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Adapted from the NCI Cancer Bulletin, vol. 3/no. 37, Sept. 26, 2006 (see the current issue ²).

Women 75 or older with early-stage breast cancer are more likely to receive nonstandard primary tumor therapy in an integrated health care setting, reported a study in the Sept. 20, 2006, Journal of Clinical Oncology (see the journal abstract).

Dr. Rebecca Silliman of Boston University Medical Center and colleagues identified 1,859 women 65 years of age or older with stage I or II breast cancer between 1990 and 1994 from six geographically diverse integrated health systems of the Health Maintenance Organization Cancer Research Network. Using SEER ³ cancer registries, as well as clinical and administrative databases, researchers collected data on demographics, tumor characteristics, breast cancer treatment, and comorbid conditions prior to diagnosis.

Researchers then compared women who received standard primary tumor therapy, defined as axillary lymph node dissection and radiation therapy after breast-conserving surgery (BCS), with women who received nonstandard primary tumor therapy. They also compared women who received a tamoxifen prescription or chemotherapy with women who did not.

Women with higher comorbidity index scores, and women 75 or older, were more likely to receive nonstandard primary tumor therapy. While risk of recurrence was also associated with receipt of nonstandard primary tumor therapy, no link exists for standard primary tumor therapy. Additionally, researchers found that African American women were less likely to be prescribed tamoxifen and Asian women were more likely to undergo BCS than were white women.

The study's authors concluded that "Age is an independent risk factor for nonreceipt of effective therapies, even when comorbidity and risk of recurrence are considered."

Glossary Terms

Surgery to remove lymph nodes found in the armpit region. Also called axillary dissection.

The condition of having two or more diseases at the same time.

A drug used to treat certain types of breast cancer in women and men. It is also used to prevent breast cancer in women who have had ductal carcinoma in situ (abnormal cells in the ducts of the breast) and in women who are at a high risk of developing breast cancer. Tamoxifen is also being studied in the treatment of other types of cancer. It blocks the effects of the hormone estrogen in the breast. Tamoxifen is a type of antiestrogen. Also called tamoxifen citrate.