Side effects of adjuvant chemotherapy and their impact on outcome in elderly breast cancer patients: a cohort study

AIM: Breast cancer patients over the age of 65 are more likely to suffer chemotherapy side effects, with premature discontinuation, which negatively affects survival. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study enrolling breast cancer patients; dose reductions or interruptions of chemotherapy have been collected, as well as side effects. Progression-free survival was determined by Kaplan–Meier and evaluated for its association with reduction/suspension. The study included 128 women (median age: 71). RESULTS: Nineteen patients experienced cardiotoxicity, while dosage of chemotherapy was reduced in 23 patients (18.0%), and 14 (10.9%) had premature interruptions. Dose reduction/interruptions were associated with numerically worse progression-free survival (78.2 vs 94.8 months; p = 0.10). CONCLUSION: Reduction/discontinuation of chemotherapy due to side effects affected nearly 30% of our population, potentially worsening outcomes.