Breast cancer survival and tumor characteristics in premenopausal women carrying the CHEK2*1100delC germline mutation

Abstract

Purpose: Women carrying a CHEK2*1100delC germline mutation have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. This study aims to determine the proportion of CHEK2*1100delC carriers in a premenopausal breast cancer population, unselected for family history of breast cancer, and to investigate tumor characteristics and disease outcome with sufficient follow-up.

Patients and methods: We identified a retrospective cohort of 1,479 patients, who received surgery for invasive breast cancer between 1970 and 1994. All patients were diagnosed before age 50. Paraffin-embedded tissue blocks were collected for DNA isolation (normal tissue), subsequent CHEK2*1100delC analysis, and tumor revision. Median follow-up was 10.1 years.

Results: We detected a CHEK2*1100delC germline mutation in 54 patients (3.7%). Tumor characteristics of CHEK2*1100delC carriers did not differ significantly from those of noncarriers. CHEK2*1100delC carriers had a two-fold increased risk (hazard ratio [HR], 2.1; 95% CI, 1.0 to 4.3; P = .049) of developing a second breast cancer and they had worse recurrence-free survival (HR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2 to 2.4; P = .006) and worse breast cancer-specific survival (HR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.0 to 2.1; P = .072) compared with noncarriers. The poorer disease outcome of CHEK2*1100delC carriers could not be explained by the increased risk of second breast cancer.

Conclusion: Our study, which is representative for the premenopausal breast cancer population, reveals approximately 4% CHEK2*1100delC carriers have an increased risk of second breast cancer and a worse long-term recurrence-free survival rate. Their identification at time of diagnosis and prolonged intensive follow-up should be considered to optimize clinical management.