Evaluation of the Long-Term Survival in Non-Metastatic Young Breast Cancer Patients in South of Iran

Abstract

Background and Objective: The lack of breast cancer screening in young women leads to late disease diagnosis and worse outcomes in this age group. This study was designed to evaluate clinicopathological features and long-term outcomes of young breast cancer women in south of Iran.
Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective study of breast cancer patients who were pathologically diagnosed during 2005 to 2017. Data from 284 breast cancer patients aged 40 years or younger were included in this study. Demographic, clinicopathological properties as well as treatment modalities including type of surgery, adjuvant radiotherapy, and adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy were recorded and analyzed.
Results: Median age of the patients was 36 (range 23-40) years. After a median follow-up of 68 months, 21 patients had died due to the disease, 59 patients were alive with the disease, and 204 patients were alive without the disease. The univariate COX regression demonstrated that the disease -free survival (DFS) was significantly low in patients who had undergone breast conservation surgery (BCS) and also patients with higher stages, estrogen/progesterone-negative and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive (ER-/PR-/HER2+) status. Low overall survival (OS) was also significantly associated with stage. According to multivariate COX regression, BCS, stages II, III and also young age were independent predictive factors for low DFS.
Conclusion: Given the aggressive features and worse outcome of young breast cancer patients, treatment remains tough and screening seems to be required at young age. Further studies are required to find best management and therapeutic protocols for these patients.

Keywords: Breast cancer, Young age, Overall survival, Disease- free survival