Clinical and pathological characteristics and prognosis analysis of breast cancer patients stratified by age.

To analyze the clinical characteristics of breast cancer patients across different age groups and their impact on prognosis. A retrospective study was conducted from January 2022 to December 2023, including 105 breast cancer patients. These patients were stratified into three groups: young (<40 years), middle-aged (40-59 years), and elderly (≥60 years). The mean age at diagnosis was 52.74 years, with the highest incidence observed in the middle-aged group. Significant differences were found across age groups in histological grade, tumor size, molecular subtype, Ki67, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), and carbohydrate antigen 15-3 (CA15-3) (all P<0.05). Disease-free survival (DFS) rates varied significantly across age groups, with differences in histological grade, tumor size, molecular subtype, Ki67, CEA, and CA15-3 levels (P<0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed that age (both young and elderly), pathological stage (stage III), and molecular subtype (triple-negative) are independent risk factors for adverse prognostic events in breast cancer patients (P<0.05). Additionally, there was an interaction between age and molecular subtype, with significantly increased prognostic risks for the triple-negative type in the young (HR=21.418, P<0.05), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 overexpression in the young (HR=11.216, P<0.05), and luminal B in the elderly (HR=8.190, P<0.05). The clinical characteristics and prognosis of breast cancer patients vary significantly by age group. Combining age with molecular subtype can optimize risk stratification and provide a valuable reference for individualized treatment and prognosis management.