Pregnancy-related breast cancer: 14-year experience in a tertiary institution in Hong Kong

Abstract

<h3>BACKGROUND</h3><p>The incidence of pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is increasing. Its tumor characteristics and overall survival compared with those in nonpregnant patients remain controversial. While there have been suggestions that PABC patients have a 40% increase in the risk of death compared to non-pregnant patients, other studies suggested similar disease outcomes. This study aims to review our local experience with PABC.</p><h3>METHODS</h3><p>Twenty-eight patients diagnosed with PABC and twenty-eight patients diagnosed at premenopausal age randomly selected by a computer-generated system during the same period were recruited. Background characteristics, tumor features, and survival were compared.</p><h3>RESULTS</h3><p>Among the twenty-eight pregnant patients, seventeen were diagnosed during pregnancy, and eleven were diagnosed in the postpartum period. Compared to the non-pregnant breast cancer patients, they presented with less progesterone receptor-positive tumor (35.7% vs. 64.2%, p=0.03). Although there was no statistically significant difference in tumor size (p=0.44) and nodal status (p=0.16), the tumor tended to be larger in size (2.94 +/- 1.82 vs 2.40 +/- 1.69cm) and with more nodal involvement (35.7% vs 25.0%). There was also a trend of delayed presentation to medical attention, with a mean duration of 13.1 weeks in the PABC group and 8.6 weeks in the control group. However, the overall survival did not differ (p=0.63).</p><h3>CONCLUSION</h3><p>PABC is increasing in incidence. They tend to have more aggressive features, but overall survival remains similar. A multidisciplinary approach is beneficial for providing the most appropriate care.</p>