Triple Negative Evaluation of FFPE (Formalin Fixed Embedded Tissue) Breast Cancer Tissues in A Tertiary Health Institution of Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Abstract

Breast cancer is a common disease worldwide, with over two million cases reported in 2018. Various therapy modalities use biological characteristics that influence treatment and outcomes to provide individualized care. Some biomarker advancements, such as hormone receptors, vascular endothelial growth factors, and HER2/neu receptors, have significantly contributed to the biological characterization of breast cancer. Triple-negative breast cancer is defined as malignancies that do not express hormone responsiveness or HER-2. Approximately 12% of women with breast cancer will have triple-negative illness, which is more common among non-Hispanic black women regardless of age, but is detected at a younger age than other subtypes. Women with triple-negative illness are more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage (stage III or IV). The pathogenesis of breast cancer is complex and poorly understood, however many risk factors are known. This cross-sectional study spanned from 2010 to 2022. In this study, the prevalence of triple-negative breast cancer in archived breast cancer cases at Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, was analyzed using the Haematoxylin and Eosin Staining Technique on breast cancer samples collected over the study period. This study, done at Bayelsa State's Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa, analyzed 178 breast specimens. Ninety-six percent (96%) of the patients were IDC, and 5% were TNBC. The average age at presentation was 48.21 years, with 59.1% of patients being under 50 years. 40% of the patients exhibited HER-2/neu positive, and 65% had estrogen receptor (ER) positivity. The study was conducted in a single medical institution, and specific types of lesions were not included. Other potential limitations include comparing findings with various techniques and diagnostic protocols.