Breast cancer pattern and chemotherapy response--an institutional study in Pakistan

This study was planned to audit female breast cancers and their chemotherapy in a busy public sector institution. As a case-study, Pakistan provides an opportunity to explore the issue in a low-GDP, low-literacy, populous developing country.

Retrospective analysis of the records at Karachi Institute of Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine.

A total of 3,431 female breast cancer patients presented during 2001-2008, half being <45 years, mostly suffering from infiltrating ductal carcinoma of breast. Further analyzing a subgroup of 183 consecutive patients over six months revealed that only 1.6% were at stage-I, whereas 75% had node-positive disease, including 19.1% with distant metastases. Some 41.6% were either high grade or poorly differentiated. The low grade tumors showed a two-fold likelihood of ER and PR positivity as compared to high grade lesions. 5-Flourouracil, doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide (FAC) constituted the most common chemotherapy. Earlier diagnosis was associated with complete remission. Overall, 33% developed myelotoxicity, more often if age ≥ 45 years (p=0.012), out of which 60% needed active correction. All those patients who did not experience a drop in total leukocyte count (TLC) below 4 x 10⁹/L did not show complete remission.

Infiltrating ductal carcinoma of the breast is the most common type. FAC is the most common chemotherapy. Tendency for late diagnosis, metastatic disease, treatment failure as well as leukopenia especially in ≥ 45 years is present. Failure to show leukopenia is suggestive of poor therapeutic outcome.