Journal List > J Breast Cancer > v.11(4) > 1036111

Ahn, Lee, and Kim: The Prognostic Factors for Tumor Metastasis to Bone from Breast Cancer and Survival for Breast Cancer Patients after Bone Metastasis

Abstract

Purpose

Bone is the most common site of breast cancer metastasis. The aim of this study is to identify the subgroup of patients who have high risk of bone metastasis and we evaluate the prognostic factors of overall survival after bone relapse.

Methods

A total 2,785 of primary breast cancer patients who were treated from January 1980 to December 2001 were included in this analysis. All the patients received radical surgery at the time of diagnosis. We retrospectively collected the clinico-pathologic data (age, tumor size, axillary lymph node status, histologic grade, steroid hormone receptor status, and disease-free interval after primary surgery). Definitive radiologic evidence of bone metastases by plain X-ray or whole body bone scan during follow-up was defined as bone metastases. We analyzed the relationship between the clinicopatholgic factors and the risk of bone metastases and the overall survival after bone relapse.

Results

During follow-up, 256 patients (9.3%) experienced bone metastasis. By multivariate analysis using Cox's model, age less than 35 years (p<0.001, risk ratio [RR]; 2.467, 95% confidence interval [CI]; 1.619-3.759), large primary tumor more than 2 cm (p=0.005, RR; 1.911, 95% CI; 1.222-2.988), positive axillary node (p<0.001, RR; 2.798, 95% CI; 1.867-4.195), and a high histologic grade (p=0.046, RR; 1.631, 95% CI; 1.008-2.640) were significantly associated with frequent bone metastases. The 10 years survival rate after bone metastasis was 26.9%. Disease free interval less than 2 years (p<0.001, RR; 3.453, 95% CI; 2.382-5.005) and hormone receptor status (p=0.003, RR; 1.791, 95% CI; 1.218-2.635) were independently associated with poor overall survival after bone relapse.

Conclusion

We concluded that a shorter disease-free interval after definitive surgery and hormonal receptor status of the primary tumor are independent prognostic factors of overall survival after bone metastasis. These results show that a tailored strategy is needed for the treatment of patients with bone metastases.

Figures and Tables

Fig 1
Ten years overall survival estimation after bone metastasis according to clinic-pathologic factors. The Kaplan-Meier method was used for overall survival measurement (A, age; B, disease-free interval; C, T stage; D, N stage; E, histologic grade; F, hormone receptor). Age, disease-free interval and hormone receptor status were statistically significant.
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Table 1
Clinicopathologic characteristics of the study population
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BCT=breast conservation therapy; HG=histologic grade; HR=hormone receptor.

Table 2
Kaplan-Meier bone metastasis free survival estimation according to clinico-pathologic factors
jbc-11-187-i002

HG=histologic grade; HR=hormone receptor.

Table 3
Cox-multivariate analysis of the prognostic factors for bone metastases
jbc-11-187-i003

HG=histologic grade; RR=risk ratio; CI=95% confidence interval.

Table 4
Cox-multivariate analysis of overall survival after bone metastases
jbc-11-187-i004

DFI=disease free interval; HR=hormone receptor; RR=risk ratio; CI=95% confidence interval.

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