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% in Western 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.