Abstract P5-15-22: Evaluation of quality of life in patients with advanced and metastatic breast cancer proposed for palliative chemotherapy and best supportive care versus best supportive care

Background: In Romania many patients neglect their symptoms and present to the doctor in advanced stages of cancer. In the case of patients with breast cancer who present with very advanced locoregional disease (ulcerated or hemorrhagic tumors) and symptomatic metastatic disease (visceral or skeletal pain, dyspnea), the choice between chemotherapy/hormonal therapy and best supportive care and only best supportive care became very difficult. Objective: Evaluation of quality of life in patients with advanced and metastatic breast cancer proposed for palliative chemotherapy and best supportive care versus best supportive care Materials and methods: In the last 6 month of the year 2013, 57 patients with advanced and metastatic breast cancer were randomized to either chemotherapy/hormonal therapy in addiction to best supportive care or to best supportive care. The patients were naive to chemotherapy, with performance status – ECOG between 2 and 3 and had symptomatic disease. The randomization of patients was made according to their choice. The performance status and the symptoms were evaluated at the baseline and, later, at each admission in the Oncology Palliative Care Department. Results: More patients in the chemotherapy group (92.68%, 38/41) had an improve quality of life compared to those in the best supportive care group (56.25 %, 9/16). The overall survival was longer in the chemotherapy group. Conclusions: The results show that chemotherapy/hormonal therapy improve the quality of life and overall survival in very advanced locoregional disease and symptomatic metastatic breast cancer. The number of patients who benefit from chemotherapy and best supportive care is higher versus patients who benefit only from best supportive care. Key words: chemotherapy/hormonal therapy, best supportive care, breast cancer. Citation Format: Anda-Natalia T Ciuhu, Gabriela I Rahnea Nita, Mihaela T Popescu, Roxana Andreea D Rahnea Nita. Evaluation of quality of life in patients with advanced and metastatic breast cancer proposed for palliative chemotherapy and best supportive care versus best supportive care [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Seventh Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2014 Dec 9-13; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2015;75(9 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-15-22.