Distinct clinicopathological features and treatment differences in breast cancer patients of young age
Abstract The incidence of breast cancer in young women (aged under 40) is on the rise and is associated with more aggressive tumor characteristics and lower survival rates. Breast cancer is most frequently diagnosed in the sixth decade, and most research presents results based on data from older pat...
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Nature Portfolio
2025-02-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90053-9 |
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| author | Rasmus O. C. Humlevik Amalie A. Svanøe Turid Aas Anette Heie Anna K. M. Sæle Lars A. Akslen Elisabeth Wik Erling A. Hoivik |
| author_facet | Rasmus O. C. Humlevik Amalie A. Svanøe Turid Aas Anette Heie Anna K. M. Sæle Lars A. Akslen Elisabeth Wik Erling A. Hoivik |
| author_sort | Rasmus O. C. Humlevik |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract The incidence of breast cancer in young women (aged under 40) is on the rise and is associated with more aggressive tumor characteristics and lower survival rates. Breast cancer is most frequently diagnosed in the sixth decade, and most research presents results based on data from older patients. By using large-scale clinico-pathologic and transcriptomic data from the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC) (n = 1932), we aimed to explore age-related differences in treatment, tumor characteristics, and gene expression signatures. Young patients presented more aggressive clinico-pathologic features such as higher histological grade, more frequent lymph node metastasis involvement, and estrogen receptor negativity. Accordingly, age below 40 years was associated with lower mRNA expression of the estrogen- and progesterone receptors, encoded by ESR1 and PGR, a higher proportion of the basal-like subtype, and increased transcription patterns reflecting stemness. Young breast cancer patients showed reduced survival, also within the basal-like subtype. We observed age-related differences in treatment, with more patients receiving chemotherapy among the young. Our results confirm a more challenging disease in young patients with breast cancer despite the more abundant use of chemotherapy. This argues for increased attention to young patients in current management and future research in breast cancer. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0e8e606444c54b02a5c2ad4cf0f5f51e |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
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| spelling | doaj-art-0e8e606444c54b02a5c2ad4cf0f5f51e2025-08-20T02:36:50ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-02-011511910.1038/s41598-025-90053-9Distinct clinicopathological features and treatment differences in breast cancer patients of young ageRasmus O. C. Humlevik0Amalie A. Svanøe1Turid Aas2Anette Heie3Anna K. M. Sæle4Lars A. Akslen5Elisabeth Wik6Erling A. Hoivik7Centre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of, Bergen, Haukeland University HospitalCentre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of, Bergen, Haukeland University HospitalDepartment of Surgery, Haukeland University HospitalDepartment of Surgery, Haukeland University HospitalCentre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of, Bergen, Haukeland University HospitalCentre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of, Bergen, Haukeland University HospitalCentre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of, Bergen, Haukeland University HospitalCentre for Cancer Biomarkers CCBIO, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of, Bergen, Haukeland University HospitalAbstract The incidence of breast cancer in young women (aged under 40) is on the rise and is associated with more aggressive tumor characteristics and lower survival rates. Breast cancer is most frequently diagnosed in the sixth decade, and most research presents results based on data from older patients. By using large-scale clinico-pathologic and transcriptomic data from the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC) (n = 1932), we aimed to explore age-related differences in treatment, tumor characteristics, and gene expression signatures. Young patients presented more aggressive clinico-pathologic features such as higher histological grade, more frequent lymph node metastasis involvement, and estrogen receptor negativity. Accordingly, age below 40 years was associated with lower mRNA expression of the estrogen- and progesterone receptors, encoded by ESR1 and PGR, a higher proportion of the basal-like subtype, and increased transcription patterns reflecting stemness. Young breast cancer patients showed reduced survival, also within the basal-like subtype. We observed age-related differences in treatment, with more patients receiving chemotherapy among the young. Our results confirm a more challenging disease in young patients with breast cancer despite the more abundant use of chemotherapy. This argues for increased attention to young patients in current management and future research in breast cancer.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90053-9Breast CancerYoung AgeStemnessTreatmentSurvival |
| spellingShingle | Rasmus O. C. Humlevik Amalie A. Svanøe Turid Aas Anette Heie Anna K. M. Sæle Lars A. Akslen Elisabeth Wik Erling A. Hoivik Distinct clinicopathological features and treatment differences in breast cancer patients of young age Scientific Reports Breast Cancer Young Age Stemness Treatment Survival |
| title | Distinct clinicopathological features and treatment differences in breast cancer patients of young age |
| title_full | Distinct clinicopathological features and treatment differences in breast cancer patients of young age |
| title_fullStr | Distinct clinicopathological features and treatment differences in breast cancer patients of young age |
| title_full_unstemmed | Distinct clinicopathological features and treatment differences in breast cancer patients of young age |
| title_short | Distinct clinicopathological features and treatment differences in breast cancer patients of young age |
| title_sort | distinct clinicopathological features and treatment differences in breast cancer patients of young age |
| topic | Breast Cancer Young Age Stemness Treatment Survival |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90053-9 |
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