Survival in familial and non-familial breast cancer by age and stage at diagnosis.

Kharazmi E1, Försti A2, Sundquist K3, Hemminki K2.

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Abstract

We aimed to compare the survival in familial and sporadic breast cancer (BC) patients who were diagnosed at an identical age and TNM stage. The Nationwide Swedish Family-Cancer Database including all Swedes born after 1931 and their biological parents, totalling >14.7 million individuals, was used. Hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated for women with BC in a first-degree relative (FDR) versus BC patients without positive family history. There was no difference in survival of familial BC patients who were diagnosed at higher TNM status or older age (>40) compared to sporadic BC cases diagnosed at the same late TNM stage. Young BC patients (age <40) in early stages had the worst survival when their FDR was diagnosed with single (HR: 2.0-3.7) or multiple (HR: 2.4-7.1) BC at any age. We concluded that there is no difference in survival of familial and non-familial BC patients who are diagnosed at higher TNM status or older ages (>40). Young familial BC patients (age <40), diagnosed at early stage, have the poorer survival compared to sporadic cases. Our results urge the need for identifying the underling genetic component for such a difference in survival of familial BC.