CC BY 4.0 · Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2021; 43(03): 185-189
DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1719149
Original Article
Mastology

Switching of Hormone Therapies in Breast Cancer Women

Avaliação da mudança do esquema hormonioterápico em mulheres com câncer de mama
1   Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, SP, Brazil
,
2   Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidade de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, SP, Brazil
,
2   Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidade de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, SP, Brazil
,
2   Graduate Program in Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidade de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, SP, Brazil
,
3   Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Universidade de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, SP, Brazil
,
1   Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universidade de Campinas (Unicamp), Campinas, SP, Brazil
› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Objective The objective of the present study was to analyze the reasons that led to hormone therapies (HTs) regimen changes in women with breast cancer.

Methods This was a retrospective cross-sectional study from a single-institution Brazilian cancer center with patient records diagnosed with breast cancer between January 2012 and January 2017.

Results From 1,555 women who were in treatment with HT, 213 (13.7%) women had HT switched, either tamoxifen to anastrozole or vice-versa. Most women included in the present study who switched HT were > 50 years old, postmenopausal, Caucasian, and had at least one comorbidity. From the group with therapy change, ‘disease progression’ was reason of change in 124 (58.2%) cases, and in 65 (30.5%) patients, ‘presence of side effects’ was the reason. From those women who suffered with side effects, 24 (36.9%) had comorbidities.

Conclusion The present study demonstrated a low rate of HT switch of tamoxifen to anastrozole. Among the reasons for changing therapy, the most common was disease progression, which includes cancer recurrence, metastasis or increased tumor. Side effects were second; furthermore, age and comorbidities are risk factors for side effects.

Resumo

Objetivo O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar os motivos que levaram às mudanças no esquema hormonioterápico (HT) em mulheres com câncer de mama.

Métodos Estudo transversal retrospectivo realizado no Hospital da Mulher de Campinas e consequente pesquisa de prontuários de mulheres diagnosticados com câncer de mama entre janeiro de 2012 e janeiro de 2017.

Resultados De 1.555 mulheres em tratamento com HT, 213 (13,7%) mulheres tiveram HT alterado, tamoxifeno para anastrozol ou vice-versa. A maioria das mulheres incluídas no presente estudo que tiveram mudança de HT tinha > 50 anos, estava na pós-menopausa, era caucasiana e tinha pelo menos uma comorbidade. Os principais motivos de troca de HT foram devido a 'progressão da doença', ocorrendo em 124 (58,2%) casos e a 'presença de efeitos colaterais' (n = 65; 30,5%). Das mulheres que sofreram efeitos colaterais, 24 (36,9%) apresentaram comorbidades.

Conclusão O presente estudo demonstrou uma baixa taxa na alteração de tamoxifeno para anastrozol. Entre as razões mais comuns para alterar a HT estava a progressão da doença, que inclui recorrência do câncer, metástase ou aumento do tumor. Os efeitos colaterais foram a segunda causa e, além disso, a idade e as comorbidades foram fatores de risco para efeitos colaterais.

Contributors

All of the authors contributed with the project and data interpretation, the writing of the article, the critical review of the intellectual content, and with the final approval of the version to be published.




Publication History

Received: 04 July 2020

Accepted: 21 September 2020

Article published online:
19 January 2021

© 2021. Federação Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Thieme Revinter Publicações Ltda.
Rua do Matoso 170, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, CEP 20270-135, Brazil