Several studies have established a positive relationship between quality of life (QOL) and prognosis in patients with various cancer types. This study investigated QOL of elderly patients with primary hormone receptor-positive breast cancer who chose endocrine therapy as their first-line treatment.

QOL-ACD-B scores were evaluated before and after endocrine therapy for 75 patients. The results of the interviews were used to determine the Charlson Comorbidity Index.

In a univariate analysis, baseline objective response rate (p=0.009), and increase in QOL (p=0.037) significantly correlated with longer progression-free survival time. There was a correlation between 3-month QOL score and longer overall survival in the multivariate analysis (p=0.035).

In elderly patients with breast cancer who underwent first-line endocrine therapy, improved QOL at 3 months after treatment initiation correlated with prolonged progression-free survival. High QOL scores were associated with prolonged overall survival.