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Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) during COVID-19: Single institution survey of patients perspectives
Cancer Research ; 82(4 SUPPL), 2022.
Article in English | EMBASE | ID: covidwho-1779491
ABSTRACT

Background:

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in a global pandemic, which led to deferral of surgeries for early stage breast cancer during March-June 2020. Institutional guidelines were developed to use neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) as a bridge to surgery. As a follow up to initial data presented at SABCS 2020 demonstrating patient acceptance of NET, the present study provides results from a survey which explored psychosocial factors associated with medication compliance.

Objective:

Primary objective was to identify any barriers to compliance with NET.

Method:

This was a single institution, prospective study that surveyed patients diagnosed with DCIS and early stage breast cancer at Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Hospital and NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island from March 15, 2020-June 1, 2020. Questions were based on the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire specific for endocrine therapy (BMQ-AET) and the Medication Adherence Report Scale. Responses were recorded on a Likert scale and included 7 questions regarding perceptions about breast cancer treatment, 10 questions addressing experience with NET, and 5 questions gauging at adherence to NET. Inclusion criteria were males and females older than 18 years old, with an initial diagnosis of DCIS or early stage HR+ Her2/neu-breast cancer, who were prescribed NET. Descriptive statistics were calculated and subgroups were compared using Fisher's exact tests. Analyses were performed using SAS version 9.4.

Results:

From March 15-June 1, 2020, 13 patients were diagnosed with DCIS and 29 patients with HR+ Her2/neu-breast cancer for whom NET was recommended. Demographics are shown in Table 1. All 42 patients were female with an average age of 60.9 years. Majority of patients were post-menopause (74%) and predominantly white (64%), with an income of less than $60, 000 (52.4%). Average NET duration was 6.7 weeks. Survey responses displayed in Table 2 indicate statistically significant p values in bold. Patients >50 years old, post-menopause and invasive breast cancer had a stronger belief that NET would be helpful, resulting in greater perception to breast cancer treatment and higher adherence to NET. Patients treated with NET for greater than 4 weeks also felt that NET would make them feel well compared to ≤4 weeks. Interestingly, no significant differences in responses based on education or income level were observed.

Conclusion:

COVID-19 pandemic presented a unique opportunity to use NET, which is often underutilized outside of clinical trials. In this single institution prospective study, we found that post-menopause patients greater than 50 years old with invasive breast cancer perceived hormonal therapy as beneficial to their health, resulting in increased medication compliance. These findings can be used when counseling patients currently treated with NET as well as those patients may be appropriate for NET in the post-COVID era.
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Full text: Available Collection: Databases of international organizations Database: EMBASE Type of study: Observational study Language: English Journal: Cancer Research Year: 2022 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: Databases of international organizations Database: EMBASE Type of study: Observational study Language: English Journal: Cancer Research Year: 2022 Document Type: Article