Quality Indicators Compliance and Survival Outcomes in Breast Cancer according to Age in a Certified Center

SIMPLE SUMMARY: In this study, we examined how age impacts the outcomes of breast cancer by comparing three age groups: patients 45 years old or younger, patients between 46 and 69 years old, and patients 70 years old or older. Despite similar cancer staging and tumor characteristics among the age groups, the study found that older patients were prone to suboptimal treatment. Older patients also had a lower overall survival rate, but this was not related to cancer itself. Instead, we found that undertreatment was a factor that negatively impacted survival for older women with breast cancer. This study suggests that tumor characteristics and treatment compliance are more important predictors of survival than chronological age. ABSTRACT: Age as a breast cancer (BC) prognostic factor remains debatable. Several studies have investigated clinicopathological features at different ages, but few make an age group direct comparison. The European Society of Breast Cancer Specialists quality indicators (EUSOMA-QIs) allow a standardized quality assurance of BC diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. Our objective was to compare clinicopathological features, compliance to EUSOMA-QIs and BC outcomes in three age groups (≤45 years, 46–69 years, and ≥70 years). Data from 1580 patients with staged 0–IV BC from 2015 to 2019 were analyzed. The minimum standard and desirable target on 19 mandatory and 7 recommended QIs were studied. The 5-year relapse rate, overall survival (OS), and BC-specific survival (BCSS) were also evaluated. No meaningful differences in TNM staging and molecular subtyping classification between age groups were found. On the contrary, disparities in QIs compliance were observed: 73.1% in ≤45 years and 46–69 years women vs. 54% in older patients. No differences in loco-regional or distant progression were observed between age groups. Nevertheless, lower OS was found in older patients due to concurrent non-oncological causes. After survival curves adjustment, we underscored evidence of undertreatment impacting BCSS in ≥70 years women. Despite a unique exception—more invasive G3 tumors in younger patients—no age-specific differences in BC biology impacting outcome were found. Although increased noncompliance in older women, no outcome correlation was observed with QIs noncompliance in any age group. Clinicopathological features and differences in multimodal treatment (not the chronological age) are predictors of lower BCSS.