Investigating sexual health after breast cancer by longitudinal assessment of patient-reported outcomes

BACKGROUND

Sexual concerns are a major unaddressed need among survivors of breast cancer (BC) with significant negative effects on quality of life. We longitudinally analyzed sexual health over time, using patient-reported outcomes.

METHODS

Patients with stage I-III BC prospectively included from the CANcer TOxicity cohort (CANTO) provided data at diagnosis, then 1, 2, and 4 years afterward. Sexual concerns outcomes included poor body image (score ≤91/100), poor sexual functioning (≤16/100), poor sexual enjoyment (≤66/100), and sexual inactivity (EORTC QLQ-B23). Multivariate generalized estimating equation models assessed associations with sexual concerns after diagnosis, adjusting for age, sociodemographic, tumor, treatment, and clinical characteristics.

RESULTS

Nearly 78.1% among 7895 patients reported at least one sexual concern between diagnosis and 4 years' follow-up. Over time, the proportion of patients reporting sexual concerns either increased or remained constant with diagnosis. Less than half (46%, range 11.4-57) of the patients with sexual concerns reported the use of supportive care strategies, including gynecological or psychological consultations (range 11.4-57.4). Factors consistently associated with sexual concerns up to 4 years after diagnosis included already reporting the same concern at diagnosis [odds ratio (OR)poor body image 3.48 [95% confidence interval (CI) 3.11-3.89]; ORsexual inactivity 9.94 (95% CI 8.84-11.18), ORpoor sexual function 9.75 (95% CI 8.67-10.95), ORpoorsexual enjoyment 3.96 (95% CI 3.34-4.69)], endocrine therapy use [ORpoor body image 1.15 (95% CI 1.01-1.31); ORsexual inactivity 1.19 (95% CI 1.02-1.39), ORpoor sexual function 1.17 (95% CI 1.01-1.37), ORpoor sexual enjoyment 1.23 (95% CI 1.00-1.53)], and depression [ORpoor body image 2.00 (95% CI 1.72-2.34); ORsexual inactivity 1.66 (95% CI 1.40-1.97), ORpoor sexual function 1.69 (95% CI 1.43-2.00), ORpoor sexual enjoyment 1.94 (95% CI 1.50-2.51)]. Outcome-specific associations were also identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Sexual concerns seem frequent, persistent, and insufficiently addressed. Pretreatment concerns, endocrine therapy, and emotional distress are commonly associated factors. A proactive evaluation of sexual health across the care continuum is needed, to promptly identify patients suitable for multidisciplinary counseling, referral, and supportive interventions.

CANTO: Skin Toxicities Evaluation of a Multicenter Large Prospective Cohort of Irradiated Patients for Early-Stage Breast Cancer

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)

Skin damage is a common toxicity during oncology management. Its assessment and understanding of the factors influencing its occurrence, is a major issue in the management of patients treated for an early breast cancer (BC).

MATERIALS/METHODS

CANTO (NCT01993498) is a prospective, multicentric, clinical cohort study of 11 400 patients with stage I-III BC, treated in 26 French cancer centers. In this study, we will evaluate the 8561 patients during their overall management for a BC. We are focus on specifical skin toxicities: Erythema, fibrosis, telangiectasia and skin color (CTCAE v4.0). These toxicities were assessed at 3-6 (M0), 12 (M12), 36 (M36), 60 (M60) months.

RESULTS

The prevalence of toxicities of interest varied over time, so at M0, 30.4% of patients had erythema while 17.7% of patients had fibrosis. At M12, M36 and M60, the prevalence of erythema decreased from 5.5 % to 2.5 % then to 2 %, respectively, while fibrosis remained stable at about 19 %. The prevalence of telangiectasia increased from 0.8 % to 7 % from M0 to M60. While the modification of skin color was 51.1 % at M0, and 10.6 % at M60. After adjustments, at M0, there was a statistically significant association between the onset of cutaneous erythema and obesity, the presence of axillary dissection, the type of surgery the age of the patient as well as the tumor phenotype RH+/HER2+ [OR: 0.79 [0.67; 0.93]]. Concerning fibrosis, a statistically significant association was found, at M12, with the age of the patient, obesity, tumor grade, Charlson score, type of surgery and mitotic index. Obesity and the age of the patient represent at M12 and M36 a risk significantly associated with the onset of telangiectasia. Concerning the modification of skin color at M12, we find a link between the age of the patient, obesity, tobacco consumption, tumor grade, Charlson score, type of surgery, and alcohol consumption [OR: 0.69 [0.51; 0.91]].

CONCLUSION

In this study we identified several risk factors for acute and late skin toxicity. The knowledge of its predictive factors allows a personalized management of the patient by adapting our treatments and our monitoring according to these different factors.

Factors associated with enrolment in clinical trials among women with early-stage breast cancer

Background

Clinical trials allow development of innovative treatments and ameliorate the quality of clinical care in oncology. Data show that only a minority of patients are enrolled in clinical trials. We assessed enrolment in clinical trials and its correlates among women with early breast cancer.

Methods

We included 9516 patients with stage I-III breast cancer from the multicenter, prospective CANTO study (NCT01993498), followed-up until year 4 (Y4) post-diagnosis. We assessed factors associated with enrolment using multivariable logistic regression. In exploratory, propensity score matched analyses, we used multiple linear regression to evaluate the relationship of enrolment in clinical trials with the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality Of Life (QoL) questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) Summary Score and described clinical outcomes (distant disease event, invasive disease event, and death by any cause) according to enrolment.

Results

Overall, 1716 patients (18%) were enrolled in a clinical trial until Y4 post-diagnosis of breast cancer. Socioeconomic factors were not associated with enrolment. Centres of intermediate volume were most likely to enrol patients in clinical trials [versus low volume, odds ratio 1.45 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.08-1.95), P = 0.0124]. Among 2118 propensity score matched patients, enrolment was associated with better QoL at Y4 (adjusted mean difference versus not enrolled 1.37, 95% CI 0.03-2.71, P = 0.0458), and clinical outcomes (enrolled versus not enrolled, distant disease event 7.3% versus 10.1%, P = 0.0206; invasive disease event 8.2% versus 10.5%, P = 0.0732; death by any cause 2.8% versus 3.7%, P = 0.2707).

Conclusions

In this large study, one in five patients enrolled on a clinical trial until Y4 after diagnosis of early breast cancer. Geographical and centre-related factors were significantly associated with enrolment in clinical trials. Inclusion in clinical trials seemed associated with improved QoL and clinical outcomes. Access to innovation for early-stage breast cancer patients should be encouraged and facilitated by overcoming organizational and geographical barriers to recruitment.

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The proportion of patients who access innovation through participation in clinical trials is generally limited.

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Rate of enrolment in clinical trials among women with early breast cancer exceeded what previously found in other settings.

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Clinical and geographical factors were associated to access to innovation in clinical trials.

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Enrolment in clinical trials is associated with better quality of life and clinical outcomes.

Differential impact of endocrine therapy and chemotherapy on quality of life of breast cancer survivors: a prospective patient-reported outcomes analysis

BACKGROUND

In early breast cancer (BC), there has been a trend to escalate endocrine therapy (ET) and to de-escalate chemotherapy (CT). However, the impact of ET versus CT on the quality of life (QoL) of early BC patients is unknown. Here, we characterize the independent contribution of ET and CT on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) at 2 years after diagnosis.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We prospectively collected PROs in 4262 eligible patients using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30/BR23 questionnaires inside CANTO trial (NCT01993498). The primary outcome was the C30 summary score (C30-SumSc) at 2 years after diagnosis.

RESULTS

From eligible patients, 37.2% were premenopausal and 62.8% postmenopausal; 81.9% received ET and 52.8% CT. In the overall cohort, QoL worsened by 2 years after diagnosis in multiple functions and symptoms; exceptions included emotional function and future perspective, which improved over time. ET (Pint = 0.004), but not CT (Pint = 0.924), had a persistent negative impact on the C30-SumSc. In addition, ET negatively impacted role and social function, pain, insomnia, systemic therapy side-effects, breast symptoms and further limited emotional function and future perspective recovery. Although CT had no impact on the C30-SumSc at 2-years it was associated with deteriorated physical and cognitive function, dyspnea, financial difficulties, body image and breast symptoms. We found a differential effect of treatment by menopausal status; in premenopausal patients, CT, despite only a non-significant trend for deteriorated C30-SumSc (Pint = 0.100), was more frequently associated with QoL domains deterioration than ET, whereas in postmenopausal patients, ET was more frequently associated with QoL deterioration, namely using the C30-SumSc (Pint = 0.004).

CONCLUSION(S)

QoL deterioration persisted at 2 years after diagnosis with different trajectories by treatment received. ET, but not CT, had a major detrimental impact on C30-SumSc, especially in postmenopausal women. These findings highlight the need to properly select patients for adjuvant ET escalation.

Employment two years after breast cancer diagnosis: role of household characteristics, CANTO cohort

Background

Breast cancer is associated with a high 5-year survival rate and more than half women are still of working age at diagnosis. Many studies evaluated the clinical determinants of return to work (RTW) but few investigated RTW in relation to family factors. Our objective was to study the role of household characteristics in non-RTW two years after breast cancerdiagnosis.

Methods

We used data of a French prospective cohort of women diagnosed with stage I-III, primary breast cancer (CANTO, NCT01993498). Patients had to be under 57 and have a job at diagnosis. We performed logistic regressions to model non-RTW two years after diagnosis in relation to household characteristics at diagnosis (marital status, children, support from partner), adjusting for tumor characteristics, health status at baseline and one year after diagnosis, and household income at diagnosis. In a second step, we conducted analyses stratified for household income at diagnosis.

Results

In total, 1874 women were eligible. Being in a relationship did not impact non-RTW (OR = 1.43 [95% CI 0.95-2.16]). Among the 1566 women in a relationship, being married was associated with elevated odds of non-RTW(OR = 1.37 [0.96-1.94]). Having children(OR = 1.17 [0.81-1.69]) or receiving support from their partner (OR = 1.17 [0.77-1.78]) was not associated with non-RTW. However, the situation differed in low-income households(<2500€) among whom being married was associated with more elevated odds of non-RTW(OR = 1.94 [0.97-3.88]). No clear association was observed between having children (OR = 1.85 [0.85-4.03]) and non-RTW, but living with at least two children (OR = 2.76 [1.14-6.70]) and receiving support from their partner (OR = 2.28 [1.01-5.17]) was associated with increased odds of non-RTW.

Conclusions

The family environment is associated with non-RTW among the poorest women but not the others.

Key messages

Among the poorest women, the family environment is associated with non-RTW. Among all women, the family environment is not associated with non-RTW.

Abstract P1-15-03: Association between exercise, pathological complete response, and treatment tolerability in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy for operable breast cancer: Results from the CANTO study

Background: Randomized trials, although not all, suggest exercise therapy improves treatment completion rates / relative dose intensity in patients with early-stage breast cancer receiving adjuvant chemotherapy (CT). In addition, preclinical studies show that exercise therapy adds to the antitumor activity of standard CT in murine models of breast cancer. We evaluated the association between exercise and pathologic complete response (pCR) rate (i.e., ypT0ypN0) in patients receiving neoadjuvant CT for operable breast cancer.

Methods: Using a prospective design, patients with stage I-III breast cancer receiving anthracycline-taxane (± trastuzumab) neoadjuvant CT participating in a multicenter, national cohort study in France (CANTO, NCT01993498) completed questionnaire assessing self-reported exercise behavior (GPAQ 16). Multivariate logistic models were performed to determine the relationship between pre-CT exercise exposure (total MET-h/wk categorized into the proportion of patients meeting WHO exercise guidelines, the equivalent of ≥10 MET-h/wk), pCR rates, CT± trastuzumab dose reductions, delays, treatment completion or interruptions for the overall cohort and on the basis of clinical subtype.

Results: Between March, 2012 to December, 2014, a total of 989 patients participating in CANTO received neoadjuvant CT and completed GPAQ 16. Here we present interim analyses on 608 patients. Fifty-four percent of patients engaged on of ≥10 MET-h/wk prior to CT administration. In multivariable analysis for the overall cohort, exercise exposure was not associated with higher pCR (p=0.69). The pCR rate was 27.7% for patients reporting <10 MET h/wkcompared with 28.0% for those reporting ≥ 10 MET-h/wk (OR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.71-1.45). Stratification analyses indicated no differences on the basis of clinical subtype for hormone receptor (HR) positive/HER2 negative (<10 MET h/wk: 15.1% vs. ≥ 10 MET h/wk: 16.5%; OR, 0.95, 0.41-2.16); HER2 positive (<10 MET h/wk: 38.1% vs. ≥ 10 MET h/wk: 32.5%; OR, 0.62, 0.28-1.35); or triple-negative disease (<10 MET h/wk: 33.3% vs. ≥ 10 MET h/wk: 36.7%; OR, 1.04, 0.52-2.10). Rates of CT dose reductions (<10 MET h/wk: 16.1% vs. ≥ 10 MET h/wk: 18.3%), CT dose delays (<10 MET h/wk: 19.9% vs. ≥ 10 MET h/wk: 19.8%), CT completion (<10 MET h/wk: 12.03% vs. ≥ 10 MET h/wk: 11.45%) trastuzumab interruptions (<10 MET h/wk: 9.01% vs. ≥ 10 MET h/wk: 7.95%) were also not different on the basis of exercise exposure.

Conclusion: On the basis of interim analyses, higher pretreatment exercise exposure is not associated with higher clinical response or treatment tolerability in breast cancer patients receiving uniform conventional neoadjuvant CT. Full results will be presented at the meeting.

Citation Format: Baker JL, Di Meglio A, El Mouhebb M, Iyengar NM, Michiels S, Cottu P, Lerebours F, Coutant C, Lesur A, Tredan O, Soulie P, Vanlemmens L, Jouannaud C, Levy C, Everhard S, Martin A-L, Arveux P, Fabrice A, Vaz Luis I, Jones LW. Association between exercise, pathological complete response, and treatment tolerability in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy for operable breast cancer: Results from the CANTO study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-15-03.