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Sanchez DN, Derks MGM, Verstijnen JA, Menges D, Portielje JEA, Van den Bos F, Bastiaannet E. Frequency of use and characterization of frailty assessments in observational studies on older women with breast cancer: a systematic review. BMC Geriatr 2024; 24:563. [PMID: 38937703 PMCID: PMC11212278 DOI: 10.1186/s12877-024-05152-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast cancer and frailty frequently co-occur in older women, and frailty status has been shown to predict negative health outcomes. However, the extent to which frailty assessments are utilized in observational research for the older breast cancer population is uncertain. Therefore, the aim of this review was to determine the frequency of use of frailty assessments in studies investigating survival or mortality, and characterize them, concentrating on literature from the past 5 years (2017-2022). METHODS MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane Library were systematically queried to identify observational studies (case-control, cohort, cross-sectional) published from 2017-2022 that focus on older females (≥ 65 years) diagnosed with breast cancer, and which evaluate survival or mortality outcomes. Independent reviewers assessed the studies for eligibility using Covidence software. Extracted data included characteristics of each study as well as information on study design, study population, frailty assessments, and related health status assessments. Risk of bias was evaluated using the appropriate JBI tool. Information was cleaned, classified, and tabulated into review level summaries. RESULTS In total, 9823 studies were screened for inclusion. One-hundred and thirty studies were included in the final synthesis. Only 11 (8.5%) of these studies made use of a frailty assessment, of which 4 (3.1%) quantified frailty levels in their study population, at baseline. Characterization of frailty assessments demonstrated that there is a large variation in terms of frailty definitions and resulting patient classification (i.e., fit, pre-frail, frail). In the four studies that quantified frailty, the percentage of individuals classified as pre-frail and frail ranged from 18% to 29% and 0.7% to 21%, respectively. Identified frailty assessments included the Balducci score, the Geriatric 8 tool, the Adapted Searle Deficits Accumulation Frailty index, the Faurot Frailty index, and the Mian Deficits of Accumulation Frailty Index, among others. The Charlson Comorbidity Index was the most used alternative health status assessment, employed in 56.9% of all 130 studies. Surprisingly, 31.5% of all studies did not make use of any health status assessments. CONCLUSION Few observational studies examining mortality or survival outcomes in older women with breast cancer incorporate frailty assessments. Additionally, there is significant variation in definitions of frailty and classification of patients. While comorbidity assessments were more frequently included, the pivotal role of frailty for patient-centered decision-making in clinical practice, especially regarding treatment effectiveness and tolerance, necessitates more deliberate attention. Addressing this oversight more explicitly could enhance our ability to interpret observational research in older cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dafne N Sanchez
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zürich, Hirschengraben 82, Zurich, CH-8001, Switzerland
| | - Marloes G M Derks
- Department of Medical Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Jose A Verstijnen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Maasstad Hospital, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dominik Menges
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zürich, Hirschengraben 82, Zurich, CH-8001, Switzerland
| | | | - Frederiek Van den Bos
- Department of Gerontology and Geriatrics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Esther Bastiaannet
- Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Prevention Institute (EBPI), University of Zürich, Hirschengraben 82, Zurich, CH-8001, Switzerland.
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Rassu PC. Healthcare delivery to elderly and unfit patients with breast disease and comorbidities under an outpatient regime: A report of a personal surgical technique named "Cut&Sew". Surg Open Sci 2023; 16:49-57. [PMID: 37808422 PMCID: PMC10550772 DOI: 10.1016/j.sopen.2023.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction A growing need for proper geriatric assessment and short-stay surgical programs supported by the availability of less invasive approaches, even in ambulatory settings, is being recognized as a feasible option for breast cancer patients with comorbidities who are usually distressed after standard surgery with ordinary hospitalization. Few studies have been conducted in Italian breast centers with dedicated techniques and approach for frail patients with breast diseases due to a jeopardized approach to ambulatory surgery among institutions. Methods This study included 58 women diagnosed with breast disease and comorbidities between March 2019 and December 2022 at the Ambulatory of Senology of San Giacomo Hospital in Novi Ligure (AL, Italy) and Civil Hospital in Ovada (AL, Italy). The patients were evaluated by a multidisciplinary consensus according to the guidelines provided to limit sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in older women. This kind of ambulatory surgery technique has been designed for i) patients with advanced age and/or comorbidities, ii) frail patients who psychologically do not accept other kinds of surgery, iii) patients who do not require SLNB, and iv) patients who need a surgical biopsy for lesions classified as B3 or small lesions with dubious radiological imaging. With this technique, the quadrant and whole breast may be removed in an outpatient setting with local anesthesia to limit blood loss by immediately cutting and suturing small portions of the gland. Local anesthetic infiltration is sequential and occurs stepwise before providing short passages of approximately 2 cm during resection and immediately suturing the surgical wound. This overclock technique, named "Cut&Sew," requires no more than 20-25 min and allows for a 1-2 h patient discharge with no drainage. The follow-up period was set at 60 months during routine yearly visits. Results The patients were older or super-older with most primary pT1/pT2 tumors and ductal type cancers, which were distributed in molecular subtypes Luminal A (37.1 %) and Luminal B (41.5 % Luminal B, with 11.2 % being HER2 positive). The tumour grade was mostly G2-G3. Mastectomy was performed in 10 patients, whereas quadrantectomy was performed in 48 patients, with the majority of tumors localized in Q1.While accompanied by a relative or a caregiver, all 58 patients acceded the "Cut&Sew" surgical technique in an ambulatory setting reporting negligible pain during the surgery and no pain within 10 days post-surgery. No post-operative complications or readmissions were recorded, and no discomfort or recurrence was detected during scheduled visits. Finally, the extent of satisfaction with the overall surgery was recorded immediately and corroborated by most patients during the follow-up period. Conclusions Although the small volume of cases collected does not allow for a controlled study necessary to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this technique for approaching frail and older women with comorbidities, through the "Cut&Sew" surgical technique, frail, older, and super older patients may benefit from a minimal psychological impact of surgery, while improving the patients' disease-free life so to corroborate the advised surgical de-escalation but avoiding undertreatment for this kind of patient category. Moreover, a stricter assessment of patient pain and overall satisfaction with the collection of a larger amount of reliable data could allow this technique to be extended to frail and/or older patients as a valuable and safe alternative to the more common hospitalization with general anesthesia. Other advantages include reduced hospitalization costs for sanitary structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pier Carlo Rassu
- General Surgery Department, San Giacomo Hospital, Via Edilio Raggio 12, Novi Ligure, Alessandria, Italy
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Development and validation a survival prediction model and a risk stratification for elderly locally advanced breast cancer. Clin Breast Cancer 2022; 22:681-689. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clbc.2022.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Miller K, Kreis IA, Gannon MR, Medina J, Clements K, Horgan K, Dodwell D, Park MH, Cromwell DA. The association between guideline adherence, age and overall survival among women with non-metastatic breast cancer: A systematic review. Cancer Treat Rev 2022; 104:102353. [PMID: 35152157 DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2022.102353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Conformity with treatment guidelines should benefit patients. Studies have reported variation in adherence to breast cancer (BC) guidelines, particularly among older women. This study investigated (i) whether adherence to treatment guideline recommendations for women with non-metastatic BC improves overall survival (OS), (ii) whether that relationship varies by age. METHODOLOGY MEDLINE and EMBASE were systematically searched for studies on guideline adherence and OS in women with non-metastatic BC, published after January 2000, which examined recommendations on breast surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or endocrine therapy. Study results were summarised using narrative synthesis. RESULTS Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. The recommendations for each treatment covered were similar, but studies differed in their definitions of adherence. 5-year OS rates among patients having compliant treatment ranged from 91.3% to 93.2%, while rates among patients having non-compliant treatment ranged from 75.9% to 83.4%. Six studies reported an adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for non-compliant treatment compared with compliant treatment; all concluded OS was worse among patients whose overall treatment was non-compliant (aHR range: 1.52 [1.30-1.82] to 2.57 [1.96-3.37]), but adjustment for potential confounders was limited. Worse adherence among older women was reported in 12/16 studies, but they did not provide consistent evidence on whether OS was associated with treatment adherence and age. CONCLUSIONS Individual studies reported that better adherence to guidelines improved OS among women with non-metastatic BC, but the evidence base has weaknesses including inconsistent definitions of adherence. More precise and consistent research designs, including the evaluation of barriers to adherence across the spectrum of healthcare practice, are required to fully understand guideline compliance, as well as the relationship between compliance and OS following a BC diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Miller
- Clinical Effectiveness Unit, The Royal College of Surgeons of England, London, UK; Department of Health Services Research & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Irene A Kreis
- Clinical Effectiveness Unit, The Royal College of Surgeons of England, London, UK
| | - Melissa R Gannon
- Clinical Effectiveness Unit, The Royal College of Surgeons of England, London, UK; Department of Health Services Research & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Jibby Medina
- Clinical Effectiveness Unit, The Royal College of Surgeons of England, London, UK
| | - Karen Clements
- National Cancer Registration and Analysis Service, NHS Digital, 2(nd) Floor, 23 Stephenson Street, Birmingham, UK
| | - Kieran Horgan
- Department of Breast Surgery, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK
| | - David Dodwell
- Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Min Hae Park
- Clinical Effectiveness Unit, The Royal College of Surgeons of England, London, UK; Department of Health Services Research & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - David A Cromwell
- Clinical Effectiveness Unit, The Royal College of Surgeons of England, London, UK; Department of Health Services Research & Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Clinicopathological characteristics in women with breast cancer in extreme ages in Greece: A single centre experience. FORUM OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.2478/fco-2021-0007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction
Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in Greek women. The highest incidence occurs in patients aged 40–70 years. However, the emergence of the disease in women under 40 and over 80 years old is a significant problem in everyday practice, because of the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for these age groups. The objective of this study is to investigate clinicopathological characteristics of Greek women under 40 and over 80 diagnosed with breast cancer during 2019–2020 in a specialized Breast Cancer Surgical Centre, as well as the pathological characteristics of their disease and the therapeutic measures applied to these women.
Aim of the study
The aim of this study is to compare clinical and pathological characteristics of breast cancer in a group of Greek premenopausal women younger than 40 years of age with a group of elderly women older than 80 years old, who were treated in a surgical breast centre in Greece during the last two years.
Patients and Methods
During the last 2 years, 21 women under 40 and 22 women older than 80 were diagnosed with breast cancer in our Centre.
Results
Invasive ductal adenocarcinoma was the most frequent histological type for both Groups: Most younger women underwent surgery followed by chemotherapy, while the majority of older patients received hormonal therapy after surgery.
Conclusions
There were no statistically significant differences between women under 40 and women over 80 in the study sample regarding their clinicopathological characteristics. However, younger women underwent more therapeutic modalities (i.e.adjuvant treatments in addition to surgery) than older ones.
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Rassu PC. Breast surgical oncology in elderly and unfit patients: a systematic review. Minerva Surg 2021; 76:538-549. [PMID: 34935322 DOI: 10.23736/s2724-5691.21.08995-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Breast cancer treatment in elderly women remains a complex issue due to pre-existing comorbidities, therapy-related toxicities, and the lack of evidence-based data in this population, leading to both overtreatment and undertreatment. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION The aim was to investigate the literature on breast surgical oncology in the older woman as a major therapeutic challenge: the 86 more consistent articles amongst 1440 potential citations according to PRISMA guidelines were retained. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS Studies demonstrated that despite low-grade tumor types, lower incidence of axillary lymph node involvement, ER+ disease, and less aggressive tumor biology, elderly breast cancer patients often receive less than the standard-of-care when compared to their younger counterparts. The surgery omission in elderlies and the preference for the primary endocrine treatment is associated with worse survival, especially in patients aged 80 years or over - a cohort with no specific recommendations concerning breast and axillary surgical procedures. On the other hand, a higher mastectomy rate is still considered the standard treatment in older women with higher T2:T1 tumor ratio and greater difficulties to attend radiotherapy due to severe comorbidities. Surgical de-escalation procedures even in an-ambulatory setting are recognized as a feasible option in these patients to prevent or palliate breast or chest wall symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Benefits and disadvantages from surgery only or coupled with adjuvant therapies for elderly women were analyzed in literature, outlining a growing need for a proper geriatric assessment and short-stay surgical programs which are feasible today owing to the availability of less invasive approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pier C Rassu
- Department of General Surgery, S. Giacomo Hospital, Novi Ligure, Alessandria, Italy -
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Long-term outcome and axillary recurrence in elderly women (≥70 years) with breast cancer: 10-years follow-up from a matched cohort study. Eur J Surg Oncol 2021; 47:1593-1600. [PMID: 33685727 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejso.2021.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The oncological benefit of axillary surgery (AS), with sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) or axillary dissection (ALND), in elderly women affected by breast cancer (BC) is controversial. We evaluated AS trends over a 10-year follow-up period as well as locoregional and survival outcomes in this subset of patients. METHODS Patients aged 70 years or older, treated between 1994 and 2008, were selected and divided in two groups, depending on whether or not AS was performed. A (1:1) matched analysis for all relevant clinicopathological features was performed. Outcomes were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and univariate Cox-proportional hazard ratio analysis. RESULTS A total of 1.748 patients were identified and stratified by age (70-74, 75-79, 80-84). A matched analysis was performed for 252 patients: 122 who underwent AS and 122 who did not. At 10-year follow-up, ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence, distant metastasis and contralateral BC were similar, p = 0.83, p = 0.42 and p = 0.28, respectively. In the no-AS group, a significant increased risk of axillary lymph-node recurrence was identified at 5- and confirmed at 10-years (p = 0.038), without impact on overall survival at 5- and 10-years (p = 0.52). In the non-AS group, higher rate of axillary recurrence at 10-years was observed in patients with poorly differentiated (24.1%, 95% CI 7.2-46.2), highly proliferative (Ki67 ≥ 20%: 17.1%, 95% CI 0.6-33.3) and luminal B tumors (16.8%, 95% CI 5.9-35.5). CONCLUSIONS Axillary staging in elderly women does not impact long-term survival. Tailoring surgery according to tumor biology and age may improve locoregional outcome.
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Cortina CS. De-Escalation of Local-Regional Therapy for Older Breast Cancer Patients. CURRENT BREAST CANCER REPORTS 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12609-020-00395-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Huynh V, Tevis S. Surgical management of invasive lobular carcinoma: Is less more? Am J Surg 2020; 221:30-31. [PMID: 32878693 DOI: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2020.08.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Huynh
- Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12631 East 17th Ave, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
| | - Sarah Tevis
- Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, 12631 East 17th Ave, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
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Bennett DL, Appleton CM, Lee MV. Continuation of Annual Screening Mammography and Breast Cancer Mortality in Women Older Than 70 Years. Ann Intern Med 2020; 173:245-246. [PMID: 32745448 DOI: 10.7326/l20-0826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Debbie L Bennett
- Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri (D.L.B.)
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