Wu M - Using the latest released combined data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Program of Cancer Registries (NCPR) and the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program—which covers 100% of the US population—researcher analyzed and documented general treatment status and factors associated with the treatments among US patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Except for a relatively low radiation therapy among breast conserving surgery (BCS) women, current treatment practice for TNBC was found to be in general agreement with recommended breast cancer care. The investigators noted, however, that treatment disparities existed within the limited treatment options, and factors related to the disparities also differed.

Methods

• Study participants included 74,952 US women with primary invasive TNBC, which was diagnosed between 2013 and 2015.
• Based on the corresponding year’s National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guideline recommendations, researchers examined first course treatment patterns by American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging on TNBC.
• They performed regression analyses to identify factors associated with treatments.

Results

• A total of 93% of women with early-stage TNBC had surgery, and 35% women with mastectomy chose to undergo contralateral prophylactic mastectomy.
• Among stage I-III patients, those aged < 35 years, Non-Hispanic Asian Pacific Islander, and those living in regions other than northeast or metropolitan areas were more likely to have mastectomy vs BCS.
• Findings revealed 65% of women with BCS were treated with radiation therapy, which was less likely to be performed in non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic populations, as well as in those aged < 35 years or > 70+ years.
• Data indicated that 75% of TNBC women received chemotherapy, ranging from 63% (stage I) to 86% (stage III).
• Treatment variations were also noted among different demographic and geographic characteristics in chemotherapy.