Impact of age on outcomes in young women with breast cancer

In this study, we compared outcomes in young and very young patients with breast cancer (BC).

Between January 1990 to December 2010, 414 young women (age ≤35 years) with BC were registered in the radiotherapy (RT) outpatient department. Patients were divided into young (31-35 years) and very young (18-30 years). They were compared for clinical, pathological characteristics, and treatment-related factors such as RT and systemic therapy. Outcomes compared between the two groups were locoregional recurrence rate (LRR), local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), disease-free survival (DFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicities. LRFS, DFS, and OS were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method.

Out of 414 patients, 138 and 276 were very young and young, respectively. Clinical, pathological, and treatment characteristics were balanced between the two groups except for more patients in the young group who had pN3 disease and received hormonal therapy; 41 (15%) versus seven (5%) and 171 (62%) versus 62 (45%) in the very young group, respectively. Median follow-up was 84 months (range 12-363 months). LR was seen in 16 (11.6%) and 25 (9%) patients in the very young and young groups, respectively (p = 0.28). The hazard ratios for LR, disease recurrence, and death in the very young group relative to the young group were 1.11 (p = 0.25), 1.0 (p = 1.0), and 1.05 (p = 0.79), respectively. Estimated 10-year LRFS, DFS and OS were 80% versus 86%, 63% versus 61%, and 66% versus 64% in the very young and young groups, respectively. Lymphedema, cardiac toxicity, and second malignancy developed in seven (5%) versus 23 (8%), one (1%) versus three (1%), and seven (5%) versus 18 (7%) patients in the very young and young groups, respectively.

In very young and young patients with BC, there was no significant difference in LRR, LRFS, DFS, or OS. Toxicities were also comparable between the two groups.