Breast cancer research and treatment
-
Breast Cancer Res. Treat. · Jun 2004
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study Clinical TrialAnastrozole ('Arimidex') versus tamoxifen as first-line therapy in postmenopausal women with advanced breast cancer: results of the double-blind cross-over SAKK trial 21/95--a sub-study of the TARGET (Tamoxifen or 'Arimidex' Randomized Group Efficacy and Tolerability) trial.
It is desirable to identify the most effective sequence of endocrine therapies for the treatment of postmenopausal women with advanced, hormone-responsive breast cancer. In a retrospective analysis of two large, randomized, comparative Phase III trials in this patient population, the Tamoxifen or 'Arimidex' Randomized Group Efficacy and Tolerability (TARGET) trial and the North American trial, we ascertained that tumors responding to anastrozole as first-line therapy may subsequently respond to tamoxifen as second-line therapy. In a double-blind cross-over trial, the SAKK 21/95 sub-trial (including patients from the Swiss centres in the TARGET trial), we further investigated the clinical impact of anastrozole followed by tamoxifen compared with that of tamoxifen followed by anastrozole. ⋯ Tamoxifen is an effective second-line therapy after anastrozole. Our data, together with the better tolerability profile of anastrozole compared with tamoxifen, support the use of anastrozole as first-line therapy for advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women with hormone receptor-positive tumors. Treatment with tamoxifen may still be useful upon subsequent progression.
-
Breast Cancer Res. Treat. · Jun 2004
Determinants of participation in treatment decision-making by older breast cancer patients.
To identify the impact of patient age and patient-physician communication on older breast cancer patients' participation in treatment decision-making. ⋯ In breast cancer patients aged 55 years and older, surgeons' solicitation of patients' treatment preferences was a powerful independent predictor of patient participation in treatment decision-making, as was patient's self-efficacy in interacting with physicians. Increasing both physicians' and patients' partnership-building skills might enhance the quality of treatment decision-making and treatment outcomes in this burgeoning patient population.
-
Breast Cancer Res. Treat. · Jan 2004
Is male breast cancer similar or different than female breast cancer?
To determine if male breast carcinogenesis was similar to its more common female counterpart, we compared incidence patterns among men and women with breast cancer. ⋯ Gender-specific incidence trends differed, most likely reflective of female-related changes in surveillance and/or reproductive risk factors. On the other hand, similar prognostic factor profiles reflective of tumor biology, age-specific incidence rate patterns, and age-frequency distributions suggested that male breast cancer was more like postmenopausal than premenopausal female breast cancer.