Factors predicting local relapse and survival in patients treated with surgery for breast cancer

Abstract

Background: Assessment of local relapse in patients treated with surgery for breast cancer.

Materials and methods: This observational study included 673 patients treated with surgery for breast cancer between 2005 and 2010, who were monitored for a 7-year minimum follow-up period. The study was concluded on 2017 and yielded a total of 31 cases of local relapse.

Results: 4.6% of patients presented local relapse, most of them during the first 3 years of follow-up; 45% of patients with local relapse subsequently presented the disease at distant points. The association between the occurrence of local relapse and later onset of the disease at distant points was significant. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that negative results for the presence of progesterone receptors, the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the presence of the disease at distant points were factors that significantly influenced patient survival.

Conclusions: Almost half of the patients suffering relapse subsequently present the disease at distant points. Certain factors increase the aggressiveness of the disease, predict higher risk of relapse and determine its prognosis.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Local recurrence; Predictive factor; Survival.