Breast ⁢Cancer Deaths decline ⁤Among Younger ‍Women: ⁢A ⁤New Analysis

‍ ⁢ ⁣Updated June 18, 2025
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Breast cancer deaths ⁣among women ages 20‍ to 49 saw a significant decrease ⁣between 2010 and 2020, impacting all ⁤subtypes‍ and racial/ethnic⁤ groups. The⁢ sharpest declines began after 2016, according to data ⁤presented at the American ‍Association for Cancer Research ⁤(AACR) Annual Meeting 2025.

Dr. ⁢Adetunji Toriola ‍of Washington University School of Medicine, noted that while breast cancer ⁢incidence has risen in this age⁢ group ‍over the past two decades, mortality data has been lacking. The new analysis helps assess progress and guide resource allocation.

Toriola and his team analyzed data ⁤on ⁣11,661 breast cancer deaths from the SEER Program 17 registry. The study examined mortality based on ‍race ⁣and molecular subtypes, including luminal A, ⁢luminal B, HER2-enriched, and triple-negative breast‍ cancer.Researchers used annual percent changes (APC) to identify trend differences and conducted survival analyses.

Incidence-based mortality decreased from 9.70 per 100,000 women‍ in ⁣2010 to ‍1.47 per 100,000 in 2020 across all subtypes and racial/ethnic groups. Luminal A showed the most significant decline, with a notable drop in 2017 (-32.88% APC). Triple-negative breast cancer followed a similar pattern,⁣ with its largest decline⁢ in 2018 (-32.82% APC).

Despite the overall decline, 10-year relative⁣ survival for luminal A varied by age. Women ages 40-49⁤ with luminal A had the ⁣highest 10-year survival,⁢ while those ages 20-39 had lower ⁢survival ⁣rates (78.3%) compared to luminal B (84.2%).

“This was unexpected‍ as ⁢luminal A is generally the least aggressive subtype with the most favorable prognosis,” Toriola said.⁤ He suggested this may indicate a more aggressive subgroup of ⁤luminal A tumors in younger women.

While mortality declined across all racial/ethnic groups, non-Hispanic Black women had‍ the highest rates in both 2010 (16.56/100,000) and 2020 (3.41/100,000). Non-Hispanic ‍white⁣ women‍ had⁣ the lowest rates in 2010 (9.18/100,000) and 2020 (1.16/100,000). The most pronounced declines ⁤occurred in ⁤2016 for non-Hispanic black ⁢women (-24.15% APC), 2013 for non-Hispanic Asian/Pacific Islander women (-18.46% APC), 2017 for Hispanic women (-30.15%‍ APC), and 2018 for ⁤non-Hispanic ‍American Indian and Alaska Native women (-47.97% APC).

The 10-year‍ survival analysis⁢ showed ‍that non-Hispanic Black⁣ women had the worst survival outcomes, while non-Hispanic white and Asian/pacific Islander women had ⁤the best.

“we ⁤have made tremendous⁢ advances in reducing mortality from breast cancer in young women but there are still opportunities for improvements,⁢ especially in relation to⁤ eliminating disparities,” Toriola said.

Toriola attributed the⁤ post-2016 declines to improved treatments, precision medicine, and ‍increased⁢ access to care and screening for women ages 40-49. He cited the adoption of CDK4/6 inhibitors and optimized endocrine therapy as key factors in improving mortality for hormone receptor-positive, HER2-negative cancers, including luminal⁢ A. The role of early detection and innovative therapies is crucial in combating⁢ breast cancer.Further research should explore tumor biology and treatment responses in ⁣younger women to continue to reduce ⁣breast cancer mortality and address existing⁤ disparities. The roles of screening and access to quality care are ⁣also vital. Understanding ⁢the role of each factor can help ⁣improve outcomes.

What’s next

Future research ‍should ⁢focus on understanding tumor biology and treatment response in younger women, as well as promoting access to screening and high-quality care for all women.