Current Status and Future Projections of Breast Cancer in Asia

Abstract

Asia is the world's largest continent comprising about 3/5 of the human population. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women in Asia, accounting for 39% of all breast cancers diagnosed worldwide. The incidence of breast cancer in Asia varies widely across the continent and is still lower than in Western countries, but the proportional contribution of Asia to the global breast cancer rates is increasing rapidly in parallel to the socioeconomic development. However, the mortality-to-incidence ratios are much higher for Asia than for Western countries. Most Asian countries are low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where breast cancer presents at a younger age and a later stage, and where patients are more likely to die from the disease than those in Western countries. Moreover, diagnostic workup, treatment and palliative services are inadequate in most Asian LMICs. In this review, we present an overview of the breast cancer risk factors and epidemiology, control measures, and cancer care among Asian countries.

Proposed biosimilar pegfilgrastim (LA-EP2006) compared with reference pegfilgrastim in Asian patients with breast cancer: an exploratory comparison from two Phase III trials

“…These data were similar to those observed in the overall study population, and with those observed with other studies in Asian populations. Our findings with proposed biosimilar pegfilgrastim are relevant to Asian patients since the majority of Asia's 48 countries are low-and middle-income populations [6], and biosimilars offer the potential to increase access to biological treatments where funding for healthcare may be limited. …”

“…The need for well-controlled clinical studies is particularly important given the increasing incidence of breast cancer in Asian patients [6] and evidence that Asian patients may be more likely to die from breast cancer than other populations [7,13,14]. Evidence also suggests that patients are not treated according to international guidelines in some Asian populations [15,16], and there is a shortage of recommendations for use of G-CSF in Asian patients.…”

“…However, there are limitations to comparing results of different studies due to variations in how musculoskeletal/bone pain was reported, how TEAEs were recorded, study design and patient populations. Differences in patient populations are particularly important when considering results between Asian countries where there are different ethnicities, lifestyle factors, healthcare systems and socioeconomic variations [6]. Accordingly, there are significant disparities both between and within Asian countries for breast cancer incidence and mortality [6].…”

“…Differences in patient populations are particularly important when considering results between Asian countries where there are different ethnicities, lifestyle factors, healthcare systems and socioeconomic variations [6]. Accordingly, there are significant disparities both between and within Asian countries for breast cancer incidence and mortality [6]. All but two of the patients in our study were based in India and Malaysia and as such represent two different patient populations, which in turn will differ to the Chinese and Japanese patients in the Zhang and Masuda studies.…”

“…The incidence of breast cancer in Asian populations is rapidly increasing, in line with economic growth and urban development in several Asian countries [6]. Although the overall incidence of breast cancer in Asia is still lower than in Western countries, the mortality-to-incidence ratio for breast cancer is higher in Asia compared with the USA, showing that patients in Asia are more likely to die from breast cancer than patients in the USA [7].…”