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Incidence of contralateral breast cancer in Japanese patients with unilateral minimum-risk primary breast cancer, and the benefits of endocrine therapy and radiotherapy

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Abstract

Background:

Tamoxifen is recommended as adjuvant endocrine therapy for patients with minimum-risk breast cancer. It is primarily effective at prevention of contralateral and ipsilateral breast cancer recurrence after breast-conserving surgery. The incidence of contralateral breast cancer and the absolute benefit of endocrine therapy among patients with unilateral minimum-risk breast cancer in Japan, where the incidence of breast cancer is low, are unknown.

Patients and methods

We retrospectively studied the incidence of contralateral breast cancer, and the efficacy of endocrine therapy, in a cohort of 2074 Japanese women with unilateral breast cancer whose primary tumor was pTis (n = 1905) or pT1mic (n = 169) (unknown for endocrine therapy, n = 4; unknown for radiotherapy, n = 2). We also assessed the efficacy of endocrine therapy and radiotherapy for prevention of ipsilateral and contralateral breast cancer recurrence in 1205 patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery (unknown for endocrine therapy, n = 2; unknown for radiotherapy, n = 2).

Results

The incidence of contralateral breast cancer per 1000 person-years was 5.1 (95 % confidence interval (CI), 3.7–7.1) among patients without endocrine therapy (n = 1364) and 3.6 (95 % CI 2.1–6.1) among those with endocrine therapy (n = 706). The incidence of ipsilateral breast cancer recurrence after breast-conserving surgery per 1000 person-years was 9.2 (95 % CI 6.5–13) among patients without endocrine therapy (n = 753) and 4.2 (95 % CI 2.2–8.1) among those with endocrine therapy (n = 450). The incidence of ipsilateral breast cancer recurrence after breast-conserving surgery per 1000 person-years was 9.9 (95 % CI 6.3–15.6) among patients without radiotherapy (n = 380) and 5.9 (95 % CI 3.9–9.0) among those with radiotherapy (n = 823).

Conclusion

The incidence of contralateral breast cancer among minimum-risk breast cancer patients in Japan, where the incidence of breast cancer is low, was similar to that in Western countries. Endocrine therapy is indicated for this population.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Breast Center, Aihara Hospital, 3-4-30 Makiochi, Minoh, Osaka, 562-0004, Japan

    Tomohiko Aihara

  2. Department of Clinical Trial Design and Management, Translational Research Center, Kyoto University Hospital, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan

    Shiro Tanaka

  3. Department of Breast Surgery, Hakuaikai Sagara Hospital, 3-31 Matsubara, Kagoshima, 892-0833, Japan

    Yasuaki Sagara

  4. Department of Breast Oncology, Aichi Cancer Center Hospital, Nagoya, Japan

    Hiroji Iwata

  5. Breast and General Surgery, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan

    Yasuo Hozumi

  6. Division of Breast Surgery, Saitama Cancer Center, 818 Komuro Ina, Kita-Adachi, Saitama, 362-0806, Japan

    Hiroyuki Takei

  7. Division of Breast Oncology, National Kyushu Cancer Center, 3-1-1 Notame, Minami-ku, Fukuoka, 811-1395, Japan

    Hiroshi Yamaguchi

  8. Department of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, Osaka Medical Center for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases, 1-3-3 Nakamichi, Higashinari-ku, Osaka, 537-8511, Japan

    Makoto Ishitobi

  9. Department of Surgery, Kansai Rosai Hospital, 3-1-69 Inabaso, Amagasaki, Hyogo, 660-8511, Japan

    Chiyomi Egawa

  10. 3-4-30 Makiochi, Minoh, Osaka, 562-0004, Japan

    Tomohiko Aihara

Authors
  1. Tomohiko Aihara
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  2. Shiro Tanaka
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  3. Yasuaki Sagara
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  4. Hiroji Iwata
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  5. Yasuo Hozumi
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  6. Hiroyuki Takei
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  7. Hiroshi Yamaguchi
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  8. Makoto Ishitobi
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  9. Chiyomi Egawa
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tomohiko Aihara.

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Aihara, T., Tanaka, S., Sagara, Y. et al. Incidence of contralateral breast cancer in Japanese patients with unilateral minimum-risk primary breast cancer, and the benefits of endocrine therapy and radiotherapy. Breast Cancer 21, 284–291 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-012-0396-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12282-012-0396-4

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