AACR: Incidence-Based Mortality Dropping for Young Women With Breast Cancer

TUESDAY, April 29, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Incidence-based mortality (IBM) declined from 2010 to 2020 among women aged 20 to 49 years diagnosed with breast cancer, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research, held from April 25 to 30 in Chicago.

Yueshiu Lyu, M.D, from the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, and colleagues examined trends in breast cancer IBM by race and molecular subtype (luminal A, luminal B, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-enriched, and triple negative). Data were analyzed for 11,661 breast cancer deaths among women aged 20 to 49 years.

The researchers observed a decrease in IBM from 2010 to 2020, from 9.70 to 1.47/100,000 women. All subtypes and racial/ethnic groups had declines, with differences seen in the points of inflexion. For luminal A, IBM decreased consistently from 2010, followed by a more marked decline from 2017 (annual percent change [APC], −32.88). A similar pattern was seen for triple-negative breast cancer, with a marked decline in 2018 (APC, −32.82). In 2010 and 2020, the highest IBM was seen in non-Hispanic Black women (16.56 and 3.41/100,000, respectively) compared with non-Hispanic White women (9.18 and 1.16/100,000, respectively). In non-Hispanic Black women, declines in IBM became pronounced from 2016 (APC, −24.15), narrowing the gap with other racial groups. The worst survival was seen for non-Hispanic Black women, while non-Hispanic Whites and non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islanders had the best survival.

“We have made tremendous advances in reducing mortality from breast cancer in young women but there are still opportunities for improvements, especially in relation to eliminating disparities,” coauthor Adetunji T. Toriola, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H., also from Washington University, said in a statement.

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