Chemotherapy in elderly patients with early breast cancer: a systematic review

Fernandez-Pacheco, Miriam and Gerken, Michael and Ignatov, Atanas and Seitz, Stephan and Kowalski, C. and Sturm-Inwald, Elisabeth C. and Hatzipanagiotou, Maria Eleni and Ortmann, Olaf (2025) Chemotherapy in elderly patients with early breast cancer: a systematic review. SPRINGER HEIDELBERG, HEIDELBERG.

Full text not available from this repository. (Request a copy)

Abstract

PurposeBreast cancer is the most common cancer affecting elderly patients. However, they may not receive optimal oncological care. Reasons might be comorbidities, limited compliance with clinical guidelines, and insufficient evidence for guideline recommendations. In the present review, the evidence for the clinical benefit of chemotherapy (CHT) in the population of elderly women with breast cancer was examined.MethodsA systematic review of relevant literature in English identifying studies published from January 2000 to April 2023 was conducted. The analysis included studies on the application of CHT, effects on survival, and toxicities. We searched PubMed databases for relevant publications. In total, 24 studies were included in the present review.ResultsThe benefit of CHT in elderly patients was inconsistent. Results of this review indicate evidence for the benefit of CHT in healthy elderly patients with high-risk breast cancer (BC) and specific subtypes such as triple-negative or HER2-positive BC. Data from studies on pathological complete response rates (pCR) or surgical downstaging rates after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) in different age groups are controversial.ConclusionResults from studies on the effects of CHT in elderly patients are insufficient to draw differentiated conclusions due to heterogeneity of the definition for "elderly" patients, the application of different drugs and dosages. Patients with high-risk BC may benefit from CHT.

Item Type: Other
Uncontrolled Keywords: ADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY; OLDER WOMEN; NEOADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY; CLINICAL-TRIALS; AGE; TAMOXIFEN; THERAPY; SURVIVAL; SOCIETY; ADULTS; Elderly patients; Adjuvant chemotherapy; Neoadjuvant chemotherapy; Breast cancer
Subjects: 600 Technology > 610 Medical sciences Medicine
Divisions: Medicine > Lehrstuhl für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe (Schwerpunkt Frauenheilkunde)
Medicine > Zentren des Universitätsklinikums Regensburg > Tumorzentrum e.V.
Depositing User: Dr. Gernot Deinzer
Date Deposited: 21 Jul 2026 08:23
Last Modified: 21 Jul 2026 08:23
URI: https://pred.uni-regensburg.de/id/eprint/66130

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item