Introduction: Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC) are associated with a poor prognosis owing to an aggressive phenotype. We aimed to carry out a prospective study comparing management strategies and response to therapy in TNBC and non-TNBC patients.
Methods: Data were obtained from a prospectively maintained database of patients treated for breast cancer.
Results: A total of 142 TNBC and 142 age-, stage- and NPI-matched non-TNBC patients were treated. The difference in overall survival between the 2 groups was statistically significant (77% of TNBC patients alive at a mean follow-up of 32 months, versus 92% of non-TNBC patients at a mean follow-up of 38 months, P = 0.0 Log rank test). This survival difference was found to be independent of NPI (P = 0.0 Log rank test). Locoregional recurrence rates were similar between TNBC patients who were treated with wide local excision versus mastectomy (P = 0.449 Log rank test). A significant difference in survival was noted between TNBC patients who responded differentially to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (P = 0.035 Log rank test).
Conclusion: Patients with TNBC have adverse outcomes despite aggressive treatment. The development of effective targeted therapies is essential for this breast cancer subtype.
Keywords: Breast cancer; Non-triple-negative; Triple-negative.
Copyright © 2016 Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (Scottish charity number SC005317) and Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.