title: Real-World Treatment Patterns for Hormone Receptor-Positive, Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2-Negative Advanced Breast Cancer in Europe and the United States.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Clinical guidelines generally recommend endocrine therapy over chemotherapy for hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer (unless life-threatening metastases are present). This study aimed to assess the real-world treatment patterns of patients with hormone receptor-positive advanced breast cancer in Europe and the United States.
  
  
  METHODS
  Treatment patterns in Europe (France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the UK) and the United States from January 2012 to December 2014 were investigated using a patient record database (Global Oncology Monitor©). Sample data were projected to the wider clinical population to provide running annual estimates every 3 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sample sizes ranged from 1272 to 1640 patients in Europe and from 2225 to 2760 patients in the United States. Across all lines of therapy, 37-43% (Europe) and 45-50% (United States) of patients received chemotherapy. More patients received endocrine therapy than chemotherapy as first-line treatment for advanced breast cancer (Europe: 51-54% vs. 33-35%; United States: 53-60% vs. 34-42%). In contrast, endocrine therapy-only regimens were given less commonly than chemotherapy-only regimens in the third-line setting in both Europe and the United States.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chemotherapy is used extensively in routine clinical practice for hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative advanced breast cancer. The results also suggest that the treatment patternsin Europe and the United States are qualitatively different.Funding: Ipsos Healthcare and AstraZeneca.
authors.affiliation: Ipsos Healthcare, London, UK.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caldeira
authors.affiliation: Ipsos Healthcare, Mahwah, NJ USA.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scazafave
keywords: Chemotherapy; Endocrine therapy; Guidelines; Hormone receptor-positive breast cancer; Quality of care; Treatment patterns