Pattern of distant recurrence according to the molecular subtypes in Korean women with breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
Distant recurrence is one of the most important risk factors in overall survival, and distant recurrence is related to a complex biologic interaction of seed and soil factors. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between the molecular subtypes and patterns of distant recurrence in patients with breast cancer.


METHODS
In an investigation of 313 women with breast cancer who underwent surgery from 1994 and 2000, the expressions of estrogen and progestrone receptor (ER/PR), and human epithelial receptor-2 (HER2) were evaluated. The subtypes were defined as luminal-A, luminal-HER2, HER2-enriched, and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) according to ER, PR, and HER2 status.


RESULTS
Bone was the most common site of distant recurrence. The incidence of first distant recurrence site was significantly different among the subtypes. Brain metastasis was more frequent in the luminal-HER2 and TNBC subtypes. In subgroup analysis, overall survival in patients with distant recurrence after 24 months after surgery was significantly different among the subtypes.


CONCLUSIONS
Organ-specific metastasis may depend on the molecular subtype of breast cancer. Tailored strategies against distant metastasis concerning the molecular subtypes in breast cancer may be considered.
Department of Surgery, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Hyung Seok
HS
Park
Shinhyuk
S
Kim
Kiho
K
Kim
Ho
H
Yoo
Byung Joo
BJ
Chae
Ja Seong
JS
Bae
Byung Joo
BJ
Song
Sang Seol
SS
Jung
D000328:Adult; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone