Exploring metastatic breast cancer treatment changes during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The emergency caused by COVID-19 pandemic has imposed a sudden reorganization of the healthcare structures and has created consequences in cancer patients management. General clinical recommendations for cancer patients were released, even if limited clinical cancer-specific data were available. A number of critical issues have come out during COVID-19 pandemic in the management of patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). To explore the changes in the treatment of patients with MBC during COVID-19 pandemic, we promoted a survey to the oncologists operating in the Italian breast units. The results of this survey show that Italian oncologists have tried to ensure continuity of care for patients with MBC. De-escalation of cancer treatments, especially monotherapy administration, and greater use of oral anticancer drugs are the main changes that emerge from this survey. Some subgroups of patients, especially the elderly and endocrine-responsive patients, have been undertreated during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords:

• Metastatic breast cancer
• COVID-19 pandemic
• endocrine therapy
• chemotherapy
• antiHer2 agents
• elderly patients

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest related to this study. All authors declare no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence (bias) their work.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Palma Fedele

Palma Fedele, M.D., graduated from Catholic University of Sacred Heart in Rome, Italy in July 1996. She trained in Rome as well as in Milan at the European Institute of Oncology. She is currently Medical oncologist at the Oncology Unit of “D. Camberlingo” Hospital in Francavilla FontanaItaly. Her mainresearch interests focus on the diagnosis and treatment of solid tumours, in particular breast cancer.

Antonella Ferro

Antonella Ferro, MD, graduated from Catholic University of Sacred Heart in Rome, Italy in 1994. She is currently medical oncologist at the Breast Center, Santa Chiara Hospital, Trento, Italy.

Valeria Sanna

Valeria Sanna, MD, PhD, is currently medical oncologist at the Medical Oncology Unit , Hospital of Sassari, Italy. Her mainresearch interests focus on the diagnosis and treatment of solid tumours, in particular breast cancer.

Nicla La Verde

Nicla Laverde graduated from University of Palermo in 1992. She is currently Head of Department of Oncology at ASST Fatebenefratelli Sacco - PO Luigi Sacco, Milan, Italy.

Ida Paris

Ida Paris graduated from University of L'Aquila in 1998. She is currently medical oncologist at the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, Rome, Italy.

Rita Chiari

Rita Chiari, MD, PhD graduated from University of Perugia in 1993. She is currently Director of the Medical Oncology Unit , Ospedali Riuniti Padova Sud, AULSS6 Euganea, Padua, Italy.