Response to chemotherapy and association with three tumour markers in breast cancer patients in Ghana

Emmanuel Frempong,Samuel Nguah,Osei Afriyie,Francis Yeboah

doi:10.14319/ijcto.0203.4

Abstract

Purpose: Oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2/neu) expression in breast cancer patients predict response to chemotherapy though recorded extent vary. This retrospective study aimed to investigate the relationship between ER, PR and HER2/neu expression and response of breast cancer to chemotherapy at a tertiary hospital in Ghana. Methods : Records of all breast cancer cases seen from 2009 through 2011 were reviewed. Their receptor status, first line treatment [4 cycles of Adriamycin (60mg/m 2 ) + Cyclophosphamide (600mg/m 2 )], second line treatment [Capecitabine (1g/m 2 ) + Paclitaxel (170mg/m 2 )] and clinical response were extracted. Results: Complete remission after first and second line treatments were observed in 36 (38.3%, 95% CI: 28.5 to 48.9) and 34 (58.6%, 95% CI: .44.9 to 71.4) respectively. After both first and second line treatment 70 (74.5%, 95% CI: 64.4 - 82.9) had gone into remission. Prevalence of ER, PR, HER2/neu and Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) were 34.0% (95% CI: 24.6 to 44.5), 20.2% (95% CI: 12.6 to 29.7), 8.5% (95% CI: 3.7 to 16.1) and 59.6% (95%CI: 48.9 to 69.6) respectively. ER and PR positivity were independently associated with complete remission after first line treatment while TNBC was associated with non-remission. Conversely ER was independently associated with non-remission after second line treatment while TNBC was associated with complete remission. Conclusion : ER and TNBC status are significant predictors of complete remission and non-remission respectively after chemotherapy for breast cancer patient in Ghana. Cite this article as : Amankwaa-Frempong E, Yeboah FA, Nguah SB, Afriyie OO. Response to chemotherapy and association with three tumour markers in breast cancer patients in Ghana. Int J Cancer Ther Oncol 2014; 2 (3):02034. DOI : 10.14319/ijcto.0203.4

Highlights

Breast cancer accounted for 23% of the total new cancer cases in the world in 2008, making it the leading cause of cancer deaths in females.[1]
The rest were put through second line treatment with 34 (58.6%, 95% CI: 44.9 to 71.4) of them going into complete remission
Complete remission after second line treatment was not associated with age though it decreased with increasing age with proportions going into of complete remission of 70.6% (12/17), 54.6% (18/33) and 50.0% (4/8) for the age ranges of 30-40 years, 41-60 years and 61-76 years groups respectively

Summary

Introduction

Breast cancer accounted for 23% of the total new cancer cases in the world in 2008, making it the leading cause of cancer deaths in females.[1] According to the Global cancer statistics in 2002, breast cancer was the most prevalent cancer in the world.[2] Increased use of mammography screening and early detection seems to have contributed to the decline in the mortality rates in the developed world.[3] the Corresponding author: Emmanuel Amankwaa-Frempong; Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medical Sciences-Kwame Nkrumah, University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

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Conclusion