Histopathological Features and Outcomes of Triple-Positive versus Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Magbula Kaziri; Najat Alrumayh; Mohamed Emhemed; Enas Ramih; Rodaba Bitrou; Abdallah Juwid; Abdsalam Rabie; Monsef Algouti; Mussa Alragig; Eramah Ermiah

doi:10.54361/ajmas.269534

Authors

Magbula Kaziri Department of Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Misurata, Libya https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9039-3861
Najat Alrumayh Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zawia, Zawia, Libya. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7017-6904
Mohamed Emhemed Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zawia, Zawia, Libya. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7408-8816
Enas Ramih Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zawia, Zawia, Libya https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0113-9839
Rodaba Bitrou Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zawia, Zawia, Libya. https://orcid.org/0009-0009-1810-1081
Abdallah Juwid Department of Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Misurata, Libya https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4352-7262
Abdsalam Rabie Department of Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Misurata, Libya https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1065-3086
Monsef Algouti Department of Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Misurata, Libya https://orcid.org/0009-0001-3603-411X
Mussa Alragig Department of Surgical Oncology, National Cancer Institute, Misurata, Libya https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9510-005X
Eramah Ermiah Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zawia, Zawia, Libya. Medical Research Unit, National Cancer Institute, Misurata, Libya https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8507-648X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54361/ajmas.269534

Keywords:

Breast Cancer, Triple Positive Breast Cancer, Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Clinicopathological Features and Outcomes

Abstract

To compare and analyse the clinicopathological features and prognosis of patients with triple positive breast cancer (TPBC) and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). A total of 162 patients with primary breast cancer were diagnosed and treated between 2007 and 2018 at the National Cancer Institute in Misurata, Libya. Further molecular classification into TPBC and TNBC was performed. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kaplan Meier method, log rank test, and Cox regression test to compare the clinicopathological features and prognosis between the two groups. The prevalence of TNBC was 46.9%. Compared with the TPBC, the TNBC patients were associated with aggressive tumour grade, such as higher rates of positive lymph nodes (66.2% vs. 33.8%, p=0.004), poorly differentiated tumours (59.7% vs. 40.3%, p=0.002), and positive neural invasion (59.5% vs. 40.5%, p=0.014). Univariate analysis of overall survival (OS) showed that mortality was higher in TNBC compared to TPBC (p-value<0.0001), and patients with TNBC were also associated with short disease-free survival and a high rate of recurrences (p=0.031). Cox regression analysis revealed TNBC (p=0.003) and stage at diagnosis (p=0.013) are independent predictors of short overall survival. TNBC was a distinct subgroup of breast cancer with clinicopathological behaviour. Compared with the TPBC, TNBC was characterized by a more aggressive tumour grade and a poor prognosis.