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Review
. 2025 Sep 6:17:17588359251369973.
doi: 10.1177/17588359251369973. eCollection 2025.

Pregnancy and breast cancer in young women: current updates and future directions

Shiliang Zhang  1 , Sena B Guclu  2 , Marla Lipsyc-Sharf  1 , Nimmi S Kapoor  3
Affiliations
Review

Pregnancy and breast cancer in young women: current updates and future directions

Shiliang Zhang et al. Ther Adv Med Oncol. .

Abstract

The relationship between pregnancy and breast cancer is complicated. On one hand, pregnancy can influence breast cancer risk and tumor biology, and on the other, a breast cancer diagnosis and its subsequent management can significantly affect fertility, family planning, and future pregnancies. This interaction presents challenges unique to young women with breast cancer (YWBC). This review provides an updated overview of YWBC and pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC), including the rising prevalence of YWBC, current understanding of the biology of PABC and its subtypes, and the management of PABC. We address the critical issue of how breast cancer treatment impacts family planning and future pregnancies, including current data on interrupting endocrine treatment for pregnancy. Additionally, we examine recent advancements in early-stage breast cancer as well as gaps in knowledge regarding how targeted treatments affect ovarian reserve. Finally, we highlight key areas of future research that could improve the prevention, management, and understanding of cancer treatment's impact on fertility in YWBC.

Keywords: breast cancer; chemotherapy; hormone therapy; postpartum; pregnancy; targeted therapy.

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Conflict of interest statement

S.Z.: None. S.B.G.: None. M.L.-S.: Natera—Advisory Board, Honorarium, Exact Sciences—Honorarium, Novartis—Advisory Board. N.S.K.: Myriad Genetics Honorarium, Guidepoint Consulting, Honorarium, IceCure Medical, Inc., Consultant Fees, Aura Health Technologies, Consultant Fees.

Figures

The image is a timeline illustrating the differentiation between Pregnancy-Related Breast Cancer (PrBC) and Postpartum Breast Cancer (PPBC). PrBC section highlights that it is diagnosed during pregnancy, while PPBC section shows it is diagnosed postpartum, within 0-10 years after delivery. The categories clearly outline the temporal context each type of cancer is identified, emphasizing the importance of understanding the timing of diagnosis in categorizing these breast cancers. The distinction is crucial for healthcare providers to ensure accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plans.
Figure 1.
Timeline and definition of PABC (PrBC vs PPBC). PABC, pregnancy-associated breast cancer; PPBC, postpartum breast cancer; PrBC, pregnancy-related breast cancer.
alarming connections between biological pathways and tumor microenvironment in postpartum breast cancer
Figure 2.
Biological pathways and tumor microenvironment in PPBC. PPBC, postpartum breast cancer.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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