Symposium report: breast cancer in India-trends, environmental exposures and clinical implications

Purpose Incidence of breast cancer (BC), particularly in young women, are rising in India. Without population-based mammography screening, rising rates cannot be attributed to screening. Investigations are needed to understand the potential drivers of this trend. Methods An international team of experts convened to discuss the trends, environmental exposures, and clinical implications associated with BC in India and outlined recommendations for its management. Results Panels were structured across three major BC themes (n = 10 presentations). The symposium concluded with a semi-structured Think Tank designed to elicit short-term and long-term goals that could address the challenges of BC in India. Conclusion There was consensus that the prevalence of late-stage BC and the high BC mortality rates are associated with the practice of detection, which is primarily through clinical and self-breast exams, as opposed to mammography. Triple-Negative BC (TNBC) was extensively discussed, including TNBC etiology and potential risk factors, the limited treatment options, and if reported TNBC rates are supported by rigorous scientific evidence. The Think Tank session yielded long-term and short-term goals to further BC reduction in India and included more regional etiological studies on environmental exposures using existing India-based cohorts and case-control studies, standardization for molecular subtyping of BC cases, and improving the public's awareness of breast health.

Automated summary

The incidence of breast cancer in India, particularly among young women, is rising without population-based mammography screening. Experts convened to discuss this trend, environmental exposures, and clinical implications associated with breast cancer in India, and outlined recommendations for its management. Consensus was reached on the association of late-stage breast cancer prevalence and high mortality rates with detection practices primarily through clinical and self-breast exams rather than mammography. Sessions included discussions on Triple-Negative BC (TNBC) etiology, potential risk factors, limited treatment options, and the need for more rigorous scientific evidence to support reported TNBC rates. The Think Tank session resulted in long-term and short-term goals aimed at reducing breast cancer incidence in India, including regional etiological studies on environmental exposures, standardization for molecular subtyping of breast cancer cases, and enhancing public awareness of breast health.