Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate prevalence and related factors of androgen receptor (AR) expression in Thai breast cancer patients. A descriptive study was done in 95 patients, who were admitted to Charoenkrung Pracharak Hospital, Bangkok (2011–2013). Statistical relationships were examined between AR protein expression, tumor status, and patient characteristics. Compared with those from Western countries, ethnic Thai patients were younger at age of diagnosis and had a higher proliferative index (high Ki-67 expression), which indicates unfavorable prognosis. In addition, 91% of the Thai breast tumors that were positive for any of the following receptors, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) also expressed the AR protein, while in triple negative breast tumors only 33% were AR positive. ER and PR expression was positively related with AR expression, while AR expression was inversely correlated to Ki-67 expression. AR status was strongly correlated with ER and PR status in Thai patients. There is an inverse relationship between Ki-67 and AR, which suggests that AR may be a prognostic factor for breast cancer.
Highlights
Breast cancer is by far the most common type of cancer among women around the world
We previously showed, using a co-culture model of human breast tumor cells with primary breast fibroblasts, that some androgens can inhibit breast cancer cell growth via the androgen receptor (AR) [17]
Thai Breast Cancer Patient and Tumor Characteristics. This exploratory study enrolled a total of 95 Thai breast cancer patients that were admitted in the Charoenkrung Pracharuk Hospital (Bangkok, Thailand) between October 2011 and October 2013
Summary
Breast cancer is by far the most common type of cancer among women around the world. In 2012, there were about 1,671,000 new cases of female breast cancer worldwide [1]. Cancer Society, there still is an increasing trend of female breast cancer incidence. The number of female breast cancer cases in the US in 2015 was 231,840, which accounts for 122.8 per 100,000 persons/year of all female cancers [2]. The number of new breast cancer cases in Thailand in 2012 was about 12,000 cases, which accounts for 137.5 per 100,000 persons/year [3]. The mortality of breast cancer patients is strongly dependent on region and ranges from 6 to 20 per 100,000 persons/year [1]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
