2 research outputs found
Supplementary Material for: Endocrine Treatment with 2 Years of Tamoxifen versus 2 Years of Exemestane in Postmenopausal Patients with High-Risk Early Breast Cancer and Persisting Circulating Tumor Cells - First Results of the SUCCESS C Endocrine Treatment Sub-Study
<p><b><i>Background:</i></b> Optimal choice and sequence of endocrine
treatment following adjuvant chemotherapy in postmenopausal early breast
cancer patients are still under discussion and treatment stratification
factors are missing. <b><i>Patients and Methods:</i></b> Postmenopausal
women with HER2-negative, hormone receptor-positive tumors and
persisting circulating tumor cells (CTCs; assessed using the
FDA-approved CellSearch® System, Janssen Diagnostics, LLC) after
chemotherapy were randomized to 2 years of tamoxifen followed by 3 years
of exemestane (tamoxifen-exemestane group, n = 54) or 5 years of
exemestane (exemestane-only group, n = 54). CTCs were again assessed
after the first 2 years of endocrine treatment. In addition, safety data
were compared between the 2 groups. <b><i>Results:</i></b> The 2 groups
were well-balanced with regard to baseline characteristics. The CTC
clearance rate after 2 years was 89% in the exemestane-only group and
97% in the tamoxifen-exemestane group (exact Fisher test, p = 0.36). The
safety profile showed good tolerability with few grade 3 or 4 adverse
events in both groups. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The similar CTC
clearance rate after 2 years of endocrine therapy with exemestane or
tamoxifen, and the safety profiles obtained may indicate comparable
efficacy and tolerability of both endocrine treatment regimens. However,
these results have to be confirmed by final survival and safety
analysis.</p
Supplementary Material for: Factors Influencing Decision-Making for or against Adjuvant and Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Postmenopausal Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer Patients in the EvAluate-TM Study
<i>Background:</i> Decision-making for or against neoadjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy in postmenopausal patients with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer does not follow any clear guidelines, and some patients may unnecessarily undergo chemotherapy and be exposed to the associated toxicity. The aim of this study was to identify the patient population for whom this issue may bear relevance. <i>Methods:</i>Patients being treated with letrozole in the prospective multicenter noninterventional EvAluate-TM study were recruited. The percentage of patients receiving chemotherapy and factors associated with chemotherapy administration were identified. <i>Results:</i> In all, 3,924 (37.4%) patients received chemotherapy before treatment with letrozole. Of these, 293 (20%) underwent neoadjuvant therapy. Younger age was predictive for both adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapy. Overall, decisions in favor of administering chemotherapy are more likely to be made in patients with a higher body mass index (BMI), and neoadjuvant chemotherapy is administered at a higher rate in women with a lower BMI. Concomitant medication influenced the overall decision-making regarding chemotherapy, irrespective of whether it was given on a neoadjuvant or adjuvant basis. <i>Conclusion:</i> There is an ongoing debate as to whether all of the many patients who receive chemotherapy actually benefit from it. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is frequently administered in this patient population, and this should encourage further research to resolve current clinical and research issues