Title: A comparative study of clinicopathological characteristics and expression of basal markers (CK5/6 & EGFR) in triple negative and non triple negative breast carcinomas in Kashmir valley.
Abstract: Background:The aim of this study was to compare the clinicopathological characteristics of Triple Negative Breast Carcinomas with Non Triple Negative Breast Carcinomas (NTNBC).Evaluation of expression of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR), CK5/6 in TNBC and their comparison with NTNBC was done.Methods: 25 TNBC and 35 NTNBC were selected.The clinicopathological parameters of these two groups were compared.Each group was further immunostained for basal markers(CK5/6 and EGFR).The expression of markers in these two groups was studied and compared with each other. Results:The mean age of TNBC and NTNBC were 47 and 49 years respectively.The majority (48%) of cases from TNBC as well as NTNBC (45%)were in size range of 2-5 cm(T2 stage).IDC-NOS was predominant histological type seen in 92% of TNBC and 100% NTNBC.TNBCs had a significantly higher tumor grade than NTNBC at presentation.LVI was seen in 40% TNBC cases and 42% NTNBC cases.Majority (52%) of TNBC cases were node negative while majority (37.14%) of NTNBC cases belonged to N1 stage.IIA was the most common stage in 36% TNBC cases .In NTNBC, majority of the cases (34%) belonged to Stage IIIA.Expression of basal markers was significantly associated with triple negative breast cancers. Conclusion:TNBCs had a significantly higher tumor grade than NTNBCs at presentation.Expression of basal markers was significantly associated with TNBCs.Since EGFR was significantly associated with triple negative phenotype, TNBC could potentially benefit from EGFR targeted therapeutic strategies.