Limitations in assessment of ER, PR, and HER2 status of breast cancer patients: Yangon experience.

Abstract

e11078 Background: Management of breast cancer become individualized nowadays especially in developed countries. Molecular profile of breast cancer is essential to have this management. However, there are still limitations to examine such molecular profile in developing countries like Myanmar. Our aim in this study is to know the number of patients who underwent ER, PR and HER 2 status assessment among breast cancer patients in Myanmar and to analyze types of limitations for the molecular assessment in management of breast cancer. Methods: Total number of 823 breast cancer patients who registered from January 2009 to December 2011 at Medical Oncology Unit of Yangon General Hospital and two private oncology clinics were studied. Results: The age range from 19-80 years and mean age of 44.36 years. Among 823 breast cancer patients, ER, PR and HER 2 status were done in 134 patients (16.28% ) whereas 689 patients( 83.71% ) were not. 604 (87.66%) out of 689 patients who did not undergo profiling were due to financial problem. 60 patients (8.70 %) were found to have lack of information about molecular profiling although they were affordable . 25 patients (3.62 %) lost their tissue due to technological limitation Conclusions: Financial problem is the major limitation to get molecular profile for breast cancer patients in Myanmar. Patients need self expense to do advanced technology examinations in different health care system of our country. In this study we also found out that there was lack of information which leads not to undergo further investigations to some well to do patients. Overall, we believe that molecular technology support with reduced expense will help more patients in future to get better management in breast cancer in Myanmar. Besides, we need to provide update information about molecular testing in breast cancer to not only patients but also health professionals in our country.