National Cancer Database analysis of demographic and clinical trends of young breast cancer patients

Analysis of the National Cancer Database investigated demographic and clinical trends of young breast cancer patients (≤ 40 years of age at diagnosis) diagnosed between 2005 and 2019. There was an increasing trend in the number of cases diagnosed each year, with a drop-of during the year 2020, likely related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Approximately 99% of the cases were diagnosed in women. Overall, there were 55,397 patients diagnosed between 2005 and 2009 (‘old group’) and 67,930 patients diagnosed between 2015 and 2019 (‘new group’). Median age in both groups was 37 years. Comparison of the old group and the new group showed an increase in the proportion of Hispanic (8.4% to 10.0%), Black (16.0% to 16.6%), and Asian (4.8% tot 6.7%) populations. In the new groups, Black patients had a significantly worse overall survival (p<0.001). Additionally, there was a reduction in the proportion of patients with private insurance (81.7% to 76.4%) and an increase in patients with Medicaid (11.0% to 16.0%). There was a significant increase in hormone receptor-positive disease (70.0% to 75.8%). The authors conclude that within the group of young breast cancer patients, the proportion of underserved populations is increasing.