Abstract
Background and purpose: As older patients with breast cancer are often not included in clinical trials, we currently have a limited number of specific recommendations available.
Methods: Our retrospective analysis concerned patients older than 75 years treated between January 2010 and December 2018 at the Breast Unit of Martini Hospital in Turin.
Results: We selected 408 patients aged >75 years and affected by primary breast cancer. In this whole sample, worse OS (p < 0.001), LRFS (p = 0.008) and SRFS (p = 0.042) were observed in the undertreated group as compared with the standard treatment group, while no difference was found in DFS. In the older subgroup of patients (>85 years old), OS and LRFS did not appear to be affected by undertreatment (p=0.476 and p=0.834, respectively). While SRFS was seen to be worse in the undertreated patients aged >85 years (p=0.031), it did not appear to be affected by undertreatment in the subgroup aged 75-85 years (p=0.119).
Conclusion: Although undertreatment affects survival in a statistically significant way, age itself is the main factor affecting five-year survival and is the main risk factor for mortality in elderly patients.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Alessandra Surace, Lucia Idda, Elisabetta Trino, Anna Turletti, Cristina Capello, Lorenza Mairone, Chiara Perono Biacchiardi, Stefano Guzzetti, Maria Grazia Baù, Massimiliano Bortolini