Prognostic factors for relapse in young breast cancer patients

Objective. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in women. Most deaths from breast cancer are due to recurrences or metastatic disease. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of age in treatment strategy correlated with clinicopathological features. Methodology: In this retrospective study, 60 female patients with histologically-confirmed primary breast cancer were included. The women were treated in the Oncofort Hospital Bucharest, Romania between 2018 and 2020. The estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and HER2 status were determined using immunohistochemistry. Results. The mean age was 34.14 years (range = 24 – 40 years). Invasive ductal carcinoma of no specific type was seen in 84.1% of patients. The rates of grade I, II and III carcinomas were 6.7%, 28,3% and 65%, respectively. Among all patients, 33.3% had estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor positive tumors and 66.66% had estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor negative tumors. The proportion of patients overexpressing oncoprotein HER2 was 13.3%. Conclusion. Prognostic value of proliferation index (Ki-67) and hormonal receptors, may vary depending on age.