At SABCS 2024, Dr. Icro Meattini presented a preplanned interim analysis of the EUROPA trial, a randomized phase III study comparing exclusive endocrine therapy (ET) vs. radiation therapy (RT) in women aged 70+ with luminal-like early breast cancer. The study aimed to evaluate quality of life (HRQOL) and ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence (IBTR) to guide treatment decisions in this patient population.
Key Findings:
RT preserved HRQOL scores better than ET at 24 months (mean change: -3.4 RT vs. -9.79 ET, p=0.045).
Treatment-related adverse events (AEs) were lower in the RT arm (67%) compared to the ET arm (85.4%).
No significant differences in IBTR rates at this interim analysis, but longer follow-up is needed for definitive conclusions.
RT showed better functional outcomes compared to ET across multiple QLQ-C30 domains.
Clinical Implications:
These results suggest that both RT and ET may be viable single-modality treatment options in this population, with HRQOL and toxicity profiles playing a key role in treatment selection. The study underscores the importance of multidisciplinary, patient-centered approaches in older women with early-stage breast cancer.
Looking back at SABCS 2024, the EUROPA trial continues to provide valuable insights into optimizing treatment decisions for older breast cancer patients.
A special thank you to Dr. Icro Meattini for leading this important research in breast cancer care.
