Racial disparities in presenting stage and surgical management among octogenarians with breast cancer: a national cancer database analysis.

Background: As the US faces a diverse aging population, racial disparities in breast cancer outcomes among elderly patients remain poorly understood. We evaluate the association of race with presenting stage, treatment, and survival of invasive breast cancer among octogenarians.

Methods: Women (≥ 80 years) with invasive breast cancer were identified in 2004-2020 NCDB. To facilitate comparison, only non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic White patients were included; patients of Hispanic ethnicity were excluded. Demographics, tumor characteristics, and treatments were assessed by race. Overall survival was compared using the logrank test. Multivariable logistic and Cox proportional hazard regression models were developed to evaluate the independent association of race with outcomes of interest.

Results: Of 222,897 patients, 19,059 (8.6%) were Black. Most patients had stage I ER + HER2- invasive ductal carcinoma. Black patients more frequently had greater comorbidities, low income and education, and advanced stage (p < 0.001 each; ref: White). Following adjustment, Black women had increased likelihood of Stage III/IV over time, as well as increased odds of chemotherapy (AOR 1.22, 95% CI 1.15 - 1.29) and non-operative management (AOR 1.82, 95% CI 1.72 - 1.92; ref: White). Although Black patients had lower survival rates compared to White, race was not associated with 5-year mortality following adjustment for stage, receipt of surgery, and adjuvant treatments (p = 0.34).

Conclusions: Inferior survival among elderly Black patients appears be driven by advanced stage at presentation. While such disparities are narrowing in the present era, future work must consider upstream interventions to ensure equitable outcomes for all races.