Safety and Tolerability of Anthracycline-Containing Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Elderly High-Risk Breast Cancer Patients.

Abstract Background Intensive chemotherapy confers benefit to patients with high-risk early breast cancer (BC). We characterized the feasibility and toxicity profile of anthracycline-containing adjuvant chemotherapy (ACAC) in older women with early BC. Patients and Methods Available data from women who received ACAC for BC in 3 randomized trials were retrieved. We identified women aged >65 years and we examined differences in tolerability and delivery of chemotherapy, toxicity, and treatment outcome. Results From a total of 2640 patients, we identified 453 patients (17%) as being >65 years old, 89% of whom had tumors that were node-positive, with 77% who were hormone receptor-positive. At least 90% of the planned doses were delivered in 37% of the elderly, compared with 49% in the younger patients ( P P P Conclusion Elderly BC patients treated with ACAC derive clinical benefit comparable to that in younger patients, mainly at the cost of increased risk of hematological toxicity. This should be taken into account in decision-making and treatment individualization in high-risk BC patients.