Debra Patt, MD, MPH, MBA

Debra Patt, MD, MPH, MBA, Executive Vice President of Policy and Strategy for Texas Oncology and Clinical Professor at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, commented that the 10-year results of NSABP B-42 show “a substantial improvement” in disease-free survival, with an absolute reduction in risk of 4%. “I think that’s an important number that we need to bring to our patients,” she said. “In addition, there’s an improvement in breast cancer–free interval and distant recurrence, though there’s not yet a statistically significant overall survival improvement in this group.”

She added, “The other thing that’s important, as I frequently bring up with patients in discussing adjuvant endocrine therapy and extending it, are bone effects and other side effects they ask about. It’s important to point out that in B-42, there are no signals with regard to fractures and arterial thrombotic events with the addition of 5 more years of aromatase inhibition.” ■

DISCLOSURE: Dr. Patt has served in a leadership role for McKesson and Texas Oncology; has an immediate family member who has served in a leadership role for Mednax; has an immediate family member who owns stock or other ownership interests in Mednax; has received institutional research funding from Eisai, Lilly, Merck, and Seattle Genetics; and has been reimbursed for travel, accommodations, or other expenses by McKesson.