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Abstract: Background: Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) represents 12‐24% of all breast cancer and carries a poor prognosis upon recurrence. Little is known of the treatment, or timing and frequency of recurrences outside of a clinical trial. Aim: We describe the patterns of care and outcomes of women with TNBC treated at two cancer centres in Sydney, NSW, Australia, to help oncologists talk to women with this subtype of breast cancer about their likely prognosis. Methods: We searched the electronic medical record for women with stages I–III TNBC diagnosed from 2006 to 2014. For each woman, we recorded demographics, tumour characteristics, treatment details, recurrences and survival using the Kaplan–Meier method. Results: We identified 137 women with a median age of 55 years (interquartile range (IQR) 44–63). The median tumour size was 25 mm (IQR 16–35). Most women had grade 3 (92%) and ductal carcinomas (89%), and 35% were node positive; 113 (82%) patients received (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy. The most prescribed regimens for node‐negative tumours were: fluorouracil, epirubicin and cyclophosphamide (FEC) × 6 (23pts, 35%), and for node‐positive tumours, FEC‐Docetaxel (18pts, 40%). Adjuvant radiotherapy was delivered to 114 (83%) patients. After a median follow up of 40 months, 17 patients (12%) had a recurrence. All but one recurrence (94%) occurred within 3 years of diagnosis. Twelve women received palliative chemotherapy, and 14 women have died. The median survival from the time of recurrence was 18 months (IQR 5–26). Seven women (5%) had a documented BRCA1 mutation, and four women (3%) had a documented BRCA2 mutation. Conclusions: TNBC affects women at a relatively young age and tends to recur early. Survival following metastatic disease is short, and more effective therapies are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hormone-refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) is associated with a poor prognosis and has historically been considered relatively chemoresistant. Emerging data demonstrate clinical benefit with the use of docetaxel in HRPC, culminating in two recent published phase III studies demonstrating survival benefit. Currently, docetaxel is registered but not reimbursed for HRPC in Australia. Aim: To retrospectively review prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response rate, and survival following the use of docetaxel for metastatic HRPC. Methods: Retrospective audit of the use of docetaxel for HRPC from 1 January 2001 to 1 April 2004 in three medical oncology practices. Demographic data, baseline PSA, ECOG (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) Performance Status, sites of disease, number of cycles received and PSA response rates were collected. Results: Thirty five patients (median age, 71 years; range, 50–88) had an ECOG status of 0 (eight), 1 (20) and 2 (seven). The mean duration from initial prostate cancer diagnosis to start of docetaxel was 5.4 years (range, 0.2–13.5 years). The mean baseline PSA doubling time, available for 29/35 patients, was 1.9 months (range, 0.4–4.9). The median number of metastatic sites was 1 (range, 1–4): bone (34 patients), lymph nodes (10), liver (seven) and lung (seven). Twelve patients were chemotherapy naive; 23 had received prior chemotherapy (21/23 received mitoxantrone). Twenty patients received docetaxel three times weekly; 15 were on weekly schedules. Their mean dose density was 23 mg/m2/week. Patients received an average of 3.2 months of treatment (range, 0.2–11.8). There were 170 recorded toxicities, 13 of which were grade 3–4, and two likely treatment-related deaths (sepsis). Twelve patients (34%) had >50% PSA response (four were chemotherapy naive); of these 12 responders, seven patients had a >75% PSA response (four chemotherapy naive). Median survival from start of docetaxel was 8 months with 37% alive at 12 months and 23% alive at 24 months. Conclusion: Docetaxel is active in HRPC (in both chemotherapy naive and exposed patients) with a predictable toxicity profile. More research is warranted to identify predictors of response and toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine risk of emergency hospital admission and survival following adjuvant chemotherapy for early breast cancer. Methods: Linked data from New South Wales population‐based and clinical cancer registries (2008–2012), hospital admissions, official death records and pharmaceutical benefit claims. Women aged ≥18 years receiving adjuvant chemotherapy for early‐stage operable breast cancer in NSW public hospitals were included. Odds ratios (OR) for emergency hospitalisation within 6 months following chemotherapy initiation were estimated using logistic regression and survival using Kaplan–Meier and Cox proportional hazards methods. Results: A total of 3,950 women were included and 30.6% were hospitalised. The most common principal diagnosis at admission was neutropenia (30.8%). Women receiving docetaxel/carboplatin/trastuzumab (TCH) and docetaxel/cyclophosphamide (TC) were the most frequently hospitalised. After adjustment for demographic and clinical factors, the increased risk of hospitalisation for TCH and TC remained compared with doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide 3‐weekly (OR 1.71, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24–2.37 and OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.17–1.85 respectively). Five‐year overall survival was similar for women who were (92.2%, 95% CI 90.7–93.8) and were not hospitalised (93.1%, 95% CI 92.1–94.1). Conclusion: Emergency hospitalisations following chemotherapy for early breast cancer were relatively common, especially following docetaxel‐containing protocols. Further examination of reasons for admission is needed to inform actions to improve patient safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]