Breast cancer patients treated with systemic therapy who survive disease-free for five years have a substantial risk of cancer recurring up to 10 years after treatment, and late recurrence is associated with certain tumor characteristics, according to a report published online Aug. 11 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Abenaa M. Brewster, M.D., and colleagues from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston examined the residual risk of recurrence and prognostic factors in 2,838 women with stage I-III breast cancer who were treated with adjuvant or neoadjuvant systemic therapy from 1985-2001 and remained disease-free for five years.

The researchers found that 216 patients had a recurrence, with a residual recurrence-free survival of 89 percent at five years and 80 percent at 10 years. The residual risk of recurrence was 7 percent to 13 percent depending on cancer stage. Late recurrence was predicted by cancer stage, grade, hormone receptor status and endocrine therapy, the authors write.

"Breast cancer patients have a substantial residual risk of recurrence, and selected tumor characteristics are associated with late recurrences," Brewster and colleagues conclude.

One of the study authors reports a financial relationship with the pharmaceutical industry.

Abstract
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