Breast Cancer in Older Patients Aged 70 Years and Above: Treatment Adherence and Oncologic Outcomes

The incidence of breast cancer in older females is increasing with increased life expectancy. This study analyzed tumor characteristics and oncological outcomes in patients aged ≥ 70 years compared to patients in a younger postmenopausal group, in conjunction with their adherence to treatment guidelines.

Patients aged ≥ 50 years, newly diagnosed with breast cancer, were divided into two age categories: ≥ 70 years and 50-69 years. All patients underwent curative surgery at Korea University Guro Hospital between January 2009 and December 2019. Clinical data on tumor subtype, histopathological grade, and clinical stage, along with treatment details were collected. Disease-free survival, distant recurrence-free survival, and breast cancer-specific survival rates were determined.

Of 1,199 patients, 166 (13.8%) were ≥ 70 years at the time of surgery. The disease-free, distant recurrence-free, and breast cancer-specific survival rates were significantly lower in patients aged ≥ 70 years (p < 0.05). In a subgroup analysis, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive tumors were the only subtype with a statistically significant difference in survival outcomes, and adherence to the guidelines was strongly linked to a better prognosis.

Patients aged ≥ 70 years had lower disease-free, distant recurrence-free, and breast cancer-specific survival rates compared to younger postmenopausal patients aged 50-69 years. With the continuous increase in life expectancy and advances in healthcare, it is critical to optimize treatment strategies for older patients with breast cancer to improve survival outcomes and enhance their quality of life.