Delays in operative management of early-stage, estrogen receptor–positive breast cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic: A multi-institutional matched historical cohort study

• DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2021.10.033
• Publication Date: 2021-10-22T13:25:17Z
• Authors: Élise Di Lena; Brent Hopkins; Stephanie M. Wong; Sarkis Meterissian
• Keywords: Neoadjuvant Therapy; Hormonal Therapy

During the COVID-19 pandemic, guidelines recommended that breast cancer centers delay estrogen receptor-positive surgeries with neoadjuvant endocrine therapy. We aimed to evaluate pathologic upstaging of patients affected by these guidelines.Female stage I/II receiving therapy were prospectively identified and matched a historical cohort treated upfront surgery ≤35 days. Primary outcomes T N versus clinical staging.After matching, 28 48 control remained. Median age in each group was 65 (P = .68). Most (78.6% 79.2%) had invasive ductal carcinoma tumor size 0.9 cm vs 1.7 .056). Time 68 days 26.5 < .001). A total 23 (82.1%) same or lower pT-stage compared 31 (64.5%) .115). Only 3 (10.7%) increased pN-stage 14 (29.2%) .063).Despite 2.5-times longer delays, early-stage did not experience during pandemic. These findings may support use similar if delays are projected.