Target therapy in elderly breast cancer patients

• Published in: Critical reviews in oncology/hematology 2012-09, Vol.83 (3), p.422-431
• Main Authors: Carli, Paolo, Turchet, Elisa, Quitadamo, Daniela, Spada, Antonella, Miolo, Gianmaria, Lamaj, Elda, Spazzapan, Simon, Di Lauro, Vincenzo, Dolcetti, Riccardo, Veronesi, Andrea, Crivellari, Diana
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized - pharmacology; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized - therapeutic use; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; Bevacizumab; Biological and medical sciences; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - drug therapy; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Clinical Trials as Topic; Elderly; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Hematologic and hematopoietic diseases; Hematology, Oncology and Palliative Medicine; Humans; Lapatinib; Mammary gland diseases; Medical sciences; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Neoplasm Metastasis; Protein Kinase Inhibitors - pharmacology; Protein Kinase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Quinazolines - pharmacology; Quinazolines - therapeutic use; Receptor, ErbB-2 - antagonists & inhibitors; Receptor, ErbB-2 - metabolism; Receptors, Estrogen - metabolism; Trastuzumab; Treatment Outcome; Tumors; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - antagonists & inhibitors; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - metabolism
• ISSN: 1040-8428; 1879-0461
• DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2011.12.004

Abstract Substantial progress has been made in the management of breast cancer by targeting HER2 and VEGF pathways. Although the efficacy and safety of target therapy in breast cancer have been established, no specific phase III trial has addressed these issues in the elderly population and the only data available derive from subanalyses or retrospective series. The aim of this review is to summarize the available evidence in this special population and to encourage further well designed studies in elderly breast cancer patients.