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Outcomes of Metaplastic Breast Cancer Versus Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to compare the survival outcomes of metaplastic breast cancer (MPBC) with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and identify prognostic factors that influence the survival outcomes of MPBC patients and TNBC patients.

Methods

Patients with nonmetastatic MPBC or TNBC were reviewed from our database. Patients’ clinicopathologic and molecular features were analyzed with respect to outcomes, including disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Propensity score matching (PSM) with a one-to-three matching between MPBC patients and TNBC patients was performed.

Results

A total of 857 female patients (76 MPBC patients and 781 TNBC patients) were included in this study. A subgroup of triple-negative MPBC (n  =  60) was matched with TNBC (n  =  180) cases based on patient characteristics and treatments. Kaplan–Meier analysis indicated that the MPBC group was associated with worse OS and DFS before (P  =  0.0046 both) and after (P  =  0.011 and P  =  0.0046, respectively) PSM. Multivariable analysis revealed that a higher T stage (T > 2) (P  =  0.032) and higher lymph node stage (N3 vs. N0-2, P  =  0.012) were associated with worse OS after PSM. For DFS, the MPBC group (P  =  0.012), higher T stage (T > 2) (P  =  0.032), and higher lymph node stage (N3 vs. N0-2, P  =  0.045) were associated with worse DFS. Among the 76 MPBC patients, a higher T stage and mesenchymal differentiation were associated with worse OS (pT1/2 vs. pT3/4 and mesenchymal differentiation vs. other subtypes, P  =  0.007 and P  =  0.011, respectively).

Conclusions

Compared with TNBC, MPBC was associated with worse OS and DFS. Mesenchymal differentiation has a worse DFS than other subtypes of MPBC.

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Data availability

The data supporting this study's findings are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Cancer Center, Breast Disease Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University for their support.

Funding

This study has received funding from the PostDoctor Research Project, West China Hospital, Sichuan University (2021HXBH023), and the Department of Science and Technology of Sichuan Province of China (21YYJC2782).

Author information

Author notes

  1. YuPing Tan and Biao Yang have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Abdominal Oncology, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

    YuPing Tan & YuHong Chen

  2. Department of Interventional Oncology, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine University, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China

    YuPing Tan

  3. Department of Gastroenterology, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

    Biao Yang

  4. Cancer Center, Breast Disease Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China

    Xi Yan

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  1. YuPing Tan
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Correspondence to Xi Yan.

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The authors declare no potential conflicts of interest in this work.

Ethical approval

This retrospective study was approved by the Ethics Committee of our institution. The requirement for informed patient consent was waived due to the retrospective nature of this study. All TNBC cases were retrieved from the breast cancer database in the same time frame.

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Tan, Y., Yang, B., Chen, Y. et al. Outcomes of Metaplastic Breast Cancer Versus Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis. World J Surg 47, 3192–3202 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-023-07106-1

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