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Assessment of tumor characteristics and factors affecting survival in patients with primary metastatic breast carcinoma: a Multicenter Study of the Anatolian Society of Medical Oncology

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Abstract

Primary metastatic breast cancer (PMBC) comprises 3–10 % of all BCs. PMBC is a heterogeneous disease. To date, little is known about the tumor characteristics, treatment results, and overall survival (OS) of patients with PMBC. Patients were considered to have PMBC if distant metastasis was evident within 3 months of the initial diagnosis of BC. Between September 2007 and April 2013, 466 PMBC patients were included in this study and analyzed retrospectively. The median age of the patients was 50 (18–90) years. Bone/soft tissue metastases were more frequent in the hormone receptor (HR)(+) human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER)2(−) group compared with the HR(−)HER2(−) and HR(−)HER2(+) groups (p < 0.001), whereas visceral organ metastasis was more frequent in the HR(−)HER2(−) and HR(−)HER2(+) groups (p < 0.001). The OS was affected by Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status, tumor histology, receptor status, and the site of metastasis (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, and p = 0.011, respectively). According to the first-line systemic treatment choices of the patients, the longest median OS was observed in the HR(+)HER2(+) group who received hormonotherapy combined with trastuzumab after chemotherapy (86 months, 95 % CI 23.8–148.1) and the shortest median OS was observed in the HR(−)HER2(−) group who received chemotherapy only (24 months, 95 % CI 17.9–30.0) (p < 0.001). Bisphosphonate therapy or radiotherapy had no significant effect on OS (p = 0.733, 0.603). In multivariate analysis, hormonotherapy, chemotherapy + trastuzumab, trastuzumab + hormonotherapy following chemotherapy, and surgery were the most important prognostic factors for OS, respectively (p < 0.001, p = 0.025, p = 0.027, p = 0.029). The general characteristics of the primary tumor are important for the prognosis and survival of patients with PMBC. Interestingly, patients who underwent primary breast tumor surgery, even those at the metastatic stage upon admission, had the longest survival.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Abant Izzet Baysal University, 14280, Bolu, Turkey

    Ummugul Uyeturk

  2. Department of Medical Oncology, Dr.Abdurrahman Yurtarslan Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey

    Berna Oksuzoglu, Oznur Bal, Ulku Yalcintas Arslan & Burcin Budakoglu

  3. Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Dokuz Eylül University, Izmir, Turkey

    Tulay Akman & Ugur Yilmaz

  4. Department of Medical Oncology, Trabzon Kanuni Training and Research Hospital, Trabzon, Turkey

    Ibrahim Turker

  5. Department of Medical Oncology, Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey

    Nur Sener

  6. Department of Medical Oncology, Meram Faculty of Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey

    Didem Tastekin

  7. Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey

    Veli Berk

  8. Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Oncology, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey

    Zuhat Urakci

  9. Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Bülent Ecevit University, Zonguldak, Turkey

    Cemil Bilir

  10. Department of Medical Oncology, Konya Training and Research Hospital, Konya, Turkey

    Dogan Yazilitas

  11. Department of Medical Oncology, Bursa Ali Osman Sonmez Oncology Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey

    Arife Ulas

  12. Department of Medical Oncology, Sakarya Training and Research Hospital, Sakarya, Turkey

    Ozlem Uysal Sonmez

  13. Department of Medical Oncology, Diyarbakır Training and Research Hospital, Diyarbakir, Turkey

    Sener Cihan

  14. Department of Medical Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Kocatepe University, Afyon, Turkey

    Mukremin Uysal

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  1. Ummugul Uyeturk
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  2. Berna Oksuzoglu
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  15. Ozlem Uysal Sonmez
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Correspondence to Ummugul Uyeturk.

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Uyeturk, U., Oksuzoglu, B., Akman, T. et al. Assessment of tumor characteristics and factors affecting survival in patients with primary metastatic breast carcinoma: a Multicenter Study of the Anatolian Society of Medical Oncology. Med Oncol 31, 929 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12032-014-0929-0

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