A study calls into question the usefulness of chemotherapy after 70 years

Efficiency has not been demonstrated. However, but toxicity yes. For example, A study of Unicancer. Meanwhile, the Institut Curie, published on August 2 in The Lancetis the first randomized phase 3 study to assess the interest of adding chemotherapy to hormone therapy in women aged 70 and over, with hormone -dependent breast cancer. Furthermore, Standardly, patients, young or older, are operated on and then receive hormone therapy and, most often, adjuvant chemotherapy. Similarly, But chemotherapy can cause particularly heavy study calls question usefulness chemotherapy side effects in vulnerable people. Similarly, This is why she is controversial.

Two groups of patients were compared. In addition, One received chemotherapy followed by hormone therapy, the other a hormone therapy alone. Furthermore, After a 7.8 -year median follow -up, the 4 -year -old overall survival rate was 90.5 % in the 1^is group against 89.3 % in the second. However, At 8 years old, respectively 72.7 % and 68.3 %. Moreover, “The difference from 4.5 points to eight years is not statistically significant”underlines the Curie Institute in a press release.

On the toxicity side, the negative effects of chemotherapy are significant. “Adverse effects of grade 3. more occurred in 34 % of patients treated with chemotherapy, compared to only 9 % in the hormone therapy group alonedetails the Curie Institute. Patients who have received chemotherapy reported a more marked deterioration in their quality of study calls question usefulness chemotherapy life. especially in connection with fatigue, pain, digestive disorders and a drop in autonomy. ”

“For the first time. a phase III study shows that the addition of chemotherapy does not provide a statistically significant benefit of overall survival, even in patients at high genomic risk (whose tumor is at high risk of recurrence, progression or poor response to treatment, editor’s note), declares Professor Etienne Brain, medical oncologist at the Institut Curie. These results confirm that therapeutic decisions must take into account not only tumor biology. but also age, fragility and expectations of patients. They encourage to revise the way in which standards established in younger subjects are then applied to older subjects without high level of evidence. with little safeguards. (The study) Aster 70s opens the way to a more targeted, fairer and more turned to the patient. »»

This study confirms the study calls question usefulness chemotherapy need for an individualized therapeutic approach. adapted to the characteristics of the tumor, but also to the age, the fragility and the choice of patients. The Curie Institute insists on the need to improve the treatment standards taking into account the benefit/risk ratio for. the elderly in particular. Based on the results of this study. the anti-cancer center calls for a “Reasoned therapeutic de -escalation” In elderly patients and to reserve chemotherapy for very precise cases. “What are trying to identify two essential research programs. conducted on the important collection of tumor and blood samples of the study”.

Source: Adjuvant Chemotherapy. Hormonotherapy Versus Adjuvant Hormonotherapy Alone for Women Aged 70 Years and Older with High-Risk Breast Cancer Based on the Genomic Grade Index (ASTER 70S): A RANDOMITED Phase 3 TRIAL. Etienne Brain. Olivier Mir, Emmanuelle Bourbouloux, Olivier Rigal, Jean-Marc Ferrero, Sylvie Kirscher, Djelila Allouache, Véronique d’Hondt, Aude-Marie study calls question usefulness chemotherapy Savoye, Xavier Durando, Francois p Duhoux, Laurence Venat-Bouvet, Emmanuel Blot, Jean-Luc Canon, Florence Rollot-Trad, Hervé Bonnefoi ROQUE, Jérôme Lemonnier, Aurélien Latouche, Julie Henriques, Magali Lacroix-Triki, Dewi Vernerey, and Gerico & Ucbg/Unicancer. The Lancet, July 31, 2025. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736 (25) 00832-3