Profile of molecular subtypes of breast cancer with special reference to triple negative: A study from Northeast India

Background: Different molecular classes of breast cancer (BRCA) correlate with prognosis and response to therapy. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a newer concept and very limited studies were carried out in India. The aim of this study was to profile the molecular types with a particular emphasis on TNBCs. Materials and Methods: Prospectively evaluated descriptive study for 2 years from June 2014 to March 2016, was carried out in the Department of Pathology and Surgery in a tertiary care institute. Cases included were of invasive breast carcinoma in females, confirmed by histopathology. Ethical clearance was received. Data were analyzed using Statistical SAS software. Results: A total of 123 cases of invasive BRCA were studied and mean age was 44.64 years. The peak age group was 36–45 years (43.9%). Tumor sizes ≥2 cm was 30%, between 2 and 5 cm was 50.40%, over 5 cm was 19.51%. Invasive duct carcinoma was 82.11% and invasive lobular carcinoma 8.13%. Only 21% of subjects presented as early breast carcinoma. Cases of 1–3 nodes were 22.8%, 4–5 nodes 21.1%, more than five nodes were 34%. Histologic Grade 3 was 50.4%, Grade 2 was 41%, and Grade 1 was only 8.1. The American Joint Committee on Cancer, Stage 1 (17.9%) in Stage 2 (29.3%) Stage 3 was 46.3%, Stage 4 was 6.5%. Estrogen receptor was in 40.62%, progesterone receptor 35.77%, Her2/Neu 18.69% luminal A (19.51%), luminal B (21.13%), Her2/Neu type (17.88%), and triple negatives (38.21). Conclusion: The present study showed significantly higher TNBC with poor prognostic factors in younger women in a background of peculiar ethic spectrum in this geographical region.