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Breast Cancer under 40 Years of Age: Increasing Number and Worse Prognosis

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Pathology & Oncology Research

Abstract

Breast cancer at a relatively young age with a poor prognosis is currently exhibiting an increasing incidence. In a retrospective cohort analysis of early breast cancer cases after surgery from our institutional patient registry, 141 patients aged ≤40 years constituted the younger group, with 300 randomly selected patients aged >40 years as controls. A significant and steady increase was found in the relative number of younger cases during the years 2004–2009. The histological type and grade and the lymph node status of the cancers differed significantly between the two groups, with more aggressive biological behaviour, a more advanced stage and a worse prognosis in the younger group. Half of the cancers in the younger cohort were ER-negative, while two-thirds in the control group were ER-positive. Comparatively more tumours were PR-positive and HER2-negative in the control group than in the younger group. The rates of triple-negative cases were 25% and 13% in the younger age and the control group, respectively (p = 0.026). Significantly higher mastectomy and axillary block dissection rates were observed in the younger age group, and more chemotherapy was administered than in the control group. Our findings demonstrate the significance of breast cancer in cases aged <40 years, and draw attention to the need for appropriate care in these cases.

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Fig. 1
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Abbreviations

ER:

oestrogen receptor

HER2:

human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2

pN:

pathological lymph node status

pT:

pathological tumour size

PR:

progesterone receptor

DCIS:

ductal carcinoma in situ

IDC:

invasive ductal carcinoma

ILC:

invasive lobular carcinoma

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Acknowledgement

The authors are indebted to Dr. István Gaudi (National Institute of Oncology, Budapest) for providing and discussing the National Cancer Registry data.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncotherapy, University of Szeged, Korányi fasor 12., 6720, Szeged, Hungary

    Ágnes Dobi, Gyöngyi Kelemen, László Thurzó & Zsuzsanna Kahán

  2. Department of Pathology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary

    László Kaizer

  3. Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary

    Roland Weiczner

Authors
  1. Ágnes Dobi
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  2. Gyöngyi Kelemen
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  3. László Kaizer
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  4. Roland Weiczner
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  5. László Thurzó
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  6. Zsuzsanna Kahán
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ágnes Dobi.

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Dobi, Á., Kelemen, G., Kaizer, L. et al. Breast Cancer under 40 Years of Age: Increasing Number and Worse Prognosis. Pathol. Oncol. Res. 17, 425–428 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-010-9305-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12253-010-9305-3

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