Article

The Association Between Hormone Receptor Status and End-of-Life Care Among Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer

Vivian Hui

Rachel Brazee

Margaret Rosenzweig

Young Ji Lee

metastatic breast cancer, hormone receptors, end-of-life care, palliative care
CJON 2022, 26(2), 198-203. DOI: 10.1188/22.CJON.198-203

Background: In metastatic breast cancer (MBC), positive estrogen receptor (ER) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status allow for more long-term, sequential treatment options compared to ER-negative and HER2-negative diseases. It is unclear if end-of-life care (timely integration of palliative care, discontinuation of chemotherapy, and enrollment into hospice) in MBC is now tailored to the ER and HER2 status.

Objectives: This article explores the association between ER and HER2 status and the quality of end-of-life care received among patients with MBC.

Methods: A 20-year MBC clinical database captured demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatment histories of deceased patients with MBC (N = 1,258) at a tertiary hospital located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used.

Findings: Patients with ER-positive MBC had greater odds of receiving quality end-of-life care than those with ER-negative MBC. HER2 status was not associated with differences in the quality of end-of-life care.

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