Swedish Study Identifies Predictors of Discontinuing Adjuvant Hormone Therapy for Breast Cancer
In a Swedish study reported in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, He et al identified numerous predictors of discontinuation of adjuvant hormone therapy in patients with breast cancer.
Study Details
The study involved 3,395 women diagnosed with breast cancer between 2005 and 2008 in Stockholm who were followed for 5 years until 2013, starting from their first prescription for tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors.
Predictors of Discontinuation of Therapy
Significant baseline predictors of discontinuation of hormone therapy were a family history of ovarian cancer (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.19–2.02); younger age (< 40 vs 40–64 years, HR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.08–1.78) and older age (≥ 65 vs 40–64 years, HR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.03–1.28); higher Charlson comorbidity index (≥ 2 vs 0, HR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.03–1.76); and use of analgesics (HR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.16–1.52), hypnotics/sedatives (HR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.07–1.43), gastrointestinal drugs (HR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.08–1.43), and hormone replacement therapy (HR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.08–1.49).
Use of analgesics (HR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.08–1.37), hypnotics/sedatives (HR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.07–1.37), antidepressants (HR = 1.22, 95% CI = 1.06–1.40), or gastrointestinal drugs (HR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.13–1.43) and switching between tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors (HR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.23–1.83) during the first year of hormonal treatment were associated with an increased risk of discontinuation of therapy during the next 4 years.
The investigators concluded: “Predictors identified in our study can be used in developing targeted intervention to prevent adjuvant hormone therapy discontinuation and subsequently to improve breast cancer outcomes.”
Wei He, PhD, of the Karolinska Institutet, is the corresponding author of the Journal of Clinical Oncology article.
The study was supported by the Swedish Research Council, Swedish Cancer Society, FORTE, and Cancer Risk Prediction Center.
The content in this post has not been reviewed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Inc. (ASCO®) and does not necessarily reflect the ideas and opinions of ASCO®.
