title: Early discontinuation of adjuvant hormone therapy is associated with a poor prognosis in Japanese breast cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  It is important for patients to complete the planned hormone therapy to reduce both the recurrence and mortality rates of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer. We investigated the rates and factors related to the early discontinuation of adjuvant hormone therapy at our institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified 145 females prescribed adjuvant hormone therapy who were followed up for longer than 5 years. The rate of completing the planned hormone therapy and factors related to early discontinuation were examined. The relapse-free survival rate was examined between the completion group and the discontinuation group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The completion rate was 90.6 %. The primary reason for discontinuing hormone therapy within 5 years was side effects, such as arthritic pain. The primary factor related to early discontinuation was a significantly younger age. The relapse-free survival rate was significantly lower in the discontinuation group (p = 0.025).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  More than 90 % of the patients completed the planned adjuvant hormone therapy, and early discontinuation was related to a shorter RFS. To improve the rate of the successful completion of adjuvant hormone therapy, it is important to provide supportive care to reduce the occurrence of side effects and to care for young females with a desire to become pregnant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, 3-1-1 Maidashi, Higashiku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan, taketani@surg2.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taketani
authors.forename: Eriko
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tokunaga
authors.forename: Nami
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Kimihiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Sayuri
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akiyoshi
authors.forename: Satoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Koji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ando
authors.forename: Yasue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saeki
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Oki
authors.forename: Masaru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Morita
authors.forename: Tetsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kusumoto
authors.forename: Yoshihiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maehara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D047072:Aromatase Inhibitors; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D013629:Tamoxifen; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human