Overall survival, costs and healthcare resource use by number of regimens received in elderly patients with newly diagnosed metastatic triple negative breast cancer.

AIM: This analysis estimated the overall survival, treatment patterns and economic burden of elderly metastatic triple-negative breast cancer patients.

MATERIALS & METHODS: Patients (≥66 years) with metastatic triple-negative breast cancer were identified from the SEER-Medicare database. Treatment patterns were defined in terms of first, second and third or more regimens. Healthcare resource use and costs were reported over the follow-up period and over the treatment duration of each regimen.

RESULTS:  A total of 51% of patients did not receive chemotherapy. Taxanes were most commonly used. Median survival was 7 months. The mean cumulative (per patient per month) cost per patient was US$73,586 (US$10,084). Mean cost in first and second regimen were US$26,950 and US$33,347.

CONCLUSION: About half of patients did not receive chemotherapy. Receipt of increasing regimens led to higher mean costs and healthcare resource use.