a higher rate of high risk patients were observed in the group treated with both HT and CT. Conclusions: Despite the age, a considerable part of this elderly breast cancer patient's population has received adjuvant systemic treatment. Benefits from HT and/or CT may be considered in this group of patients. No significant financial relationships to disclose.