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01-06-2019 | Breast Cancer | Clinical trial

Quality of life during and after adjuvant anthracycline-taxane-based chemotherapy with or without Gemcitabine in high-risk early breast cancer: results of the SUCCESS A trial

Authors: Rafael J. A. Cámara, Lukas Schwentner, Thomas W. P. Friedl, Miriam Deniz, Visnja Fink, Krisztian Lato, Peter Widschwendter, Brigitte Rack, Wolfgang Janni, Susanne Singer, Inga Bekes

Published in: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment | Issue 3/2019

Abstract

Purpose

In high-risk early breast cancer, adjuvant taxane-Gemcitabine combinations result in a recurrence-free survival similar to single-agent taxanes. However, haematologic toxicities and need for dose reductions are more frequent in combinations. Which option ultimately provides a better quality of life (QoL) is unknown. We compared the QoL curves before, during, and up to one year after three cycles of Fluorouracil–epirubicin–cyclophosphamide followed by three cycles of Docetaxel–Gemcitabine or Docetaxel.

Methods

Overall, 3691 women with recent R0-resection of a primary epithelial breast cancer participated in the nationwide SUCCESS A clinical trial. The centres sent QoL questionnaires of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer before and up to 15 months after randomisation to Docetaxel–Gemcitabine versus Docetaxel. Multilevel analysis by chemotherapy arm estimated the QoL time curves, questionnaire return, and dropout.

Results

The combination caused one-point higher global QoL (95% confidence ±1; p = 0.05) and 1.1 lower odds of adherence to the outcome (95% confidence 1.0–1.1; p = 0.23) than the monotherapy. In both groups, a 10-point decrease during therapy preceded a 16-point increase after chemotherapy (p < 0.001). The secondary QoL outcomes showed transient superiority of the combination at the end of chemotherapy. Discontinuation from chemotherapy and its reasons were equal in both groups.

Conclusions

While patients perceive a one-point QoL difference as meaningless, a six-point increase is clinically relevant for them. That is, both regimens cause the same relevant long-term QoL improvement. With the similar recurrence-free survival, the lower toxicity, and the shorter chemotherapy duration in mind, taxanes without Gemcitabine are the preference. This challenges previous recommendations supporting combinations.

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Title: Quality of life during and after adjuvant anthracycline-taxane-based chemotherapy with or without Gemcitabine in high-risk early breast cancer: results of the SUCCESS A trial
Authors: Rafael J. A. Cámara
Lukas Schwentner
Thomas W. P. Friedl
Miriam Deniz
Visnja Fink
Krisztian Lato
Peter Widschwendter
Brigitte Rack
Wolfgang Janni
Susanne Singer
Inga Bekes
Publication date: 01-06-2019
Publisher: Springer US
Keywords: Breast Cancer
Breast Cancer
Anthracycline
Cytostatic Therapy
Published in: Breast Cancer Research and Treatment / Issue 3/2019
Print ISSN: 0167-6806
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7217
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-019-05171-6

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