Triple negative breast cancer: an Indian perspective

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Genetics
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer globally among women.
• Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) exhibits aggressive behavior and poorer prognosis.
• Limited data exists on hormonal status in Indian breast cancer patients due to diagnostic cost constraints.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively analyze receptor status in Indian breast cancer patients.
• To identify TNBC cases and compare their clinical profile and survival with non-TNBC.
• To address the scarcity of data on TNBC in the Indian population.

Main Methods:

• Prospective enrollment of histopathologically confirmed carcinoma breast cases.
• Classification into TNBC and non-TNBC groups based on hormonal status.
• Comparative analysis of risk factors, clinical presentation, and short-term survival.

Main Results:

• TNBC constituted 43.7% of the 85 enrolled patients.
• TNBC tumors were significantly larger and more frequently presented as locally advanced disease (83%).
• TNBC showed more aggressive histological grade (grade 3); deaths and recurrences were concentrated in the TNBC group.

Conclusions:

• TNBC represents a significant proportion of breast cancer cases in central India.
• TNBC cases present with aggressive features, necessitating further investigation.
• Research is crucial for developing tailored treatment strategies for TNBC in this region.