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Adjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer patients — daily clinical practice in selected cancer centres in Poland
Affiliations- Tadeusz Koszarowski Regional Oncology Center, Opole; University of Opole, Poland
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Abstract
Background. Adjuvant chemotherapy for high-risk early-stage breast cancer patients significantly improves long-term treatment results. The decision to administer chemotherapy is made based primarily on prognostic factors (defined by the pathological characteristics of the primary tumour and regional lymph nodes) and also on patient-related factors, such as age, menopausal status and comorbidities. The guidelines on adjuvant chemotherapy have been established and reviewed for many years by several medical societies (NCCN, ESMO, PTOK, PUO) and experts of St. Gallen International Breast Cancer Conference. The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of adjuvant chemotherapy administration that had been routinely prescribed in four cancer centres in various regions of Poland (Opole, Krakow, Białystok, Poznań).
Methods. 218 early-stage breast cancer patients treated in selected cancer centres during 3 consecutive months of 2014 have been included in the analysis. The medical charts of the patients have been carefully evaluated. Data on the adjuvant chemotherapy administration have been reviewed retrospectively.
Results. The percentage of IHC tests in the analysed group was satisfactory. As much as 8 different chemotherapy regimens have been recorded. 98% of patients received anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Almost half of the patients (48.6%; 106/218) received taxanes. However, up to 27% (30/111) of patients with involved lymph nodes (pN+) did not received taxanes in the adjuvant setting. Trastuzumab was most frequently administered sequentially, which may be considered suboptimal.
Abstract
Background. Adjuvant chemotherapy for high-risk early-stage breast cancer patients significantly improves long-term treatment results. The decision to administer chemotherapy is made based primarily on prognostic factors (defined by the pathological characteristics of the primary tumour and regional lymph nodes) and also on patient-related factors, such as age, menopausal status and comorbidities. The guidelines on adjuvant chemotherapy have been established and reviewed for many years by several medical societies (NCCN, ESMO, PTOK, PUO) and experts of St. Gallen International Breast Cancer Conference. The aim of this study was to assess the pattern of adjuvant chemotherapy administration that had been routinely prescribed in four cancer centres in various regions of Poland (Opole, Krakow, Białystok, Poznań).
Methods. 218 early-stage breast cancer patients treated in selected cancer centres during 3 consecutive months of 2014 have been included in the analysis. The medical charts of the patients have been carefully evaluated. Data on the adjuvant chemotherapy administration have been reviewed retrospectively.
Results. The percentage of IHC tests in the analysed group was satisfactory. As much as 8 different chemotherapy regimens have been recorded. 98% of patients received anthracycline-based chemotherapy. Almost half of the patients (48.6%; 106/218) received taxanes. However, up to 27% (30/111) of patients with involved lymph nodes (pN+) did not received taxanes in the adjuvant setting. Trastuzumab was most frequently administered sequentially, which may be considered suboptimal.
Keywords
adjuvant chemotherapy, early-stage breast cancer, anthracyclines, taxanes, trastuzumab
About this articleTitle
Adjuvant chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer patients — daily clinical practice in selected cancer centres in Poland
Journal
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology
Issue
Article type
Research paper (original)
Pages
96-102
Published online
2017-10-16
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877
Article views/downloads
882
DOI
Bibliographic record
Nowotwory. Journal of Oncology 2017;67(2):96-102.
Keywords
adjuvant chemotherapy
early-stage breast cancer
anthracyclines
taxanes
trastuzumab
Authors
Barbara Radecka
Bogumiła Czartoryska-Arłukowicz
Joanna Streb
Maria Litwiniuk