Breast carcinoma: molecular markers and subtypes to predict patients at risk of developing metastatic disease

The prognostic value of triple negative in stage II/III breast cancer

INTRODUCTION

Breast cancer is no longer seen as a single disease but rather a multifaceted disease composed of distinct biological subtypes with diverse natural history, clinical, pathological, and molecular features. Recent attention has been directed at the molecular classification of breast cancer.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prognostic value of triple-negative subtype in stage II/III breast cancer and to define the role of clinical stage in prognosis of breast cancer.

METHODS

We used the immunohistochemical technique to divide 255 cases of breast cancer, stages II and III, into four subtypes according to estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor and Her-2 expression.

RESULTS

Triple-negative subtype comprised 76.5% of the cases with 12.3% recurrence rate. Luminal A subtype also carried a poor outcome with 16.7% recurrence rate.

CONCLUSION

Triple-negative subtype has the worst overall and disease-free survival in stage II/III breast cancer. Clinical stage is still an independent prognostic factor in the breast cancers of all types.