Simulation modeling of breast cancer endocrine therapy duration by patient and tumor characteristics

Young Chandler, Clyde Schechter, Jinani Jayasekera, Claudine Isaacs, Allison W Kurian, Christopher Cadham, Jeanne Mandelblatt

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Extending endocrine therapy from 5 to 10 years is recommended for women with invasive estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancers. We evaluated the benefits and harms of the five additional years of therapy. Methods: An established Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Network (CISNET) model used a lifetime horizon with national and clinical trial data on treatment efficacy and adverse events and other-cause mortality among multiple birth cohorts of U.S. women ages 25–79 newly diagnosed with ER+, non-metastatic breast cancer. We assumed 100% use of therapy. Outcomes included life years (LYs), quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and breast cancer mortality. Results were discounted at 3%. Sensitivity analyses tested a 15-year time horizon and alternative assumptions. Results: Extending tamoxifen therapy duration among women ages 25–49 reduced the lifetime probability of breast cancer death from 11.9% to 9.3% (absolute difference 2.6%). This translates to a gain of 0.77 LYs (281 days)/woman (undiscounted). Adverse events reduce this gain to 0.44 QALYs and after discounting, gains are 0.20 QALYs (73 days)/woman. Extended aromatase inhibitor therapy in women 50–79 had small absolute benefits and gains were offset by adverse events (loss of 0.06 discounted QALYs). There were greater gains with extended endocrine therapy for women with node-positive versus negative cancers, but only women ages 25–49 and 50–59 had a net QALY gain. All gains were reduced with less than 100% treatment completion. Conclusion: The extension of endocrine therapy from 5 to 10 years modestly improved lifetime breast cancer outcomes, but in some women, treatment-related adverse events may outweigh benefits.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)297-307
Number of pages11
JournalCancer Medicine
Volume11
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2022

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Cancer Research

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