Objective:
Triple negative and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (Her2) positive breast tumors are characterized by the absence of expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors and with either Her2 expression or not. Generally, they are larger tumors with higher grade, higher incidence of recurrence and distant metastasis. This article will investigate clinical, pathological, and molecular features of these high risk breast cancer patients and whether these features are correlated with recurrences or not.
Materials and Methods:
Breast cancer patients of 109 triple negative and 81 Her2 positive histology followed in the medical oncology department of our hospital between 2004 and 2011 were enrolled in the study. These patients were mostly treated with adjuvant and neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Results:
The median age of patients was 51 and 52 years. Median follow-up duration was 22 and 29 months. Four patients in each group died during the follow-up. 5 year survival rates were 81.1% in triple negative group and 73.5% in Her2 positive group. Relapses were seen in 30 patients. Bone and brain were the most common metastatic sites in the first and second groups respectively. Triple negative patients having larger tumor size and Her2 positive patients having positive lymph node or not treated with radiotherapy have a statistically higher chance of relapse during the follow-up.
Conclusion:
Despite the short median follow-up time, approximately one sixth of our patients had recurrence and this supported the aggressive course of the disease in high risk patients. For this reason, risk factors that help us to predict the early recurrences in both of the groups are very important.
Keywords: Breast cancer, survival analysis, retrospective studies, recurrences