Is adjuvant chemotherapy of benefit for postmenopausal women who receive endocrine treatment for highly endocrine-responsive, node-positive breast cancer? International Breast Cancer Study Group Trials VII and 12-93

DOI
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
18953651
Abstract
To compare the efficacy of chemoendocrine treatment with that of endocrine treatment (ET) alone for postmenopausal women with highly endocrine responsive breast cancer. In the International Breast Cancer Study Group (IBCSG) Trials VII and 12-93, postmenopausal women with node-positive, estrogen receptor (ER)-positive or ER-negative, operable breast cancer were randomized to receive either chemotherapy or endocrine therapy or combined chemoendocrine treatment. Results were analyzed overall in the cohort of 893 patients with endocrine-responsive disease, and according to prospectively defined categories of ER, age and nodal status. STEPP analyses assessed chemotherapy effect. The median follow-up was 13 years. Adding chemotherapy reduced the relative risk of a disease-free survival event by 19% (P = 0.02) compared with ET alone. STEPP analyses showed little effect of chemotherapy for tumors with high levels of ER expression (P = 0.07), or for the cohort with one positive node (P = 0.03). Chemotherapy significantly improves disease-free survival for postmenopausal women with endocrine-responsive breast cancer, but the magnitude of the effect is substantially attenuated if ER levels are high.
Date Issued
2009
Publication Type
Article
Language(s)
en
Author(s)
Pagani, Olivia
Gelber, Shari
Simoncini, Edda
Castiglione-Gertsch, Monica
Price, Karen
Gelber, Richard
Holmberg, Stig
Crivellari, Diana
Collins, John
Lindtner, Jurij
Thürlimann, Beat
Murray, Elizabeth
Forbes, John
Coates, Alan
Goldhirsch, Aron
Additional Credits
Journal
Breast cancer research and treatment
Publisher
Springer
ISSN
0167-6806
ISBN
18953651
Access(Rights)
Unknown
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