concept

endocrine therapy

Also known as: endocrine therapies

Facts (9)

Sources

Crucial Answers on Long-Term Physical Health Effects From Breast ... cancernetwork.com CancerNetwork Mar 24, 2025 9 facts

claimClara Bodelon, PhD, MS, a senior principal scientist of survivor research at the American Cancer Society, published a study in JAMA Network Open indicating that chemotherapy leads to more significant long-term physical health declines in breast cancer patients compared to endocrine therapy.

referenceBodelon C, Masters M, Bloodworth DE, et al. published a study titled 'Physical health decline after chemotherapy or endocrine therapy in breast cancer survivors' in JAMA Network Open on February 3, 2025 (doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.62365).

claimAromatase inhibitors are associated with better outcomes regarding breast cancer recurrence compared to other endocrine therapies, leading to their increased use in clinical practice.

measurementA study published by Clara Bodelon in JAMA Network Open found that the greatest decline in physical health among breast cancer survivors occurred with the combination of chemotherapy and endocrine therapy (β = −1.34; 95% CI, −2.07 to −0.61).

claimIn the study published by Clara Bodelon, tamoxifen did not show any notable decline in physical health, whereas aromatase inhibitors accounted for all the physical health decline observed within the endocrine therapy group.

claimWomen who received endocrine therapy for breast cancer show physical health outcomes similar to cancer-free women of the same age after the first 2 years post-diagnosis, suggesting they do not experience long-lasting physical health effects.

measurementA study published by Clara Bodelon in JAMA Network Open found that the decline in physical health among breast cancer survivors treated with endocrine therapy alone was β = −0.40 (95% CI, −0.94 to 0.14).

claimCancer survivors who received chemotherapy, regardless of whether they also received endocrine therapy, are more likely to suffer long-term physical health declines compared to those who did not receive chemotherapy.

claimFuture research will examine how lifestyle factors, such as obesity and smoking status, interact with endocrine therapy to influence long-term health effects in breast cancer survivors.