302P - Perceptions of women with HER2+ breast cancer on the risk of recurrence and disease management: Results from the ASKHER survey

Background

Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2 positivity (HER2+) is present in 15-30% of breast cancer (BC) cases and worsens the prognosis in the absence of HER2-targeted therapy. (Neo)adjuvant treatment (tx) for HER2+ reduces mortality and recurrence rates; however, patients may not always be well-informed about their tx options and risk of recurrence. This survey assessed patients’ perceptions, attitudes, and behaviors regarding recurrence risk.

Methods

In this cross-sectional, online survey, panels and patient groups recruited women with HER2+ breast cancer in France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, Spain, and Sweden. Patients with early BC (EBC) or metastatic BC (MBC) (stage IV) after localized/locally advanced HER2+ BC were eligible.

Results

In total, 622 patients participated (527 EBC [85%]) and reported discussing recurrence risk fully (30%), partially (50%), or not at all (20%) with physicians, with differences by time since diagnosis: <1 year (14%, 53%, 34%), 1-2 years (36%, 52%, 12%), 2-5 years (31%, 51%, 18%), ≥5 years (30%, 46%, 24%). Among EBC patients, knowledge of recurrence risk differed significantly by age, time since diagnosis, and extent of discussion; patients who perceived their recurrence risk as unknown were generally more recently diagnosed (< 1 year) and had less extensive discussions with clinicians. Difficult-to-manage side effects of BC tx included alopecia, nausea/vomiting and fatigue. To better manage their BC, EBC patients were more willing than MBC patients to exercise (74% vs 60%) or change their diet (67% vs 53%).

Conclusions

ASKHER2 survey results show that patients’ awareness of individual risk of recurrence may still be improved and that patients were receptive to lifestyle changes to improve disease management. Physician-patient communication should be promoted to ensure that patients are fully informed on recurrence risk and tx options in order to facilitate their active participation in disease management decisions.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

Pierre Fabre Laboratories.

Funding

Pierre Fabre Laboratories.

Disclosure

M. Lambertini: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: Roche, AstraZeneca, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Exact Sciences, MSD, Seagen, Gilead, Menarini, Pierre Fabre; Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: Takeda, Sandoz, Ipsen, Libbs, Knight, Daiichi Sankyo, Lilly, Pfizer, Novartis, Roche, AstraZeneca, Menarini, Gilead; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Travel grant to attend ASCO 2022: Gilead; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Travel grant to attend ASCO 2023 and ASCO 2024: Daiichi Sankyo; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Travel grant to attend SABCS 2023: Roche; Financial Interests, Institutional, Coordinating PI, 2-year research grant paid to my Institution: Gilead; Non-Financial Interests, Leadership Role, Chair of the ESMO Young Oncologists Committee from 01/2023 to 12/2024: ESMO; Non-Financial Interests, Member of Board of Directors, Member of the national council of the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM): AIOM. O. Tredan: Financial Interests, Personal, Speaker, Consultant, Advisor: Pierre Fabre Laboratories, Roche, Pfizer, Novartis-Sandoz, Lilly, MSD, AstraZeneca, Seagen, Daiichi Sankyo, Gilead, Eisai, Menarini-Stemline, Veracyte. M.J. Vidal Losada: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: Pierre Fabre Laboratories. M. Fontes e Sousa: Financial Interests, Personal, Speaker, Consultant, Advisor: Astellas, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol Myers Squibb, Daiichi Sankyo, Gilead, Ipsen, Lilly, Merck, Merck Sharp & Dohme, Novartis, Pfizer, Pierre Fabre Laboratories. A. Valachis: Financial Interests, Institutional, Research Grant: Roche, MSD; Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: Pierre Fabre Laboratories. R. D’Antona Fidanzia: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: Pierre Fabre Laboratories. E. Krone; M. Brice: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: Pierre Fabre Laboratories. S. Matos; O. Dialla: Financial Interests, Personal, Full or part-time Employment: Pierre Fabre Laboratories. C. Jackisch: Financial Interests, Personal, Advisory Board: Roche, Lilly, Novartis, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Seagen, Gilead, MSD, Exact Sciences, Pierre Fabre; Financial Interests, Personal, Invited Speaker: Roche, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, Daiichi Sankyo, Gilead; Financial Interests, Personal, Other, Travel grants: Gilead, Daiichi Sankyo, Roche. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.