Trastuzumab without chemotherapy in the adjuvant treatment of breast cancer: subgroup results from a large observational study.

Background: The topic of trastuzumab therapy without chemotherapy in early breast cancer (EBC) has been repeatedly discussed at international consensus meetings, but is compromised by the lack of solid evidence from clinical studies.

Methods: An observational study database of patients with EBC receiving trastuzumab-containing (neo)adjuvant therapy was screened to identify those patients who did not receive cytostatic agents.

Results: Of 3935 patients, 232 (6%) were identified who received no chemotherapy, being characterized by older age, worse performance status, and/or less aggressive histology.

Trastuzumab in Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Positive Early Breast Cancer: Results of a Prospective, Noninterventional Study on Routine Treatment Between 2006 and 2012 in Germany.

Purpose: Trastuzumab is part of the standard treatment in patients with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive early breast cancer in addition to (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy. This German prospective noninterventional study, which included major patient cohorts underrepresented in the pivotal randomized studies, examined the generalizability of the results of those studies.

Patients And Methods: Between 2006 and 2012, 4,027 patients were enrolled and treated with trastuzumab; they were unselected regarding age or concomitant/sequential adjuvant chemotherapy.

The Impact of Age on Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Adjuvant Chemotherapy: A Comparative Analysis From the Prospective Multicenter Randomized ADEBAR trial.

Background: Elderly breast cancer patients are affected by poorer quality of life (QoL) compared to younger patients. Because QoL has a relevant impact on guideline-adherent treatment, elderly breast cancer patients are often undertreated, especially with regard to adjuvant chemotherapy, and overall survival is decreased. Thus, understanding the impact of chemotherapy on QoL in elderly patients is crucial.

Concordance rates of biomarkers uPA and PAI-1 results in primary breast cancer vs. consecutive tumor board decision and therapy performed in clinical hospital routine: Results of a prospective multi-center study at certified breast centers.

Objective: Biomarkers uPA and PAI-1 are guideline recommended by ASCO (USA) and AGO (Germany) in primary breast cancer to avoid unnecessary CTX in patients at medium risk for recurrence. For clinical quality assurance of uPA/PAI-1 testing, analysis of test-therapy concordance was performed.

Methods: Prospective non-interventional multi-center study over 2 years among six Certified Breast Centers in Germany to investigate uPA/PAI-1 results in consecutive decision making for tumor board recommendation and actual therapy in uninfluenced clinical setting.

Pretreatment quality of life, performance status and their relation to treatment discontinuation and treatment changes in high-risk breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: results from the prospective randomized ADEBAR trial.

Background: Health-related quality of life (QoL) is a self-assessed construct indicating how people feel in regard to aspects of their health. Performance status (PS) is evaluated by the treating physician. We examined whether pretreatment QoL and PS are related to subsequent treatment discontinuation and treatment changes in high-risk breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy.