Triple negative breast cancers: comparative study of clinical features and overall survival in an Irish population.

Abstract

Abstract Abstract #2083 Introduction 
 Triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) are defined by a lack of estrogen, progesterone and Her2 receptors and account for 15% of breast cancers. They present at an earlier age and a higher stage and are associated with a poorer survival compared to non-TNBC's. There is a paucity of information available on outcomes of TNBCs managed with up to date oncology treatment.
 Aims
 To investigate TNBCs in an Irish cohort of patients and to compare their clinicopathological features and survival outcomes with non TNBCs.
 Methods
 Using a prospectively gathered database all patients treated for invasive breast cancer in our unit between 2001 and 2007 were included. The median age and pathological stage at presentation, histological features and overall survival in the TNBC and non-TNBC groups were compared.
 Results
 Between 2001 and 2007 1081 patients were treated for breast cancer at St. James's Hospital. Follow up and full clinical data was available on 934 patients. 121(13%) patients were identified as having TNBCs, 625 (67%) were Her2-ve, hormone receptor +ve and 187 (20%) were Her2 +ve.
 Age, stage, tumour size and histological grade were similar in the TNBC and the Her2+ groups with the Her2-ve, hormone receptor +ve group having a more favourable pathological profile. Overall survival in TNBC group was significantly worse at 5 yrs compared with the non-TNBC groups.
 
 Conclusions:
 In our patients TNBC's present at a similar age and stage as Her2 + patients. The 5 year survival is worse in the TNBC group. The survival in the Her2+ group is similar to the Her2 – group suggesting that targeted therapy with herceptin is effective. These results highlight the need for a targeted therapy to treat TNBCs. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2009;69(2 Suppl):Abstract nr 2083.