Prevalence, clinicopathological characteristics and short term survival of triple negative and basal like breast carcinoma in a cohort of Sri Lankan patients

Information on triple-negative (TNBC) and basal-like (BLBC) breast carcinoma (BCa) is limited in South-Asia. We aimed to determine the prevalence and clinicopathological characteristics of TNBC and BLBC and shortterm survival of TNBC among a cohort of BCa patients. Methodology Clinicopathological characteristics and short term survival of 211 women with BCa treated at the National Hospital of Sri Lanka from 2012-2014 were analyzed, excluding postneoadjuvant chemotherapy cases. Immunohistochemistry for hormonal and HER2 receptors and basal markers (CK5/6, CK14, EGFR, 34βE12) were performed on TNBCs. Data was analyzed using chi-squared test, logistic and Cox-regression. Results Forty-five (21.33%) were TNBC (95%, CI=15.8%-26.86%), correlating with younger age (p=0.03), premenopausal state (p=0.047), negative lymph nodes (p=0.016), lower stage (p=0.011), higher Nottingham grade (p Discussion TNBC prevalence was comparable to studies from the Indian-subcontinent, however, higher than in the West. Clinicopathological characteristics were similar. Lack of association with adverse short-term survival was possibly due to exclusion of postchemotherapy cases. Conclusion Triple negative breast carcinoma prevalence was 21.33%. Younger age, premenopausal status, low TNM stage, high tumour grade, necrosis, pushing margins, lymphoid infiltrate at tumour margin, absent DCIS and absent/mild central desmoplasia were predictive of triple negative breast carcinoma. Moderate/extensive necrosis in a tumour with this morphology was predictive of basal like breast carcinoma. Triple negative breast carcinoma was not predictive of adverse short-term survival.