Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41903009›Full record

ArticleBreast cancer research and treatment2026

Real-world treatment patterns and outcomes in older patients with metastatic breast cancer: a multi-institutional retrospective cohort study.

Reiko Mitsueda, Yasuaki Sagara, Naoki Niikura, Shinji Ohno, Tetsuhiko Taira, Masahiro Takada, Minoru Miyashita, Hiroshi Ishiguro, Shigehira Saji, Norikazu Masuda

Abstract readMulticenter Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Breast cancer research and treatment, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Reiko MitsuedaDepartment of Breast and Thyroid Surgical Oncology, Sagara Hospital, Hakuaikai Medical Corporation, Address: 3-31 Matsubara Cho, Kagoshima Shi, Kagoshima, 892-0833, Japan. mitsueda@sagara.or.jp.
Yasuaki SagaraDepartment of Breast and Thyroid Surgical Oncology, Sagara Hospital, Hakuaikai Medical Corporation, Address: 3-31 Matsubara Cho, Kagoshima Shi, Kagoshima, 892-0833, Japan.
Naoki NiikuraDepartment of Breast Oncology, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan.
Shinji OhnoDepartment of Breast and Thyroid Surgical Oncology, Sagara Hospital, Hakuaikai Medical Corporation, Address: 3-31 Matsubara Cho, Kagoshima Shi, Kagoshima, 892-0833, Japan.
Tetsuhiko TairaDepartment of Oncology, Sagara Hospital, Hakuaikai Medical Corporation, Kagoshima, Japan.
Masahiro TakadaDepartment of Breast Surgery, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan.
Minoru MiyashitaDepartment of Breast and Endocrine Surgical Oncology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Miyagi, Japan.
Hiroshi IshiguroDepartment of Breast Oncology, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, Saitama, Japan.
Shigehira SajiDepartment of Medical Oncology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
Norikazu MasudaDepartment of Breast Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAs populations age worldwide, breast cancer mortality among older patients continues to rise despite therapeutic advances. This study investigates differences in treatment patterns and outcomes between older and younger patients with metastatic breast cancer.

methodsWe analyzed clinical data from the Advanced Breast Cancer Database (ABCD) maintained by the Japanese Breast Cancer Research Group. The dataset included patients registered between June 1, 2020, and October 31, 2023, encompassing clinicopathologic information, treatment details, breast cancer specific survival (BCSS), and overall survival (OS).

resultsA total of 1629 patients were included. The frequency of chemotherapy and genomic testing decreased with age, yet patients in their 70 s demonstrated treatment durations and survival outcomes comparable to those of younger patients. In contrast, patients aged ≥ 80 years exhibited shorter duration of second-line therapy (adjusted HR:0.65, 95% CI: 0.43-1.04) and poorer OS (adjusted HR:0.62, 95% CI: 0.37-1.04) and BCSS (adjusted HR:0.66, 95% CI: 0.38-1.14), despite most deaths being attributable to breast cancer rather than non-cancer-related causes.

conclusionsThis multicenter retrospective study demonstrates that patients in their 70 s can achieve comparable benefits from systemic therapy to younger individuals, emphasizing the importance of not withholding treatment based solely on chronological age. Conversely, the limited effectiveness of later-line therapies in patients aged ≥ 80 highlights the need for individualized treatment strategies that balance efficacy, quality of life, and comorbidities through comprehensive geriatric assessment and shared decision-making.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy ProtocolsBreast NeoplasmsAgedAged, 80 and overAge FactorsFemaleHumansJapanMiddle AgedNeoplasm MetastasisRetrospective StudiesTreatment OutcomeAge-related treatment patternsBreast cancer specific survivalMetastatic breast cancerOlder patientsOverall survival

Identifiers

PMID41903009

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.