Publication:

Breast cancer: correlation of receptor status with clinical presentation, stage of disease, histopathological grade and short term outcome

Background Breast cancer is the commonest female cancer representing a quarter of all cancers worldwide. An important development in breast cancer management was the realization of role of hormone receptors in disease. Thus, the present study was carried out to evaluate the receptor status and its correlation with clinical presentation, stage, grade and short term outcome.

Methods All female patients with lump in breast confirmed as breast cancer were included and their receptor status was evaluated using immunohistochemistry.

Results A total of 147 patients with a mean age of 50.16±12.08 years were enrolled. Almost half of the patients (48.3%) of the patients were found to have locally advanced breast cancer. Of the 147 patients, 91.49% tumours were either Nottingham grade 2 or 3. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) was the commonest subtype seen in 43.54% patients. On correlating the results with receptor status, it was found that TNBC patients were younger than HER2neu positive and ER PR positive patients. Also, TNBC patients had a longer duration of lump and the lump was of larger size at presentation. On correlating receptor status with tumour biology it was seen that more than half (54.69%) of the patients who were triple negative had a grade 3 tumour and poorer disease free survival and overall survival.

Conclusions In conclusion it is seen that TNBC forms a majority of the cases in the central Indian population with more aggressive presentations and outcomes. Absence of any targeted therapies against them leads to a worse DFS and overall survival.