Objective   To analyze the clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of advanced luminal B-like breast cancer.

  Methods   The clinicopathological features and prognostic factors of 206 patients with advanced luminal B-like breast cancer treated in our hospital between June 2008 and June 2013 were retrospectively analyzed.

  Results   Among 206 cases, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive subtype was found in 54 cases (26.2%), whereas the negative subtype was found in 152 cases (73.8%). The proportion of Ki- 67 >30% in HER- 2 positive subtype was significantly higher (57.4%; 31/54) than that in HER- 2 negative subtype (55.9%; 85/152; P<0.01). The percentage of disease- free survival <36 months in HER- 2 positive subtype was dramatically higher (79.6%; 43/54) than that in HER-2 negative subtype (65.1%; 99/152; P<0.05). The median overall survival of metastasis was 25 (2.1- 85.0) months. Multivariate analysis revealed that visceral metastases, first-line salvage chemotherapeutic effect, and palliative endocrine therapy were the independent predictors of survival in advanced luminal B-like breast cancer (P<0.05).

  Conclusion   Among patients with advanced luminal B- like breast cancer, HER-2 positive subtype was more commonly diagnosed with higher Ki-67 index, quicker and easier recurrence, and metastasis within three years than HER-2 negative subtype. Visceral metastases, poor effect of firstline salvage chemotherapy, and not receiving palliative endocrine therapy were independent factors of poor prognosis for the survival of advanced luminal B-like breast cancer.