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Title
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Changes in breast cancer management during the Corona Virus Disease 19 pandemic : an international survey of the European Breast Cancer Research Association of Surgical Trialists (EUBREAST)
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Author
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Abstract
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| Background: Corona Virus Disease 19 (COVID-19) had a worldwide negative impact on healthcare sys- tems, which were not used to coping with such pandemic. Adaptation strategies prioritizing COVID-19 patients included triage of patients and reduction or re-allocation of other services. The aim of our survey was to provide a real time international snapshot of modi fications of breast cancer management during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A survey was developed by a multidisciplinary group on behalf of European Breast Cancer Research Association of Surgical Trialists and distributed via breast cancer societies. One reply per breast unit was requested. Results: In ten days, 377 breast centres from 41 countries completed the questionnaire. RT-PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 prior to treatment was reported by 44.8% of the institutions. The estimated time interval between diagnosis and treatment initiation increased for about 20% of institutions. Indications for pri- mary systemic therapy were modi fied in 56% (211/377), with upfront surgery increasing from 39.8% to 50.7% (p < 0.002) and from 33.7% to 42.2% (p < 0.016) in T1cN0 triple-negative and ER-negative/HER2- positive cases, respectively. Sixty-seven percent considered that chemotherapy increases risks for developing COVID-19 complications. Fifty-one percent of the responders reported modi fications in chemotherapy protocols. Gene-expression pro file used to evaluate the need for adjuvant chemotherapy increased in 18.8%. In luminal-A tumours, a large majority (68%) recommended endocrine treatment to postpone surgery. Postoperative radiation therapy was postponed in 20% of the cases. Conclusions: Breast cancer management was considerably modi fied during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our data provide a base to investigate whether these changes impact oncologic outcomes. |
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Language
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English
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Source (journal)
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The Breast. - Edinburgh
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Publication
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Edinburgh
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2020
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ISSN
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0960-9776
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DOI
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10.1016/J.BREAST.2020.05.006
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Volume/pages
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52
(2020)
, p. 110-115
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ISI
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000546389500015
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Pubmed ID
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32502796
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Full text (Publisher's DOI)
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Full text (open access)
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