Is age a risk factor of congestive heart failure (CHF) in patients receiving trastuzumab (H)? Results from two Belgian compassionate use programs in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) patients (pts)

838 Background: Age ≥60 years is considered among the possible risk factors of H related cardiac toxicity. Methods: Between 1/99 and 5/02 two compassionate use programs were run in Belgium to provide H to patients (pts) with HER2-overexpressing MBC. A total of 227 pts received at least one administration of weekly H, as single agent or in combination with chemotherapy, and were eligible for a retrospective analysis that aimed to evaluate the role of age as risk factor for H related CHF. Data on comorbidities (CO, i.e. hypertension, previous drugs-related cardiac toxicity, diabetes, hyperlipidemia), radiotherapy to left breast/chest wall, prior anthracyclines (A) cumulative dose, time interval from last A administration, cumulative dose and time on H were collected from medical files and analyzed as possible risk factors of CHF. Results: Pts median age was 53 years (range 22–82); 158 pts were < 60 years old and 69 were ≥60 years old (60+). In the latter group 25 pts were 70+. The two age groups differed in...