From the Guidelines
Approximately 30%–40% of patients with localized cancer and 60%–80% with metastatic disease at presentation experience recurrence. The percentage of cancers that return after remission varies widely depending on the type of cancer, stage at diagnosis, treatment received, and individual patient factors 1. Some cancers have much higher recurrence rates, while others have very low recurrence rates. Recurrence risk is typically highest in the first 2-5 years after treatment, though some cancers can return decades later. Factors that increase recurrence risk include advanced stage at diagnosis, aggressive tumor characteristics, inadequate treatment response, and certain genetic mutations. Some key points to consider include:
- The presence of solitary metastases, time to first relapse, and complete resectability of the disease at first recurrence have been reported to be the most important prognostic indicators for improved survival 1.
- Patients who initially presented with widespread disease are more likely to relapse at distant sites, whereas those individuals who presented with localized disease are more likely to develop local relapse 1.
- Regular follow-up appointments with oncologists are essential for monitoring potential recurrence, typically scheduled every 3-6 months initially, then annually after 5 years 1.
- Cancer recurrence happens because some cancer cells may survive initial treatment despite achieving clinical remission, remaining dormant before eventually growing again. It's worth noting that the recurrence rates can vary significantly depending on the specific type of cancer, with some cancers like ovarian cancer having much higher recurrence rates (70-90%), while others like early-stage thyroid cancer have very low recurrence rates (less than 5%) 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The FDA drug label does not answer the question.
From the Research
Cancer Recurrence Rates
- The percentage of cancers that return after remission varies depending on the type and stage of cancer, as well as the treatment received 2, 3.
- According to a study published in the Irish Journal of Medical Science, 25-30% of breast cancer patients develop disease recurrence and die from the disease dissemination 2.
- Another study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found that the five-year actuarial rates of local recurrence were 7.3% and 4.3% for patients who received standard radiotherapy and additional radiation, respectively 3.
Factors Influencing Recurrence
- Several factors can influence the risk of cancer recurrence, including the type and stage of cancer, treatment received, and patient characteristics such as age and tumor biology 2, 4.
- A study published in the British Journal of Cancer found that metastatic relapse can occur months to decades after initial diagnosis and treatment, and that the biology of metastasis is not yet fully understood 4.
- Other factors that can influence recurrence include the presence of certain molecular subtypes, such as HER2-positive or triple-negative breast cancer, and the use of targeted therapies 5, 6.
Treatment and Recurrence
- Treatment options for cancer can also influence the risk of recurrence, with some treatments being more effective than others in preventing recurrence 3, 5.
- A study published in the European Journal of Cancer Care found that the cost per life-year gained from chemotherapy and targeted therapy can vary significantly depending on the treatment indication and stage of cancer 5.
- Another study published in Current Oncology found that targeted therapies, such as CDK 4/6 inhibitors and PI3K inhibitors, can improve outcomes for patients with hormone receptor-positive and HER2-negative breast cancer 6.