A Study of The Correlation Between Grading and Staging of Breast Cancer with Hormone Receptor Status in Rural India.

Abstract

Aim: To correlate the relationship between the aggressiveness of breast cancer based on hormone receptor status with histopathological grading and staging of breast cancer. Methods. 193 patients of breast cancer were seen during a period of two years and 112 were included in the study. All the patients were subjected to appropriate surgery under general anesthesia and further treatment in the form of Chemotherapy/ Radiotherapy/ Hormonal therapy as indicated after obtaining the histopathological report. A biopsy was sent for detailed histopathological diagnosis including hormone receptor status. Observations were made and results were recorded. Patients were followed up as per the protocol. Results: Hormone receptor status was done in all the patients. 72 (64%) patients had ER/PR status positivity whereas 14 (13%) patients were ER/PR negative. All the cases were of infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC). Of these cases, 42 (37.5%) patients had IDC grade II and 70 (62.5%) patients had grade III. There was no grade I case in our study. Stage I cases comprised 2 (2%), Stage II 37 (33%), and Stage III 70 (62%) of patients. Whereas, 3 (3%) patients had stage IV disease or Metastatic breast cancer. Conclusion: Hormone receptors negative status in younger women in premenopausal status by itself is a poor prognostic factor. There is also a direct correlation between the hormone receptor (ER / PR) negativity and breast cancer aggressiveness with metastasis positive lymph node, larger tumor size, and higher histopathological gradation.