Higher age means higher risk for breast cancer patients

Elderly patients with breast cancer experience significantly worse survival when they receive less than standard systemic treatment, or have second primary disease other than breast cancer in their follow-up period.

Age is one of the most significant risk factors for breast cancer and, although proportional incidence is uncertain, the absolute number of elderly patients is increasing. The aim of the study conducted by Moon et al. was to outline breast cancer in elderly (Korean) patients and examine survival by clinicopathologic factors such as age, stage, and disease subtype [1]. A total of 1,103 patients who were diagnosed with and completed their primary treatment for breast cancer between 2000 and 2013 were included. Clinicopathologic data was collected with retrospective data review. Survival data and risk factors - if the survival was statistically significant - were obtained. Mean age of the patients was 52.71 years (range 22-89) and subjects were divided into 3 groups: women aged <40 years (n=134), women aged 40-60 years (n=508), and women aged >60 years (n=191).

The worse prognosis of elderly patients with triple-negative breast cancer who got less than standard systemic treatment (HR 4.84; 95% CI 1.51-15.45) and had secondary disease other than breast cancer (HR 2.40; 95% CI; 1.11-5.19) were significantly correlated with higher mortality in elderly patients (see Figure).

Figure. Cox proportional hazard ratio for the multivariate risk factor analysis [1]



ER, oestrogen receptor; PR, progesterone receptor; HER2, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2

1. Moon G, et al. P3-08-72. SABCS 2019.

Posted on 13 February, 202030 March, 2021