Abstract P5-16-02: Risk of subsequent ipsilateral invasive breast cancer after a primary diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ
Authors: Elshof LE , Schaapveld M , Schmidt MK , Boekel NB , van Leeuwen FE , Wesseling J 
Published: August 2014

Background

Since the introduction of population-based mammography screening the incidence of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast (DCIS) has increased dramatically and concerns about overdiagnosis and overtreatment have been raised. DCIS is considered to be a precursor lesion of most invasive breast cancer, but the challenge remains to distinguish the progressive from the clinically indolent, i.e. harmless lesions. Therefore, we aim to assess the risk of developing a subsequent ipsilateral invasive breast cancer after a first cancer diagnosis of primary DCIS in a large cohort as a first step to solve this clinical dilemma.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study using a nationwide cohort comprising 12,721 women with a first cancer diagnosis of breast carcinoma in situ in the Netherlands between 1 January 1989 and 31 December 2004 and follow-up data up to 31 December 2010, extracted from the Netherlands Cancer Registry (NCR). Women who had bilateral breast disease, a diagnosis other than pure DCIS, and patients who received chemo- or hormonal therapy for their DCIS were excluded, as well as patients who had any other previous cancer diagnosis except for non-melanoma skin carcinoma. Using data from NCR and PALGA, the Dutch Pathology Registry, information about treatment and outcomes was collected and analysed. Outcome was defined as a subsequent ipsilateral invasive breast cancer as first invasive recurrence. Women who had a contralateral invasive breast cancer first, were censored at this diagnosis date. Invasive recurrence rates were compared by age and treatment groups using Cox regression. Women were divided into three age groups: women who were within the age group eligible for participation in the Dutch screening programme, and women who were either younger or older.

Results

A total number of 10,276 women with pure DCIS were included. After a median follow-up of 11.6 years, 520 first ipsilateral invasive recurrences were identified. Preliminary results show that approximately half of the women were treated with breast-conserving surgery (BCS), and the other half underwent a mastectomy. Of the patients who underwent BCS, about half received additional radiotherapy (RT). The age-adjusted hazard ratio for ipsilateral invasive breast cancer in BCS only versus BCS + RT was 2.49 (95% CI: 1.99 – 3.12) and in mastectomy versus BCS + RT 0.32 (95% CI: 0.24 - 0.43). After adjusting for treatment, risk of subsequent ipsilateral invasive breast cancer was higher for women who were younger than the invitation age range for screening when diagnosed compared to women within the age group eligible for the Dutch screening programme (HR = 1.86; 95% CI: 1.51 – 2.29).

Conclusion

This unique nationwide DCIS cohort shows that young women and women treated with BCS only have an increased risk of developing a subsequent ipsilateral invasive breast cancer after a first cancer diagnosis of primary DCIS. Using this cohort with a large number of women with subsequent ipsilateral invasive breast cancer, we will subsequently evaluate the concordance of features of the primary DCIS and the subsequent invasive breast cancer, and the association of characteristics of the DCIS with the risk of developing invasive ipsilateral breast cancer.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P5-16-02.