Demographic, clinic and survival analysis of triple negative and triple positive breast cancer patients.

INTRODUCTIONTriple negative breast cancer is a subtype of breast cancer family which does not express estrogen, progesterone and c-ErbB2 receptors. It is know that the prognosis of triple negative breast cancer is worse than triple positive breast cancer. The reason for bad prognosis is standing for the risk of recurrance, especially during the first three years, and lack of goal oriented treatment models.METHODS51 patients with triple negative breast cancer and 51 patients with triple positive breast cancer which was diagnosed between 2001 and 2011 was included into the study. Clinicopathologic informations, stages, survival rates, recurrance rates and their Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI) scores reviewed through comparison between these two groups.RESULTSThere is found to be no difference between these two groups on age, gender and menopausal status. Triple negative breast cancer cases seen at an earlier age with higher grades than triple positive ones. Tumor size in patients with axillary involvement is found to be smaller. Recurrance rate is found to be higher for triple negative group with usually metastasing to visceral organs in the first three years following diagnosis and possibly due to this finding disease free survival rate is found to be lower in triple negative group.DISCUSSIONThe cause for poor prognosis of this subtype of breast cancer is due to its molecular properties and lack of targeted therapy developed. Triple negative breast cancer patients need to be observed closely and there is a imminent need for new molecular targets to be determined.