Clinicopathologic features and prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer in China: a retrospective cohort study of patients under 35 years old

Aim: To analyze factors that affect the prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer patients under 35 years old. Material and methods: We retrospectively analyzed confirmed triple negative breast cancer cases from 2000 to 2016 in multiple institutions. A total of 105 patients were included in the study, Nineteen of them were diagnosed with age <= 25, and 86 of them were aged between 26 to 35. Result: There were no statistically significant differences in clinicopathologic features and treatment choices between patients aged <= 25 years and those aged 26-35 years (P > 0.05). Survival analysis showed no statistically significant differences in DFS and OS between the two groups (P > 0.05). Multiple factor analysis showed that age of menarche (HR 0.697, 95% CI [0.5634, 0.8631]), pregnancy correlation (HR 2.673, 95% CI [1.1581, 6.1741]), and lymph node positivity (HR 4.915, 95% CI [2.3774, 10.1627]) were independent prognostic factors that affected patients' DFS. Independent prognostic factors that influenced OS were age of menarche (HR 0.598, 95% CI [0.462 6, 0.775]) and lymph node positivity (HR 7.751, 95% CI [2.923, 20.559]). Conclusion: There was no difference in the clinicopathological features and prognosis between women <= 25 and women aged 26-35 years with triple-negative breast cancer. Age of menarche, pregnancy correlation, and positive lymph nodes were independent factors affecting prognosis. The relationship between reproductive factors and prognosis in young patients with triple negative breast cancer needs further discussion.