Effects of switching from anastrozole to letrozole, due to reimbursement policy, on the outcome of breast cancer therapy

Figures & data

Table 1 Comparison of demographic data between the anastrozole (ANZ) group and the anastrozole followed by letrozole (A-LTZ) group

Characteristic	ANZ (n=142)	A-LTZ (n=180)
Mean age (years)	54±10.7	54±10.2
Clinical staging
Stage 1	4 (2.86%)	4 (2.22%)
Stage 2	76 (53.52%)	116 (64.44%)
Stage 3	46 (32.39%)	46 (25.55%)
Stage 4	16 (11.26%)	14 (7.77%)
Type of reimbursement
CSMBS	64 (45.07%)	83 (46.11%)
Non-CSMBS	78 (54.93%)	97 (53.89%)
Endocrine treatment strategy
AI only	66 (46.48%)	97 (53.89%)
Stage 1	2 (3.03%)	2 (2.06%)
Stage 2	35 (53.03%)	59 (60.82%)
Stage 3	19 (28.79%)	29 (29.90%)
Stage 4	10 (15.15%)	7 (7.22%)
AI plus tamoxifen	76 (53.52%)	83 (46.11%)
Stage 1	2 (2.63%)	2 (2.41%)
Stage 2	41 (53.95%)	57 (68.67%)
Stage 3	27 (35.53%)	17 (20.48%)
Stage 4	6 (7.89%)	7 (8.43%)

Abbreviations: AI, aromatase inhibitor; CSMBS, Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme.

Table 2 Overall survival of breast cancer patients

Stage	5-year survival (95% CI)	10-year survival (95% CI)
1	100.00%	100.00%
2	84.90% (79.00–89.25)	75.72% (68.69–81.39)
3	67.39% (56.79–75.93)	55.37% (44.34–65.07)
4	26.67% (12.61–43.01)	19.44% (7.62–35.28)

Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval.

Figure 1 Kaplan–Meier survival curve of anastrozole-group (ANZ) and the anastrozole followed by letrozole-group (A-LTZ) patients (all stages).

Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval.

Figure 2 Kaplan–Meier survival curve of stage 2 anastrozole-group (ANZ) and the anastrozole followed by letrozole-group (A-LTZ) patients.

Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval.

Figure 3 Kaplan–Meier survival curve of stage 3 anastrozole-group (ANZ) and the anastrozole followed by letrozole-group (A-LTZ) patients.

Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval.

Figure 4 Kaplan–Meier survival curve of stage 4 anastrozole-group (ANZ) and the anastrozole followed by letrozole-group (A-LTZ) patients.

Abbreviation: CI, confidence interval.