Abstract
Purpose
Pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) comprises breast cancer diagnosed during the gestational period or within 12 months postpartum. While the incidence of PABC appears to be increasing, data regarding prognosis remain limited.
Methods
Here we evaluate clinicopathologic features, treatments, and clinical outcomes among women with stage 0-III PABC diagnosed between 1992 and 2020. Comparisons were made between women who were diagnosed with PABC during gestation and those who were diagnosed within 12 months postpartum.
Results
A total of 341 women were identified, with a median age of 36 years (range 25–46). The pregnancy group comprised 119 (35%) women, while 222 (65%) women made up the postpartum group. Clinicopathologic features were similar between groups, with most patients being parous and presenting with stage I and II disease. Treatment delays were uncommon, with a median time from histologic diagnosis to treatment of 4 weeks for both groups. Recurrence-free survival was similar between groups: 67% at 10 years for both. While 10-year overall survival appeared higher in the postpartum group (83% versus 78%, p = 0.02), only the presence of nodal metastases was associated with an increased risk of death (hazard ratio 5.61, 95% CI 2.20–14.3, p < 0.001), whereas timing of diagnosis and receptor profile did not reach statistical significance.
Conclusion
Clinicopathologic features of women with PABC are similar regardless of timing of diagnosis. While 10-year recurrence-free survival is similar between groups, 10-year overall survival is higher among women diagnosed postpartum; however, timing of diagnosis may not be the driving factor in determining survival outcomes.
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Data availability
The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are not shareable based on Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center institutional policy.
Abbreviations
- PABC:
-
Pregnancy-associated breast cancer
- AJCC:
-
American Joint Committee on Cancer
- HR:
-
Hormone receptor
- HER2:
-
Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2
- ER:
-
Estrogen receptor
- PR:
-
Progesterone receptor
- TN:
-
Triple negative
- IQR:
-
Interquartile range
- AC-T:
-
Adriamycin and cyclophosphamide, followed by treatment with Taxol
- CMF:
-
Cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, fluorouracil
- CI:
-
Confidence interval
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The preparation of this study was supported in part by NIH/NCI Cancer Center Support Grant P30 CA008748 to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by AC, DM, MC, SP, SK, SG, and MG. The first draft of the manuscript was written by AC, and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Dr. Shari B. Goldfarb reports grant funding from Paxman Coolers Ltd and Sprout Pharmaceuticals, and consulting/medical advisory positions with Sermonix Pharmaceuticals LLC, Ms. Medicine, Revision Skincare, NanOlogy, and Spectrum Pharmaceuticals LLC. All other authors have no conflict of interests or commercial interests to disclose.
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Crown, A., McCartan, D., Curry, M.A. et al. Pregnancy-associated breast cancer: does timing of presentation affect outcome?. Breast Cancer Res Treat 198, 283–294 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-022-06833-8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-022-06833-8