title: The characteristics of breast cancer subtypes: implications for treatment guidelines and individualized treatment strategies in China.
abstract: This study aimed at investigating the characteristics of invasive breast cancer among molecular subtypes. Patients with invasive breast cancer, with complete information on the expressions of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2), were recruited. χ tests and an unconditional logistic regression model were used for statistical analysis. The percentages of luminal A, luminal B, HER2/neu, and triple-negative subtypes were 54.2% (1639/3021), 14.0% (422/3021), 8.9% (269/3021), and 22.9% (691/3021), respectively. Differences among molecular subtypes (P<0.05) in tumor size, stage, pathologic type, and lymph node status were observed. The HER2/neu, luminal B, and triple-negative subtypes were more aggressive compared with the luminal A subtype in tumor stage, lymph node status, or pathologic type (P<0.05), when the findings were adjusted for age. Molecular subtypes were distributed differently between both age groups and regional groups on the basis of the socioeconomic status (P<0.05). In conclusion, luminal A and triple-negative subtypes were the 2 main subtypes of invasive breast cancer in China. The variations of molecular subtypes in pathology, age, and regional distribution may give some suggestions for updating treatment guidelines and individualized treatment strategies in China.
authors.affiliation: Departments of *Pathology †Cancer Epidemiology **Center of Breast Disease, Cancer Institute & Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing ‡Department of Oncosurgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Medical College, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an §Department of Breast Surgery, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou ∥Department of Breast Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou ¶Department of Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan #Department of Breast-thyroid Surgery, Xiangya Second Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Qing-Kun
authors.initials: QK
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Wei-Liang
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.forename: Ya-Nan
authors.initials: YN
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bao-Ning
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jin-Hu
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Jian-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: You-Lin
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Qiao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D057285:Precision Medicine; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D047368:Tumor Burden; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human