Clinical relevance of 'withdrawal therapy' as a form of hormonal manipulation for breast cancer
2011

Withdrawal Therapy for Breast Cancer

Sample size: 17 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Amit Agrawal, John F. Robertson, KL Cheung

Primary Institution: University of Nottingham, Royal Derby Hospital

Hypothesis

Does withdrawal therapy from endocrine agents provide clinical benefits in breast cancer patients?

Conclusion

Withdrawal therapy appears to produce sustained clinical benefit in a significant proportion of patients with breast cancer.

Supporting Evidence

  • 58.8% of patients experienced clinical benefit from withdrawal therapy.
  • The median duration of clinical benefit was over 10 months.
  • Patients had previously undergone multiple lines of endocrine therapy.

Takeaway

This study shows that stopping certain cancer treatments can help some patients feel better, even after they have tried many other treatments.

Methodology

Retrospective review of breast cancer patients who received withdrawal therapy from endocrine agents.

Limitations

The study is limited by its small sample size and retrospective design.

Participant Demographics

Patients were elderly (age > 70 years) with estrogen receptor positive breast cancer.

Statistical Information

Confidence Interval

53.7-92.5

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1477-7819-9-101

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