Treatment Choices and Survival in Advanced Breast Cancer Patients in Latin America
Author Information
Author(s): Guillermo Valencia, Patricia Rioja, Miguel Chirito, Olenka Peralta, Jorge Sánchez, Connie Rabanal, Raúl Mantilla, Zaida Morante, Hugo Fuentes, Carlos Castaneda, Tatiana Vidaurre, Cristian Pacheco, Silvia Neciosup, Henry L. Gomez
Primary Institution: Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas (INEN), Lima, Peru
Hypothesis
The study aims to evaluate the first-line treatment choices and the factors that influence therapeutic decisions in HR-positive/HER2-negative advanced breast cancer patients.
Conclusion
The study found that one-third of patients received chemotherapy as first-line treatment, influenced by factors like de novo and progressive disease.
Supporting Evidence
- 34% of patients received chemotherapy as first-line treatment.
- 60% of patients met the 'aggressive disease' criteria justifying chemotherapy use.
- De novo and progressive disease were significant factors influencing treatment choice.
- The median overall survival was estimated at 68 months.
Takeaway
This study looked at how doctors decide on treatments for women with advanced breast cancer in Peru, finding that many choose chemotherapy when the disease is aggressive.
Methodology
A retrospective analysis of medical case data was performed on patients treated in a public oncological institution from March 2015 to August 2023.
Potential Biases
Potential biases may arise from the retrospective nature of the study and reliance on medical records.
Limitations
The study is retrospective, has a small sample size, and may not represent the broader population due to its real-world data nature.
Participant Demographics
The study included 143 female patients with a median age of 54 years, predominantly postmenopausal (64%) and with a high performance status (ECOG 0-1: 90%).
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
1.98–9.94
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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