Breast carcinoma in Chinese women: does age affect treatment choice and outcome?

Age is a known risk factor for breast cancer behaviour. We studied the relationship of age with clinical characteristics, tumour pathology, therapeutic options and outcome in an affluent Asian population.

From 2003 to 2008, data on newly diagnosed breast carcinoma patients under the care of the multidisciplinary breast cancer team based at a private hospital in Hong Kong were collected prospectively. Patients were divided into three groups: age < 40 years (group I), 41-69 years (group II), and ≥ 70 years (group III).

There were 2,079 patients: 334 in group I, 1,538 in group II and 148 in group III. The clinical presentation and tumour stages were similar. Younger patients had higher tumour grading (p = 0.000) and more lymphovascular permeation (p = 0.011). For older patients, combination therapy was employed less frequently (p < 0.0005), and more radical resection with less reconstructive procedures were performed (p = 0.000). The 3-year disease-free survival was 97.8% and there was no difference between the three groups.

Although breast cancer in younger Chinese patients was more aggressive pathologically, the differences between clinical presentation, tumour staging and survival were similar. Treatment strategies should follow the clinical condition of the patient rather than age alone.