Breast Carcinoma Receptor Expression in a Caribbean Population

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Epidemiology
• Genetics

Background:

• Trinidad and Tobago possess a diverse population, ideal for studying ethnic variations in breast carcinoma.
• Previous research indicates potential ethnic differences in breast cancer subtypes and receptor expression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare breast carcinoma receptor expression, specifically triple-negative rates, across distinct ethnic groups in Trinidad and Tobago.
• To investigate the prevalence of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 257 invasive breast carcinoma cases from women in Trinidad and Tobago.
• Categorization of patients into East Indian (EI), Afro-Caribbean (AC), and mixed descent groups.
• Statistical analysis using Pearson's chi-square test to compare triple-negative rates and receptor expression combinations.

Main Results:

• Significant differences in triple-negative breast carcinoma rates were observed: AC (33.6%) vs. EI (24.8%) and mixed (30.3%).
• Pearson's chi-square tests showed statistically significant differences between AC and EI (p < 0.001), AC and mixed (p < 0.001), and EI and mixed (p = 0.014) groups.
• No statistically significant differences were found in combinations of ER, PR, and HER2 expression (p = 0.689).

Conclusions:

• Ethnic disparities exist in triple-negative breast carcinoma rates within the Trinidad and Tobago population.
• The findings underscore the importance of considering ethnicity in breast cancer research and clinical management.
• Further research is warranted to explore the underlying genetic and environmental factors contributing to these observed differences.