Wu M - Among TNBC patients in the US, researchers analyzed general treatment status and factors related to the treatments. Except a relative low radiation therapy among breast conserving surgery (BCS) women, a concordance was seen, generally, between current treatment practice for TNBC in the US and the recommended breast cancer care. However, the observed treatment patterns showed disparities within the limited treatment options. Also, variance was seen with regard to factors related to the disparities. This subtype deserves more effective treatment options and treatment equality.

Methods

• The researcher used the latest released NPCR and SEER combined cancer registry data, which covers 100% of the US population.
• Participants were all women in the US with a primary invasive TNBC breast cancer diagnosed between 2013 and 2015.
• On the basis of corresponding year’s NCCN guideline recommendations, first course treatment patterns by AJCC staging on TNBC were examined.
• Factors associated with treatments were determined using regression analysis.

Results

• This study included 74,952 TNBC women.
• Surgically treated subjects comprised 93% women with early stage of TNBC, and contralateral prophylactic mastectomy was opted by 35% women with mastectomy.
• The chance of having mastectomy vs BCS was higher in patients aged < 35, Non-Hispanic Asian Pacific Islander, living in other regions than northeast or metropolitan, among stage I-III patients.
• Only 65% of women with BCS were treated with radiation therapy; non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic, and those aged < 35 or > 70+ were less likely to be treated with BCS.
• According to data, chemotherapy was received for 75% of TNBC women, ranging from 63% (stage I) to 86% (stage III).
• Findings demonstrated treatment disparities among different demographic and geographic features in chemotherapy.