Clinical characteristics of patients with bone metastases
The study cohort had 966 IBC patients, including 194 (20.1%) patients with BM and 772 (79.9%) patients without BM. Among the 194 BM patients, there were 148 (76.3%) white patients, 34 (17.5%) black patients, and 12 (6.2%) patients of other races. Of the BM patients, 71 (36.6%) were married and 112 (57.7%) were unmarried. Most of the BM patients were aged between 40 and 59 years old (N = 91, 46.9%) and were insured (N = 186, 95.9%). Besides, among BM patients, there were 98 (50.5%) patients of IBC in the left breast, 86 (44.3%) patients of IBC in the right breast, and 10 (5.2%) patients of IBC in the double breast. As for breast type, there were 38 (19.6%) HR+/HER2 + patients, 77 (39.7%) HR+/HER2- patients, 30 (15.5%) HR-/HER2 + patients, and 28 (14.4%) TNBC patients. The majority of BM patients was N1 stage (N = 85, 43.8%) and owned larger than 5 cm tumor (N = 101, 52.1%). In addition, there were 40 (20.6%) BM patients of grade I-II and 97 (50.0%) BM patients of grade III-IV. There were 13 (6.7%) BM patients with brain metastases, 54 (27.8%) BM patients with liver metastases, and 62 (32.0%) BM patients with lung metastases. Most (N = 138, 71.1%) of BM patients received chemotherapy but only 60 (30.9%) BM patients received surgery of primary site (Table 1).
Table 1
Multivariable logistic regression for analyzing the demographic and related clinical characteristics for developing bone metastases in patients diagnosed with initial primary IBC.
Characteristics | With BM | Without BM | | OR (95%CI) | P value |
Number | % | Number | % |
Race | | | | | | |
White | 148 | 76.3 | 608 | 78.8 | 1 | - |
Black | 34 | 17.5 | 102 | 13.2 | 1.048 (0.616–1.785) | 0.862 |
Other | 12 | 6.2 | 59 | 7.6 | 0.926 (0.440–1.950) | 0.841 |
Unknown | 0 | 0.0 | 3 | 0.4 | NA | NA |
Marital status | | | | | | |
Married | 71 | 36.6 | 364 | 47.2 | 1 | - |
Unmarried | 112 | 57.7 | 368 | 47.7 | 1.539 (1.018–2.326) | 0.041 |
Unknown | 11 | 5.7 | 40 | 5.2 | 1.321 (0.538–3.244) | 0.543 |
Age | | | | | | |
< 40 | 18 | 9.3 | 80 | 10.4 | 1 | - |
40–59 | 91 | 46.9 | 345 | 44.7 | 0.891 (0.461–1.724) | 0.733 |
60–79 | 70 | 36.1 | 276 | 35.8 | 0.807 (0.404–1.612) | 0.544 |
≥ 80 | 15 | 7.7 | 71 | 9.2 | 1.102 (0.454–2.679) | 0.830 |
Sex | | | | | | |
Male | 0 | 0.0 | 2 | 0.3 | 1 | - |
Female | 194 | 100.0 | 770 | 99.7 | NA | NA |
Insurance status | | | | | | |
Medicaid | 59 | 30.4 | 179 | 23.2 | 1 | - |
Other insured | 127 | 65.5 | 535 | 69.3 | 0.803 (0.516–1.250) | 0.331 |
Uninsured | 5 | 2.6 | 39 | 5.1 | 0.261 (0.077–0.888) | 0.032 |
Unknown | 3 | 1.5 | 19 | 2.5 | 0.251 (0.036–1.740) | 0.162 |
Laterality | | | | | | |
Left | 98 | 50.5 | 393 | 50.9 | 1 | - |
Right | 86 | 44.3 | 370 | 47.9 | 0.935 (0.638–1.370) | 0.731 |
Double | 10 | 5.2 | 9 | 1.2 | 3.779 (1.237–11.548) | 0.020 |
Breast subtype | | | | | | |
HR+/HER2+ | 38 | 19.6 | 127 | 16.5 | 1 | - |
HR+/HER2- | 77 | 39.7 | 240 | 31.1 | 1.513 (0.885–2.588) | 0.130 |
HR-/HER2+ | 30 | 15.5 | 131 | 17.0 | 0.663 (0.343–1.278) | 0.220 |
TNBC | 28 | 14.4 | 203 | 26.3 | 0.422 (0.220–0.811) | 0.010 |
Unknown | 21 | 10.8 | 71 | 9.2 | 0.864 (0.390–1.915) | 0.719 |
N stage | | | | | | |
N0 | 21 | 10.8 | 149 | 19.3 | 1 | - |
N1 | 85 | 43.8 | 311 | 40.3 | 1.896 (1.022–3.517) | 0.042 |
N2 | 29 | 14.9 | 125 | 16.2 | 1.864 (0.920–3.774) | 0.084 |
N3 | 40 | 20.6 | 157 | 20.3 | 1.981 (1.003–3.914) | 0.049 |
Unknown | 19 | 9.8 | 30 | 3.9 | 2.172 (0.840–5.621) | 0.110 |
Tumor size | | | | | | |
< 2 cm | 14 | 7.2 | 64 | 8.3 | 1 | - |
2-4.9 cm | 31 | 16.0 | 149 | 19.3 | 0.898 (0.404–1.999) | 0.793 |
≥ 5 cm | 101 | 52.1 | 385 | 49.9 | 0.903 (0.445–1.833) | 0.777 |
Unknown | 48 | 24.7 | 174 | 22.5 | 1.297 (0.601–2.799) | 0.507 |
Grade | | | | | | |
I-II | 40 | 20.6 | 178 | 23.1 | 1 | - |
III-IV | 97 | 50.0 | 383 | 49.6 | 1.331 (0.817–2.168) | 0.251 |
Unknown | 57 | 29.4 | 211 | 27.3 | 1.151 (0.657–2.014) | 0.623 |
Whether with other tumors | | | | | | |
One primary tumor | 160 | 82.5 | 577 | 74.7 | 1 | - |
More than one tumor | 34 | 17.5 | 195 | 25.3 | 0.712 (0.444–1.141) | 0.157 |
Brain metastases | | | | | | |
No | 175 | 90.2 | 759 | 98.3 | 1 | - |
Yes | 13 | 6.7 | 13 | 1.7 | 1.885 (0.653–5.436) | 0.241 |
Unknown | 6 | 3.1 | 0 | 0.0 | NA | NA |
Liver metastases | | | | | | |
No | 135 | 69.6 | 744 | 96.4 | 1 | - |
Yes | 54 | 27.8 | 26 | 3.4 | 9.868 (5.532–17.604) | < 0.001 |
Unknown | 5 | 2.6 | 2 | 0.3 | 2.767 (0.321–23.827) | 0.354 |
Lung metastases | | | | | | |
No | 127 | 65.5 | 722 | 93.5 | 1 | - |
Yes | 62 | 32.0 | 48 | 6.2 | 5.682 (3.449–9.360) | 0 |
Unknown | 5 | 2.6 | 2 | 0.3 | 2.798 (0.333–23.492) | 0.343 |
Surgery of primary site | | | | | NA | NA |
No | 131 | 67.5 | 245 | 31.7 | NA | NA |
Yes | 60 | 30.9 | 523 | 67.7 | NA | NA |
Unknown | 3 | 1.5 | 4 | 0.5 | NA | NA |
Radiation therapy | | | | | NA | NA |
No | 122 | 62.9 | 409 | 53.0 | NA | NA |
Yes | 72 | 37.1 | 363 | 47.0 | NA | NA |
Chemotherapy | | | | | NA | NA |
No | 56 | 28.9 | 122 | 15.8 | NA | NA |
Yes | 138 | 71.1 | 650 | 84.2 | NA | NA |
Abbreviations: Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC); Bone metastasis (BM); CI (confidence interval); OR (odds ratio) |
Risk factors for occurrence of bone metastases
We next investigated risk factors for developing BM in IBC patients. As shown in Table 1, IBC patients of unmarried [OR (odds ratio) = 1.539, 95% CI (confidence interval) = 1.018–2.326, P = 0.041], double breast tumor (OR = 3.779, 95% CI = 1.237–11.548, P < 0.020), N1 stage (OR = 1.896, 95% CI = 1.022–3.517, P < 0.042), N3 stage (OR = 1.981, 95% CI = 1.003–3.914, P < 0.049), and liver metastases (OR = 9.868, 95% CI = 5.532–17.604, P < 0.001) had higher risk of BM. Compared with those with Medicaid, IBC patients of uninsured status were less likely to have BM (OR = 0.261, 95% CI = 0.077–0.888, P = 0.032). Besides, TNBC patients had lower risk of BM compared with HR+/HER2 + patients (OR = 0.422, 95% CI = 0.220–0.811, P = 0.010).
Analysis of prognostic factors for OS of patients with bone metastases
In the survival analysis, we found that marital status (Fig. 2A), liver metastases (Fig. 2B), breast subtype (Fig. 2C), age (Fig. 2D), chemotherapy (Fig. 2E), and surgery of primary site (Fig. 2F) were significantly associated with BM patients’ OS. Besides, patients of married status (24 months), 40–59 years old (28 months), HR+/HER2+ (45 months), no liver metastases (21 months), receiving surgery of primary site (29 months), and receiving chemotherapy (25 months) had longer overall survival time (Table 2). The Multivariable prognostic analysis found TNBC subtype [HR (hazard ratio) = 3.991, 95% CI = 2.065–7.714, P < 0.001] and liver metastases (HR = 1.863, 95% CI = 1.232–2.819, P = 0.003) were independently significantly associated with poorer OS of BM patients, while chemotherapy (HR = 0.517, 95% CI = 0.332–0.805, P = 0.003) could serve as an independent prognostic factor for better OS of BM patients.
Table 2
Multivariable Cox regression for the OS among primary IBC patients with BM (diagnosed 2010–2015)
Characteristics | Median survival months | OS | |
HR | 95%CI | P value |
Marital status | | | | |
Married | 24 | 1 | - | - |
Unmarried | 20 | 0.999 | 0.693–1.441 | 0.996 |
Unknown | 9 | 2.690 | 1.279–5.661 | 0.009 |
Age | | | | |
< 40 | 25 | 1 | - | - |
40–59 | 28 | 0.805 | 0.435–1.491 | 0.491 |
60–79 | 16 | 1.032 | 0.549–1.942 | 0.921 |
≥ 80 | 8 | 2.158 | 0.936–4.977 | 0.071 |
Breast subtype | | | | |
HR+/HER2+ | 45 | 1 | - | - |
HR+/HER2- | 20 | 1.411 | 0.785–2.538 | 0.25 |
HR-/HER2+ | 21 | 1.336 | 0.692–2.579 | 0.388 |
TNBC | 9 | 3.991 | 2.065–7.714 | < 0.001 |
Unknown | 9 | 2.345 | 1.172–4.692 | 0.016 |
Liver metastases | | | | |
No | 21 | 1 | - | - |
Yes | 12 | 1.863 | 1.232–2.819 | 0.003 |
Unknown | 21 | 0.772 | 0.267–2.232 | 0.633 |
Surgery of primary site | | | | |
No | 17 | 1 | - | - |
Yes | 29 | 0.693 | 0.453–1.060 | 0.091 |
Unknown | NA | 0.611 | 0.083–4.514 | 0.629 |
Chemotherapy | | | | |
No | 9 | 1 | - | - |
Yes | 25 | 0.517 | 0.332–0.805 | 0.003 |
Abbreviations: Overall survival (OS); Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC); Bone metastasis (BM); CI (confidence interval); HR (hazard ratio). |
Analysis of prognostic factors for CSS of patients with bone metastases
The survival analysis for CSS showed that marital status (Fig. 3A), liver metastases (Fig. 3B), breast subtype (Fig. 3C), age (Fig. 3D), chemotherapy (Fig. 3E), and surgery of primary site (Fig. 3F) were significantly associated with BM patients’ CSS. In addition, patients of married status (25 months), 40–59 years old (29 months), HR+/HER2+ (45 months), no liver metastases (22 months), receiving surgery of primary site (29 months), and receiving chemotherapy (25 months) had longer cancer specific survival time (Table 3). The multivariable Cox model exhibited that TNBC subtype [HR = 4.531, 95% CI = 2.184–9.401, P < 0.001] and liver metastases (HR = 1.907, 95% CI = 1.226–2.965, P = 0.004) were independent prognostic factors for poorer CSS of BM patients, while chemotherapy (HR = 0.472, 95% CI = 0.294–0.757, P = 0.002) was independently related to better OS of BM patients.
Table 3
Multivariable Cox regression for the CSS among primary IBC patients with BM (diagnosed 2010–2015)
Characteristics | Median survival months | CSS | |
HR | 95%CI | P value |
Marital status | | | | |
Married | 25 | 1 | - | - |
Unmarried | 20 | 0.968 | 0.656–1.429 | 0.87 |
Unknown | 9 | 2.675 | 1.252–5.712 | 0.011 |
Age | | | | |
< 40 | 25 | 1 | - | - |
40–59 | 29 | 0.793 | 0.418–1.505 | 0.478 |
60–79 | 15 | 1.028 | 0.531–1.990 | 0.934 |
≥ 80 | 8 | 1.946 | 0.793–4.773 | 0.146 |
Breast Subtype | | | | |
HR+/HER2+ | 45 | 1 | - | - |
HR+/HER2- | 20 | 1.559 | 0.814–2.983 | 0.18 |
HR-/HER2+ | 21 | 1.575 | 0.776–3.197 | 0.209 |
TNBC | 9 | 4.531 | 2.184–9.401 | < 0.001 |
Unknown | 11 | 2.369 | 1.1-5.102 | 0.028 |
Liver metastases | | | | |
No | 22 | 1 | - | |
Yes | 13 | 1.907 | 1.226–2.965 | 0.004 |
Unknown | 21 | 0.814 | 0.279–2.372 | 0.705 |
Surgery of Primary Site | | | | |
No | 18 | 1 | - | - |
Yes | 29 | 0.699 | 0.446–1.094 | 0.117 |
Unknown | NA | 0.662 | 0.089–4.929 | 0.687 |
Chemotherapy | | | | |
No | 9 | 1 | - | - |
Yes | 25 | 0.472 | 0.294–0.757 | 0.002 |
Abbreviations: Cancer specific survival (CSS); Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC); Bone metastasis (BM); CI (confidence interval); HR (hazard ratio). |