Abstract P5-14-20: Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) during COVID-19: Single institution survey of patients’ perspectives
Authors: Julie Huang, Joshua Feinberg, Meredith Akerman, Anthony Pasquarella, Abhinav Rohatgi, Bahram Dabiri, Jordan Baum, Shubhada Dhage, Amber Guth, Nina D'Abreo
Journal: Cancer Research (2022)

Abstract Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) resulted in a global pandemic, which led to deferral of surgeries for early stage breast cancer during March - June 2020. Institutional guidelines were developed to use neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) as a bridge to surgery. As a follow up to initial data presented at SABCS 2020 demonstrating patient acceptance of NET, the present study provides results from a survey which explored psychosocial factors associated with medication compliance. Objective: Primary objective was to identify any barriers to compliance with NET. Method: This was a single institution, prospective study that surveyed patients diagnosed with DCIS and early stage breast cancer at Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Hospital and NYU Langone Hospital - Long Island from March 15, 2020 - June 1, 2020. Questions were based on the Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire specific for endocrine therapy (BMQ-AET) and the Medication Adherence Report Scale. Responses were recorded on a Likert scale and included 7 questions regarding perceptions about breast cancer treatment, 10 questions addressing experience with NET, and 5 questions gauging at adherence to NET. Inclusion criteria were males and females older than 18 years old, with an initial diagnosis of DCIS or early stage HR+ Her2/neu- breast cancer, who were prescribed NET. Descriptive statistics were calculated and subgroups were compared using Fisher’s exact tests. Analyses were performed using SAS version 9.4. Results: From March 15 - June 1, 2020, 13 patients were diagnosed with DCIS and 29 patients with HR+ Her2/neu- breast cancer for whom NET was recommended. Demographics are shown in Table 1. All 42 patients were female with an average age of 60.9 years. Majority of patients were post-menopause (74%) and predominantly white (64%), with an income of less than $60,000 (52.4%). Average NET duration was 6.7 weeks. Survey responses displayed in Table 2 indicate statistically significant p values in bold. Patients &amp;gt;50 years old, post-menopause and invasive breast cancer had a stronger belief that NET would be helpful, resulting in greater perception to breast cancer treatment and higher adherence to NET. Patients treated with NET for greater than 4 weeks also felt that NET would make them feel well compared to ≤4 weeks. Interestingly, no significant differences in responses based on education or income level were observed. Conclusion: COVID-19 pandemic presented a unique opportunity to use NET, which is often underutilized outside of clinical trials. In this single institution prospective study, we found that post-menopause patients greater than 50 years old with invasive breast cancer perceived hormonal therapy as beneficial to their health, resulting in increased medication compliance. These findings can be used when counseling patients currently treated with NET as well as those patients may be appropriate for NET in the post-COVID era. Table 1.Demographics of early stage breast cancer patients diagnosed during COVID-19.DCIS (n=13)Invasive Breast Cancer (n=29)Total (n=42)Menopause Status (n, %)Pre-menopause7 (53.8)4 (13.8)11 (26.2)Post-menopause6 (46.2)25 (86.2)31 (73.8)Diagnosis (n, %)Self-Palpated06 (20.7)6 (14.3)Screening13 (100)23 (79.3)36 (85.7)Age (n, %)≤504 (30.8)4 (13.8)8 (19)50+9 (69.2)25 (86.2)34 (80.9)Average Age (range)54.9 (40 – 72)63.6 (32 – 85)60.9 (32 – 85)Race (n, %)White7 (53.8)20 (69%)27 (64.3)Non-White6 (46.2)9 (31%)15 (35.7)Education (n, %)K-121 (7.7)6 (20.7)7 (16.7)College and Graduate12 (92.3)23 (79.3)35 (83.3)Income (n, %)$0 – $60,0005 (38.5)17 (58.6)22 (52.4)$&amp;gt;60,0017 (53.8)12 (41.3)19 (45.2)No response1 (7.7)01 (2.4)NET in Weeks (n, %)≤45 (38.5)7 (24.1)12 (28.6)4+8 (61.5)22 (75.9)30 (71.4) Table 2.Perceptions of breast cancer and hormonal therapy.Perceptions About Hormonal TherapyPerceptions About Breast Cancer TreatmentAdherence To Hormonal TherapyMy health at present depends on me taking hormone treatment (p-value)Hormone treatment is a mystery to me (p-value)My health in the future will depend on me taking hormone treatment (p-value)Taking hormone treatment makes me feel I am taking positive steps to remain well (p-value)How much do you feel that your current hormone therapy can help? (p-value)How much do you feel that you need your current hormone therapy? (p-value)I miss out on a dose (p-value)I stop taking medication for a while (p-value)Age &amp;gt;50 vs. ≤500.04020.56510.00580.08330.04770.87370.04831.0000Post-Menopause vs. Pre-Menopause0.00330.02720.00530.13380.00060.24520.01661.0000Invasive vs. DCIS0.00381.00000.00450.16480.01810.00011.00000.0133Non-White vs. White0.47420.04340.76400.05220.91430.77730.61280.1369Duration of NET: ≤4 vs. &amp;gt;4 weeks0.43190.49971.00000.02840.11390.75430.05220.8833Screening vs. Self-Palpated0.51100.02560.62571.00000.44230.05930.47760.6353K-12 vs. College/Graduate0.43660.65400.16151.00000.41450.67531.00000.8321Income: ≤$60,000 vs. &amp;gt;$60,0000.54590.27860.59900.85690.09530.07000.78980.0581 Citation Format: Julie Huang, Joshua Feinberg, Meredith Akerman, Anthony Pasquarella, Abhinav Rohatgi, Bahram Dabiri, Jordan Baum, Shubhada Dhage, Amber Guth, Nina D'Abreo. Neoadjuvant endocrine therapy (NET) during COVID-19: Single institution survey of patients’ perspectives [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2021 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2021 Dec 7-10; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-14-20.