De novo metastatic breast cancer: Subgroup analysis of molecular subtypes and prognosis

The purpose of the present study was to analyze the clinical and pathological characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of de novo metastatic breast cancer (DnMBC). Information regarding 1,890 patients treated for advanced breast cancer at the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital between January 2008 to December 2017 was collected. Clinicopathological characteristics, treatments and outcomes of these patients were compared using the chi-square test, log-rank test, and Cox regression analysis. A total of 171 patients were diagnosed with DnMBC. The median age at diagnosis was 53 years (range, 23–77). The percentage of T4 staging was higher (37.4%), 69.6% of patients were estrogen receptor (ER) positive, 59.1% were progesterone receptor positive, 29.8% had positive human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status, 68.4% had Ki-67 ≥20%, 55% had oligometastasis at the initial diagnosis, ~87.7% were treated with chemotherapy initially and 24% received palliative surgery for the primary tumor. After a median follow-up time of 26 months, the median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) among patients with DnMBC were 11 (8.7–13.3) months and 34 (27.9–40.1) months, respectively. In the multivariable model, ER status and sites of first metastasis (oligometastasis or polymetastasis) were identified to be independent predictors of PFS (P<0.05); ER status, primary tumor stage, and surgical treatment of primary tumors were identified to be independent predictors of OS (P<0.05). In conclusion, the clinicopathological characteristics of DnMBC are greater invasiveness and a higher risk of progression. Palliative surgical treatment may improve the prognosis of HR+/HER2-patients with oligometastasis. Therefore, individualized treatment as required is particularly important.