抄録
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and toxicity of primary endocrine therapy in postmenopausal elderly patients with endocrine-responsive breast cancer.
Patients and Methods: The study included 11 postmenopausal patients with breast cancer aged 70 years and over who started primary endocrine therapy between April 2004 and November 2007. Treatment consisted of 1 mg/day anastrozole or 25 mg/day exemestane and was continued until progressive disease was noted. In patients who had progressive disease, another aromatase inhibitor or tamoxifen was administered.
Results: The drugs used as primary therapy were anastrozole and exemestane in 7 and 4 patients, respectively. Seven patients had a performance status of 0 to 1 and 4 had 3 to 4. The best clinical response was a complete remission in 2 patients, in addition to partial remission in 4, stable disease in 4 (including 2 patients with long-term stabilization), and disease progression in 1, with a response rate of 55% and a clinical benefit rate of 73%. The average duration of primary treatment was 15.5 months, and 2 patients died during the study (one from cerebral hemorrhage and the other from breast cancer). With regard to safety, a fracture of the right fourth finger was observed in 1 patient.
Conclusion: Primary endocrine therapy with aromatase inhibitors resulted in a high response rate and a long-term clinical benefit, along with a superior tolerability. Therefore, this therapy can be effective in extremely elderly patients with endocrine-responsive breast cancer.
