Long-term survival in patients with incurable breast cancer. An analysis of 93 cases

Abstract

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to elucidate why some patients with incurable breast cancer may survive far beyond our expectation.

Patients and methods: The analysis is based on two cohorts of patients with unresectable locoregional recurrences or distant metastases. Survival time, tumor characteristics, disease-free interval, metastasis type, coexistent diseases and a family history for breast cancer were recorded.

Results: Among 553 patients, 93 patients were found to have survived >4 years. The following favourable prognostic factors were identified: a disease-free interval of 5.5 years and a high frequency of locoregional and skeletal metastasis. In addition, the patients showed several coexistent disorders and a higher incidence of familial breast cancer. The more coexistent disorders are found in a patient, the longer seems to be the survival.

Conclusion: Survival in metastatic breast cancer may not only be determined by known prognostic factors but also by a variety of hormonal and complex genetic influences, and possibly by non-cytotoxic drugs.

Keywords: Metastatic breast cancer; coexistent diseases; genetics of cancer; long-term survival; prognostic factors.