Clinical outcome and prognostic factors for very young patients with breast cancer: A comparative matched single institution study in Iran

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most frequent diagnosed solid cancer among Iranian females and it comprises 25% of all cancer new cases in women. Breast cancer is uncommon in very young women (< 35 years), only accounting for fewer than 4% inWestern countries. However, it is more common in Asian countries. Various studies have been reported in western countries on very young women, most of them insisted on the poorer outcomes of very young women instead of not very young women (age > 35 years). However, extensive data from Iran is insufficient. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare the clinical, pathological profile, and prognostic factors between patients with breast cancer with age ≤ 35 years and > 35 years at our institute. Methods: The medical records of 1,910 patients with breast cancer in the Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Cancer Research Center database were reviewed between September 2002 and December 2014. A total of 199 patients with breast cancer were identified as very young group (age ≤ 35 years) and 398 patients, as less young group (age > 35 years), were selected and matched based on a time-stratified 2:1 approach. Finally, 597 patients with breast cancer were selected for the study. Results: The 5-year progression free survival (PFS) rate was 66% in very young group and 91% in not very young group that were significantly lower in patients with age ≤ 35 years than patients with age > 35 years. Conclusions: We observed that very young women had worse outcome compared with not very young women. However, longer follow up of these patients is required for more mature data on these cancers.