Recurrence Patterns in Breast Cancer: A Single-Center Retrospective Analysis

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Cancer Research
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Breast cancer recurrence poses significant challenges in diagnosis and treatment.
• Risk of recurrence is elevated in advanced stages and within two years post-treatment.
• Accurate staging and monitoring are vital for effective breast cancer management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify key indicators of breast cancer recurrence.
• To analyze recurrence patterns in relation to disease stage, molecular subtype, and patient demographics.
• To improve disease-free and overall survival rates through better understanding of recurrence.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective cohort study of 98 patients with invasive breast cancer recurrence (Stages I-III).
• Data collected from 744 patients diagnosed and treated between 2007 and 2024.
• Analysis included treatment history, disease stage, molecular subtype, tumor characteristics, and recurrence type.

Main Results:

• Distant recurrence (71.4%) was more common than local recurrence (25.5%).
• Stage II (40.8%) and Stage III (55.1%) breast cancer, and luminal B subtype (43.87%) were associated with higher recurrence risk.
• Postmenopausal women aged 51-70, tumors 2-5 cm, and urban living environments showed increased recurrence rates.

Conclusions:

• Advanced stage at diagnosis and luminal B subtype are key factors for local recurrence in postmenopausal women.
• Patient age, primary tumor location, and prior aromatase inhibitor use may influence recurrence risk.
• Further research on postmenopausal breast cancer recurrence is needed for precise disease understanding.