
doi: 10.2217/cer.14.39
pmid: 25350800
Aim: To evaluate treatment patterns among elderly, newly diagnosed stage IV breast cancer patients receiving HER-2-targeted therapy. Methods: Women aged 65+ with an incident diagnosis of stage IV breast cancer (index) and no history of other cancer were identified from 2006 to 2010 linked Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results and Medicare data. Continuous enrollment from 1 year preindex (baseline) through disenrollment, death or the end of the data (follow-up) was required. Patients were required to receive HER-2-targeted therapy (trastuzumab or lapatinib) during follow-up. Treatment therapies during follow-up were evaluated, as was the distribution of treatment combinations. Initial treatment regimens were evaluated based on the treatment(s) received after index. A 42-day gap in therapy or the addition of a biologic therapy was used as a marker for a subsequent regimen. Results: A total of 173 patients were identified (mean [standard deviation] age: 73.9 [6.7] years). The majority received trastuzumab (>93%) during follow-up (mean [standard deviation] duration: 24.3 [11.3] months), with 9.8% receiving lapatinib. Most received chemotherapy (83.2%), approximately half received surgery (55.5%), over 40% received hormonal therapy and a third received radiation (35.3%). Trastuzumab + chemotherapy was the most common initial treatment regimen (43.9%); less common therapies include trastuzumab alone (17.3%), and trastuzumab + chemotherapy + hormonal (13.3%). Among patients receiving chemotherapy, the majority received a taxane-based chemotherapy. The average treatment duration for any treatment regimen was just less than a year (44.9–52.5 weeks). Conclusion: Among this population, the majority received taxane-based combination chemotherapy, consistent with National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines.
Time Factors, Receptor, ErbB-2, Antineoplastic Agents, Breast Neoplasms, Lapatinib, Trastuzumab, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized, Medicare, Treatment Outcome, Chemotherapy, Adjuvant, Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols, Quinazolines, Humans, Female, Radiotherapy, Adjuvant, Breast, Mastectomy, Aged, Follow-Up Studies, Retrospective Studies
Time Factors, Receptor, ErbB-2, Antineoplastic Agents, Breast Neoplasms, Lapatinib, Trastuzumab, Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized, Medicare, Treatment Outcome, Chemotherapy, Adjuvant, Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols, Quinazolines, Humans, Female, Radiotherapy, Adjuvant, Breast, Mastectomy, Aged, Follow-Up Studies, Retrospective Studies
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 2 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
