Inherited Breast Cancer Prognosis
Author Information
Author(s): Hartman Mikael, Lindström Linda, Dickman Paul W, Adami Hans-Olov, Hall Per, Czene Kamila
Primary Institution: Karolinska Institutet
Hypothesis
Genetic traits may influence not only the risk of developing breast cancer but also prognostically important features of the malignant phenotype.
Conclusion
Breast cancer prognosis of a woman predicts the survival in her first-degree relatives with breast cancer.
Supporting Evidence
- Daughters of mothers who died within 5 years had a 5-year survival proportion of 87%.
- Sisters of probands with poor prognosis had a 60% higher 5-year breast cancer mortality.
- The study included a large population-based cohort of women with breast cancer.
- Results suggest that breast cancer prognosis might be inherited.
- Concordance in prognosis was strongest among pairs with younger mothers at diagnosis.
Takeaway
If your mom or sister had a certain type of breast cancer, it can help doctors guess how well you might do if you get it too.
Methodology
A population-based cohort study in Sweden analyzed 2,787 mother-daughter pairs and 831 sister pairs with breast cancer diagnosed from 1961 to 2001.
Potential Biases
Potential confounding factors such as awareness, screening behavior, and treatment access may influence results.
Limitations
Lack of information on clinical covariates such as stage of disease and treatment may limit the validity of findings.
Participant Demographics
Women with breast cancer diagnosed in Sweden from 1961 to 2001.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p = 0.002
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 1.2 to 2.2
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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