The clinicopathological features of second primary cancer in patients with prior breast cancer

Abstract

Nowadays, the risk of developing second primary cancers among women diagnosed with prior breast cancer represents a public health issue worldwide.Twenty-eight cases of the primary breast cancer with the multiple primary cancers (MPC) between 2008 and 2015 at our hospital were retrospectively analyzed in regards to age of patients, family history, interval time of the 2 cancers, and survival time of these patients.A total 28 cases were analyzed, at the mean age of 44.57 years at the diagnosis of the first primary cancer. The most common primary cancer in these breast cancer patients was contralateral breast cancer. Of 28 patients with breast cancer, 16 developed a second malignant tumor of the opposite breast, there were no significant difference both median age at first breast cancer and second breast cancer (P > .05). The difference of interval time of 2 cancers also had no statistical significance. There was no statistically significant difference in overall survival between the bilateral primary breast cancers (BPBC) group and the group of breast cancer patients who diagnosed with another cancer (P > .05). If we grouped patients age of diagnosed with the first cancer (<45, ≥45 years), no statistical different between 2 groups (P > .05). However, the survival time with positive-node patients was lower than in patients with node-negative, the difference had a notable significant difference (P < .01). And there are 3 cases had a positive family history for malignant tumor in the form of first-degree relative.Multiple primary carcinoma in patients with prior breast cancer is not the influencing factor of prognosis. It is crucial to detect, diagnose, and treat cancers at their early stage for improving the cure rate of cancer and the survival rate of patients.

Figure 1

The survival analysis curve of second primary cancer in patients with prior breast cancer by type. Note: (a) bilateral primary breast cancers (BPBC); (b) breast cancer patients who diagnosed with another second cancer.

Figure 2

The survival analysis curve of second primary cancer in patients with prior breast cancer by age. Note: (a) Age <45 years patients when diagnosed the first breast cancer; (b) age ≥45 years patients when diagnosed with the first breast cancer.

Figure 3

The survival analysis curve of second primary cancer in patients with prior breast cancer by axillary lymph node status. Note: (a) Patients with negative axillary lymph nodes; (b) patients with positive axillary lymph nodes.