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01-06-2017 | Original Article

Enhancing accrual to chemotherapy trials for patients with early stage triple-negative breast cancer: a survey of physicians and patients

Authors: Carmel Jacobs, Mark Clemons, Sasha Mazzarello, Brian Hutton, Anil A. Joy, Muriel Brackstone, Orit Freedman, Lisa Vandermeer, Mohammed Ibrahim, Dean Fergusson, John Hilton

Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer | Issue 6/2017

Abstract

Purpose

The optimal chemotherapy regimen for patients with early stage triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains unknown. The purpose of the study is to survey physicians and breast cancer patients about preferred chemotherapy regimens for early stage TNBC and clinical trial strategies.

Methods

A standardised online questionnaire was developed and circulated to medical oncologists known to treat breast cancer. A separate questionnaire was given to patients who had received chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Results

The questionnaire was completed by 41/84 medical oncologists (48.8% response rate) and 74 patients. The most commonly used neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy regimens for TNBC were dose-dense doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (AC)–paclitaxel (P), dose-dense AC followed by weekly P and fluorouracil, epirubicin, cyclophosphamide–docetaxel (FEC-D). The majority of medical oncologists (80%) would be willing to enrol patients in trials evaluating the most effective chemotherapy regimen for TNBC. Oncologists favoured a three arm trial design comparing currently available standard of care treatments (36%) and trials of novel or non-standard of care agents 22% (9/41). Sixty percent (41/74) of patients indicated that they would be willing to be enrolled in trials evaluating various adjuvant regimens for TNBC. Both oncologists and patients were interested in novel consent approaches such as using the integrated consent model.

Conclusion

Optimisation of chemotherapy for TNBC is an important and unmet clinical need. It is apparent that various chemotherapy regimens are used for patients with early stage TNBC. The majority of medical oncologists and patients are interested in entering trials to optimise chemotherapy choices.

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Title: Enhancing accrual to chemotherapy trials for patients with early stage triple-negative breast cancer: a survey of physicians and patients
Authors: Carmel Jacobs
Mark Clemons
Sasha Mazzarello
Brian Hutton
Anil A. Joy
Muriel Brackstone
Orit Freedman
Lisa Vandermeer
Mohammed Ibrahim
Dean Fergusson
John Hilton
Publication date: 01-06-2017
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Supportive Care in Cancer / Issue 6/2017
Print ISSN: 0941-4355
Electronic ISSN: 1433-7339
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-017-3580-4

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