P3-07-37: Clinical Characteristics and Treatment of Brazilian Women with Breast Cancer at Public and Private Institutions.
Authors: Hegg R , Mattar A , Gebrim LH , Emerenciano K , Pinotti M , Perdicaris M , van Eyll B , Franke F , Pinczowski H , Freitas R , Jendiroba D , Borges G , Queiroz G , Nascimento YV , Gampel O , Mathias C , Budel V , Strepassos E , Delgado G 
Published: June 2012

Background: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among Brazilian women with almost 50.000 new cases per year. There are few data regarding the clinical presentation, treatment and specially outcome of this population. Brazilian health system is composed by Public institutions (Pu); Private centers (Pr) and some institutions that assist both Public and Private patients (PuPr).

Material and Methods: We collected data from 17 cancer centers distributed throughout Brazil among Pu; Pr and PuPr centers. We've analyzed data from 1-clinical characteristics, 2- pathologic characteristics and 3-type of treatment received among 2435 patients from May 2008 to May 2009.

Results: Mean age at diagnosis was 53 years, with about 30% below age 50. Most of the cases were Invasive Ductal Cancer (83%). Stage 0 was seen in 3.2%, Stage I in 21,8%, Stage II in 46,6%, Stage 3 in 24,6% and Stage IV in 3,9 %. Clinical Stage III + IV was seen in 18,5% of the Pu institutions, only 3,7% of the Pr ones and about 6,2% among those PuPr. Hormone receptors were positive in 55%. Her-2 was overexpressed in 27,3% of the patients, and triple negative were seen in 11,6%. Most of the patients were submitted to surgery (92,9%). In Pu institutions only 36% of the patients were submitted to Breast Conserving Surgery (BCS) and in the Pr institutions 49,4% of the patients were submitted to BCS and in the PuPr 47%. Breast reconstruction was made in 15,8% and did not differ between Pu and Pr institutions. Sentinel node biopsy was done in 30,6% of the patients (26,8% of the patients from the Pr institutions and 26,8% of the Pu ones and 33% among PuPr). Neoadjuvant treatment was done in 21,5% of the patients (Pu=27,2%; Pr=13,9% and PuPr 13,2%). Most of this neoadjuvant treatment was chemotherapy (93,8%) and only 4,3% was hormonetherapy (HT). 30% of the patients received AC, 41% A+taxane and 18,9% FAC/FEC. Besides we have almost 30% of Her-2 overexpressed only 1,1% of the patients received trastuzumab in the neoadjuvant setting. Tamoxifen was used in 48,3% when neoadjuvant HT was done, and aromatase inhibitor (AI) was used in 34,5%. Most of the patients received any kind of adjuvant treatment (89,2%). Chemotherapy was done in 76,6% and hormonetherapy in 69,8%. When chemotherapy was used the preference regiment was FAC/FEC (27,3%), followed by CMF (17,5%) and AC (11,9%). Trastuzumab was use in only 5,8% of the patients (Pu=6,8%, Pr=18,3% and PuPr 3% among all patients that received chemotherapy). In the adjuvant setting, Tamoxifen (TAM) was prescribed in 69,8% of the cases (Pu=87,6%, Pr=79,6% and PuPr 78,8%), AI in 8,2% (Pu=5,9%, Pr=9,3% and PuPr 13,8%), and sequential TAM/AI in 6,6% (Pu=6,1%, Pr=8,3% and PuPr 6,4%). About 17% of the patients had metastasis.

Conclusions: There are important differences between the public and private institutions in Brazil, the patients from the Pu institutions were five times more likely to be diagnosed in stage III or IV, they usually receive neoadjuvant treatment, and when surgery was done, most of them were treated with radical procedures. Besides the overexpression of Her-2 (30%) a minority of the patients received treatment with trastuzumab even for the Private centers (high cost for a developing country).

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-07-37.