BACKGROUND. Over the past decade, a number of new therapeutic agents have become available in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC). This study characterized the use and assessed the impact on survival of population‐based access to new agents for the treatment of MBC. METHODS. The dates of release in British Columbia of 7 new systemic agents for MBC during the 1990s were used to construct 4 time cohorts. All patients with a first diagnosis of distant metastases in each of the time cohorts were identified and characterized, and their survival was compared. Cox proportional regression modeling was used to assess for predictors of survival. RESULTS. In total, 2150 patients with a first distant metastases diagnosed during 1 of the 4 cohort intervals were identified. Baseline characteristics between cohorts were similar, except a greater proportion of the later cohorts received adjuvant chemotherapy (P < .001), had positive estrogen receptor status (P = .01), and had a longer median time from initial diagnosis to MBC (P < .001). Survival in Cohort 1 (1991–1992) and Cohort 2 (1994–1995; median, 438 days and 450 days, respectively) was similar. Survival was longer in Cohort 3 (1997–1998; median, 564 days; P = .002) and improved further in Cohort 4 (1999–2001; median, 667 days; P = .05). In multivariate analysis, the later cohorts were associated independently with improved survival (P = .01 and P < .001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS. Population‐based access to new therapeutic agents for MBC appeared to be associated with improved survival. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to date that demonstrates, from a population‐based perspective, improving survival over the past decade for women with MBC. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.

Purpose: Preclinical studies suggest that inhaled budesonide may be an effective chemopreventive agent for lung cancer. We conducted a phase IIb study to determine the effects of inhaled budesonide in smokers with bronchial dysplasia.Experimental Design: A total of 112 smokers with more than or equal to one site of bronchial dysplasia > 1.2 mm in size identified by autofluorescence bronchoscopy-directed biopsy was randomly assigned to receive placebo or budesonide (Pulmicort Turbuhaler) 800 g twice daily inhalation for 6 months. The primary end point was change in the histopathologic grade on repeat biopsy of the same sites at the end of 6 months.Results: There were no significant differences in the regression or progression rates of bronchial dysplasia between the two groups. There was a statistically significant but modest decrease in p53 and BclII expression in the bronchial biopsies after 6 months of Pulmicort Turbuhaler versus placebo (P ‫؍‬ 0.01 and P ‫؍‬ 0.001, respectively). There was a small but statistically significant decrease in the proportion of computed tomography-detected lung nodules after Pulmicort Turbuhaler compared with placebo (P ‫؍‬ 0.024).Conclusions: Our results suggest that in smokers, inhaled budesonide in the dose of 1600 g daily for 6 months had no effect in regression of bronchial dysplastic lesions or prevention of new lesions. Budesonide treatment resulted in a modest decrease in p53 and BclII protein expression in bronchial biopsies and a slightly higher rate of resolution of computed tomography-detected lung nodules. Whether budesonide truly has an effect in preneoplastic lesions in the peripheral airways and alveoli requires additional investigation.

Our results suggest that, in smokers, ADT is a potentially efficacious chemoprevention agent for lung cancer.