Adjuvant chemotherapy in elderly patients with breast cancer: a survey of the Breast International Group (BIG).
BACKGROUND
To collect oncologists' experience and opinion on adjuvant chemotherapy in elderly breast cancer patients.


METHODS
A questionnaire was circulated among the members of the Breast International Group.


RESULTS
A total of 277 oncologists from 28 countries participated in the survey. Seventy years is the age cut-off commonly used to define a patient as elderly. Biological age and the biological characteristics of the tumor are the most frequently used criteria to propose adjuvant chemotherapy to an elderly patient. Combination therapy with cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and fluorouracil on days 1 and 8 is the most frequently prescribed regimen. Great interest exists in oral chemotherapy.


CONCLUSIONS
There is interest among those who responded to the survey to validate a comprehensive geriatric assessment for use as a predictive instrument of toxicity and/or activity of anticancer therapy and to evaluate the role of a treatment option that is potentially less toxic and possibly as effective as polychemotherapy.
Biganzoli
L
L
Jules Bordet Institute, Brussels, Belgium. lbiganzoli@usl4.toscana.it
Goldhirsch
A
A
Straehle
C
C
Castiglione-Gertsch
M
M
Therasse
P
P
Aapro
M
M
Minisini
A
A
Piccart
M J
MJ
D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D005472:Fluorouracil; D008727:Methotrexate