Clinicopathological Features, Treatment and Prognosis of Invasive Breast Cancer Patients over 70 Years Old

Objective To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics, treatment patterns and prognosis factors of female invasive breast cancer patients over 70 years old. Methods A total of 178 female invasive breast cancer patients over 70 years old were included in this retrospective study. Their clinicopathological characteristics, treatment options, including operation and adjuvant treatment, overall survival and prognostic factors were analyzed. Results These 178 patients accounted for 12.4% of all breast cancer patients registered in our institution during the same period; 83.7% of these patients were complicated with at least one comorbidity; stage T1 and T2 patients accounted for 46.1% and 36.5%, respectively, and major pathological type was invasive ductal carcinoma; positive ER and(or) PR patients accounted for 81.6%. Tumor size, lymph node status, TNM stage, PR status, comorbidities and axillary operation were found to be independent factors to influence chemotherapy by multivariate analysis. Age was the only factor to influence radiotherapy. The median follow-up was 51 months, the cumulative 3-and 5-year disease-free survival were 91.8% and 80.5%, and the 3-year overall survival was 94%. Factors affecting the prognosis were tumor size, lymph node status, TNM stage and operation options by univariate analysis. Insufficient treatment, especially insufficient chemotherapy, would affect elderly breast cancer patients' survival, without significant difference. Conclusion Female breast cancer patients over 70 years old are mainly with early-stage cancer, good pathologic types and prognosis. Treatment options are influenced by TNM stage, molecular types, age and comorbidities. Most causes of death are non-breast cancer specific. Surgery is still the most important treatment method to improve patients' survival.