Breast Cancer Patients in China Diagnosed Younger and with Poorer Prognosis

NEW YORK, Nov. 14, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Breast cancer in China is diagnosed in patients who are about 10 years younger than in the United States, and patients in China typically have a higher percentage of triple negative tumors, according to new data from Kantar Health, a leading global healthcare consulting and market research firm.

According to data from the newly launched CancerMPact® Patient Metrics China, the average age at breast cancer diagnosis in China is approximately 55 years, compared with 63 in the United States. As a result, a higher percentage of Chinese patients are likely to be premenopausal than in the United States, and premenopausal patients have more limited treatment choices than postmenopausal women.

Female breast cancer patients in China have a higher percentage of triple negative cancers, especially in Stage IV. Triple negative breast cancer usually has a poorer prognosis than other types of breast cancer.

"The high percentages of premenopausal and triple negative breast cancer patients represent high unmet medical needs because premenopausal patients with breast cancer in China are mainly treated with tamoxifen, while postmenopausal patients can be treated with an aromatase inhibitor," said David Robinson, Vice President at Kantar Health. "Triple negative breast cancer patients currently can only rely on cytotoxic systemic chemotherapy in China."

CancerMPact Patient Metrics China combines epidemiologic data and analysis to estimate incidence (annual new cases of cancer) by stage; restaged 10-year prevalence (annual surviving cancer patients from up to 10 years prior to diagnosis that accounts for progression to later stages); active disease (estimate of treatment-eligible patients by stage that does not include early-stage patients in remission); and treated patient populations by modality (surgery, radiation, drug therapy, etc.), and drug regimens.

About Kantar Health
Kantar Health is a leading global healthcare consulting firm and trusted advisor to many pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device and diagnostic companies worldwide. It combines evidence-based research capabilities with deep scientific, therapeutic and clinical knowledge, commercial development know-how, and brand and marketing expertise to help clients evaluate opportunities, launch products and maintain brand and market leadership.

Kantar Health deeply understands the influence of patients, payers and physicians, especially as they relate to the performance and payment of medicines and the delivery of healthcare services. Its 600+ healthcare industry specialists work across the product lifecycle, from preclinical development to launch, acting as catalysts to successful decision-making in life sciences and helping clients prioritize their product development and portfolio activities, differentiate their brands and drive product success post-launch. Kantar Health is part of Kantar, the data investment management division of WPP. For more information, please visit www.kantarhealth.com.