Long-term outcomes of breast cancer treatment in older women
Author Information
Author(s): Syed B M, Al-Khyatt W, Johnston S J, Wong D W M, Winterbottom L, Kennedy H, Green A R, Morgan D A L, Ellis I O, Cheung K L
Primary Institution: University of Nottingham
Hypothesis
What are the long-term clinical outcomes of older women with oestrogen receptor-positive operable primary breast cancer treated with surgery or primary endocrine therapy?
Conclusion
Older women with ER+ breast cancer have excellent long-term outcomes regardless of the initial treatment, with many dying from non-breast cancer causes.
Supporting Evidence
- 97.9% of patients on primary endocrine therapy achieved clinical benefit at 6 months.
- 5-year breast cancer-specific survival was 90% and overall survival was 62%.
- 74.2% of patients died from causes other than breast cancer.
Takeaway
This study looked at older women with breast cancer and found that they can do really well with treatment, whether they have surgery or take medicine instead.
Methodology
The study analyzed data from 1065 older women with ER-positive breast cancer treated between 1973 and 2009, comparing outcomes between those who had surgery and those who received primary endocrine therapy.
Potential Biases
There may be selection bias in treatment choice due to patient age and co-morbidities.
Limitations
The study is retrospective and conducted at a single center, which may limit the generalizability of the findings.
Participant Demographics
All participants were women aged 70 years and older, with a median age of 78 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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