Evaluation of Breast Conserving Surgery According to Molecular Subtypes in Kurdish Females

Abstract

Background & objectives: The most frequently occurring cancer in women is breast cancer, and various treatment methods are available. Thus, we aimed to correlate between molecular subtype and the suitability of performing breast-conserving surgery. Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 300 women with primary breast cancer, but without distant metastasis, from 2016 to 2022. These women had undergone either breast-conserving surgery or mastectomy. Patients were interviewed directly to obtain the necessary data, and their data were recorded on a questionnaire. Results: The most common age group at diagnosis was 45-50 years, and the mean age for menarche was 13.3±1.3 years. Of the patients, 9% were single, 15% were nulliparous, and 76.7% had practised breastfeeding. The most common type of cancer was invasive ductal carcinoma, with ductal carcinoma in situ (82%). The molecular subtype and type of surgery were significantly correlated (p=0.041). Of the sample, 66.7% underwent breast-conserving surgery, with the highest rate (87%) being done in the triple-negative molecular subtype. Additionally, there was a significant correlation between the tumour focality and the postoperative margin (p<0.001). Conclusions: Triple-negative cases were the most suitable for breast-conserving surgery among the molecular subtypes and had the highest rate of free margin. In contrast, unifocal breast cancers had the least involvement in margin postoperatively.