Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
201,683 studies31 sourcesUpdated 25 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BYAging clinical and experimental research

Age-related survival gaps in triple-negative breast cancer: a 10-year real-world analysis.

  • Dinis Galhardo1
  • Bárbara Peleteiro2,3,4,5
  • Fernando Osório5,6,7
7 affiliations
  1. 1Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, 4200-319, Portugal. [email protected].
  2. 2Hospital Epidemiology Center, São João University Hospital, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, 4200-319, Portugal.
  3. 3EPIUnit ITR, Institute of Public Health, University of Porto, Rua das Taipas 135, Porto, 4050-600, Portugal.
  4. 4Department of Public Health and Forensic Sciences, and Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, 4200-319, Portugal.
  5. 5Breast Center, São João University Hospital, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, 4200-319, Portugal.
  6. 6Department of Surgery and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, 4200-319, Portugal.
  7. 7RISE-Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Prof. Hernâni Monteiro, Porto, 4200-319, Portugal.
Read full textPDFDOICite

Abstract

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by aggressive biological behavior and poor prognosis. While multimodal treatment is standard, it is frequently withheld from older adults. We evaluated age-related gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and survival, testing whether disparities in clinical management drive worse outcomes in older adults. This 10-year retrospective cohort study (2010-2019) included 289 TNBC patients stratified into three age groups (≤ 45, 46-69 and ≥ 70 years). Clinicopathological features, treatment patterns, adherence to the ESMO-defined standard of care (SOC), and 5-year survival were analyzed. TNBC incidence (10.8%) remained consistent across age groups (p = 0.374). Patients aged ≥ 70 years presented with larger tumors (median: 27 mm; p = 0.003) and received less intensive diagnostic workups (p < 0.001). SOC adherence was significantly lower in older adults (50.9% vs. 85.9% in those ≤ 45 years; p < 0.001). SOC nonadherence increased the risk for both overall mortality (OM) (HR: 3.47) and breast cancer-specific mortality (BCSM) (sHR: 2.88) (p < 0.001). Failure to achieve pathologic complete response (pCR) tripled mortality risk (OM HR: 3.74, p = 0.016; BCSM sHR: 3.54, p = 0.018). Older women had lower survival rates than did those aged 46-69 years for both 5-year overall (56.0% vs. 83.0%; p < 0.001) and breast cancer-specific survival (63.0% vs. 85.0%; p = 0.006). The poorer prognosis in older adults with TNBC is significantly associated with clinical management disparities and low SOC adherence, while histopathological markers of tumor aggressiveness remain highly prevalent across the age spectrum. Daily practice must transition from chronological age-based decisions toward biological fitness to overcome ageism, avoid undertreatment, and ensure personalized therapeutic decision-making.

Related

  1. Mitochondrial rewiring supports survival of triple negative breast cancer cells after ionizing radiation
    S. W. Wall, K. Wang, A. Greer +14
    bioRxivPreprintCC BY-NC-NDFull textOncologybioRxiv
  2. Peripheral absolute lymphocyte count and survival of patients with triple-negative breast cancer: a meta-analysis
    Huihui Yang, Chuanxin Ye, Taikao Qin +5
    Frontiers in OncologyPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0OncologyFrontiersCrossref
  3. PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors combined with chemotherapy or as monotherapy versus chemotherapy alone or observation in triple-negative breast cancer: a systematic review and updated meta-analysis incorporating long-term survival data
    Bing Guan, Yawen Chen, Rong Zhou +3
    Frontiers in ImmunologyPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textOncologyCrossrefEurope PMC
  4. A real-world nomogram integrating predictive markers for disease-free survival in postmenopausal triple-negative breast cancer receiving anthracycline/taxane-based chemotherapy
    Yan Lin, Shao-hong Yu, Chai-Ming Zeng +2
    Frontiers in OncologyPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textOncologyPMCCrossrefEurope PMC
  5. Multifocal FDG-avid pancreatic pseudomasses mimicking metastases during pembrolizumab for axillary recurrence of triple-negative breast cancer: a case report of immune-related pancreatitis
    Paul Matte, Claire Charpignon, Vincent Servois +6
    Frontiers in OncologyPeer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textOncologyCrossrefEurope PMCPMC

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{galhardo2026agerelated,
  title = {{Age-related survival gaps in triple-negative breast cancer: a 10-year real-world analysis.}},
  author = {Dinis Galhardo and Bárbara Peleteiro and Fernando Osório},
  journal = {Aging clinical and experimental research},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.1007/s40520-026-03451-y},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42911511},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Age-related survival gaps in triple-negative breast cancer: a 10-year real-world analysis.
AU  - Dinis Galhardo
AU  - Bárbara Peleteiro
AU  - Fernando Osório
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/24
JO  - Aging clinical and experimental research
DO  - 10.1007/s40520-026-03451-y
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42911511
AB  - Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by aggressive biological behavior and poor prognosis. While multimodal treatment is standard, it is frequently withheld from older adults. We evaluated age-related gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and survival, testing whether disparities in clinical management drive worse outcomes in older adults. This 10-year retrospective cohort study (2010-2019) included 289 TNBC patients stratified into three age groups (≤ 45, 46-69 and ≥ 70 years). Clinicopathological features, treatment patterns, adherence to the ESMO-defined standard of care (SOC), and 5-year survival were analyzed. TNBC incidence (10.8%) remained consistent across age groups (p = 0.374). Patients aged ≥ 70 years presented with larger tumors (median: 27 mm; p = 0.003) and received less intensive diagnostic workups (p < 0.001). SOC adherence was significantly lower in older adults (50.9% vs. 85.9% in those ≤ 45 years; p < 0.001). SOC nonadherence increased the risk for both overall mortality (OM) (HR: 3.47) and breast cancer-specific mortality (BCSM) (sHR: 2.88) (p < 0.001). Failure to achieve pathologic complete response (pCR) tripled mortality risk (OM HR: 3.74, p = 0.016; BCSM sHR: 3.54, p = 0.018). Older women had lower survival rates than did those aged 46-69 years for both 5-year overall (56.0% vs. 83.0%; p < 0.001) and breast cancer-specific survival (63.0% vs. 85.0%; p = 0.006). The poorer prognosis in older adults with TNBC is significantly associated with clinical management disparities and low SOC adherence, while histopathological markers of tumor aggressiveness remain highly prevalent across the age spectrum. Daily practice must transition from chronological age-based decisions toward biological fitness to overcome ageism, avoid undertreatment, and ensure personalized therapeutic decision-making.
SN  - 1594-0667
SN  - 1720-8319
ER  -