Treating advanced breast cancer in the older woman.
As half of all breast cancers occur in patients beyond the age of 65 and a quarter beyond the age of 75, a significant number of patients with metastatic breast cancer are elderly. New hormonal therapies, such as aromatase inhibitors, appear to have favorably improved the survival of these patients. Side effects such as osteoporosis or cognitive issues appear manageable. Information specific to elderly patients has recently emerged in the field of chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer. This article reviews data on anthracyclines, taxanes, capecitabine (Xeloda), gemcitabine (Gemzar), trastuzumab (Herceptin), and bevacizumab (Avastin). For most patients in this setting, sequential single-agent chemotherapy appears at this time to be the preferred course of treatment.
Extermann
Martine
M
Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, Florida 33612, USA. extermann@moffitt.usf.edu
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins