Stopping Chemoprevention Before Realizing the Benefit

False attribution of symptoms to chemoprevention agents should be considered.

Chemoprevention strategies for reducing the risk for developing breast cancer have been available for more than 20 years, yet only a small fraction of eligible women choose to participate, and of those that do, a significant fraction do not complete the recommended course of an aromatase inhibitor, tamoxifen, or raloxifene. An analysis of causes of discontinuation of treatment at 12 months in the MAP.3 study was recently published (NEJM JW Oncol Hematol Jun 2014 and J Clin Oncol 2014; 32:1427). Women were deemed high risk and eligible to participate in MAP.3 if they were postmenopausal and had at least one the following breast cancer risk factors: age ≥60 years, Gail score >1.66%, or a prior diagnosis of benign breast disease.

Investigators …

Reviewing Author

William J. Gradishar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardLilly; AstraZeneca; Gilead

Grant/Research SupportBreast Cancer Research Foundation

Editorial BoardsClinical Breast Cancer; Oncology; Annals of Surgery; Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNational Comprehensive Cancer Network (Chair, Breast Cancer Panel); American Board of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology Board)