Clinical Pathologic Characteristics And Prognosis Factors In Patients With Triple-negative Breast Cancer

Objective:To analyze the clinicopathological features, parameters of molecular biology, survival rate, and prognostic factors in triple-negative breast cancer patients.Methods:The data of 44 triple-negative breast cancer patients between February 2002 and June 2007 in our institution were retrospectively analyzed. Clinicopathological characteristics, parameters of molecular biology and overall survival rate were surveyed.Results:Of all breast cancer patients registered in our institution during the same period, these 44 triple-negative breast cancer accounted for 7.0% with a median age of 49 years(35-82years).Triple negative breast carcinomas tend to occur in premenopausal women accounted for 77.2% (34/44). The major pathological type was infitrating ductal carcinoma (70.5%), simplistic carcinoma(13.6%),encephaloid carcinoma(6.8%), tubular adenocarcinoma(4.5%),intraductal carcinoma(4.5%). Tumer size (T) included T1 in 15.9%, T2 43.2%,T3 20.5%, T4 20.5%. Lymph node status (N) included N0 in 59.1%, N1 11.4%, N2 27.3%, N3 2.3%. The stages included stage I in 13.6%, stage II 43.2%, stage III 38.6% and stage IV 4.5%. These triple-negative breast cancer patients with vascular invasion accounted for 50%, and with nerve invasion accounted for 22.7%. There were 25 patients associated with metastases or recurrence. Triple negative breast cancer was associated with increased risk for visceral metastases(47.8%) ,and lower risk for bone recurrence(9.1%). The median survival time was 4.0 years(1.5-8.5 years). The factors which were found to compromise overall survival were tumer size, lymph node status, stage, vascular invasion and nerve invasion in the univariate analysis. Tumor size and lymph node status were found to be independent prognostic factor for overall survival in the multivariate analysis. The 3-year overall survival was 66.7%.Conclusion : Patients with triple-negative breast cancer had low incidence rates, high histological grade and high rate of local and systemic relapse. The major pathological type was infitrating ductal carcinoma . Triple negative breast cancer was associated with increased risk for visceral metastases, and lower risk for bone recurrence. Patients with triple negative breast cancer had worse overall survival and poor prognosis. The factors which were found to compromise overall survival were tumer size, lymph node status, stage, vascular invasion and nerve invasion in the univariate analysis. Tumor size and lymph node status were found to be independent prognostic factors for overall survival in the multivariate analysis. The chemotherapy is the present major treatment method . The target therapies against angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis are possibly ptomising.