[Analysis of elderly breast cancer patients aged 90 years and older]

In recent years, although the number of elderly patients with breast cancer is increasing, there are very few reports of breast cancer in elderly patients aged 90 years and older. In this study, we examined breast cancer patients who were 90 years of age or older. Patient background characteristics, clinicopathologic features, and treatment strategies were examined for 9 elderly breast cancer patients aged 90 or older who were treated at our department from January 2000 to December 2012. The median age of the patients was 91 (range, 90-99)years, and complications were reported in 7 patients (77.8%). The median tumor diameter was 4.3 (range, 1.4-6.0) cm, and T4 disease was observed in 6 patients (66.7%). Axillary lymph node status was negative in 6 patients (66.7%). Pathological diagnoses were invasive ductal carcinoma in 8 patients and ductal carcinoma in situ in 1 patient. Seven patients were hormone receptor positive and 1 patient was hormone receptor negative. Human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)-2 status was negative in 8 patients. Surgery was performed safely in 5 patients and there were no signs of postoperative metastases. Four patients were treated with hormone therapy. The response rate( partial response[ PR] and complete response[ CR]) was 50%. Our findings suggest that when treating breast cancer patients aged 90 years or older, it would be necessary to offer medical treatment considering the possibility of comorbidities and the complications associated with medical treatment.