https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2931-9969
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Abstract
Purpose
Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a breast carcinoma subtype that neither expresses estrogen (ER) and progesterone receptors (PR) nor the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Patients with TNBC have been shown to have poorer outcomes mainly owing to the limited treatment options available. However, some studies have shown TNBC tumors expressing androgen receptors (AR), raising hopes of its prognostic role.
Patients and Methods
This retrospective study investigated the expression of AR in TNBC and its relationship with known patient demographics, tumor and survival characteristics. From the records of 205 TNBC patients, 36 had available archived tissue samples eligible for AR staining. For statistical purposes, tumors were classified as either “positive” or “negative” for AR expression. The nuclear expression of AR was scored by measuring the percentage of stained tumor cells and its staining intensity.
Results
AR was expressed by 50% of the tissue samples in our TNBC cohort. The relationship between AR status with age at the time of TNBC diagnosis was statistically significant, with all AR positive TNBC patients being greater than 50 years old (vs 72.2% in AR negative TNBC). Also, the relationship between AR status and type of surgery received was statistically significant. There were no statistically significant associations between AR status with other tumor characteristics including “TNM status”, tumor grade or treatments received. There was no statistically significant difference in median survival between AR negative and AR positive TNBC patients (3.5 vs 3.1 years; p = 0.581). The relationship between OS time and AR status (p = 0.581), type of surgery (p = 0.061) and treatments (p = 0.917) were not statistically significant.
Conclusion
The androgen receptor may be an important prognostic marker in TNBC, with further research warranted. This research may benefit future studies investigating receptor-targeted therapies in TNBC.
Ethics
This study complies with the Declaration of Helsinki.
Acknowledgments
We would like to acknowledge all of our patients, Trevor Baillie from NSW Health Pathology for his support in tissue specimen collection and processing as well as Matthew Hoffmann, Deputy Chief Radiation Therapist from Mid North Coast Local Health District for assistance with data collection. I would also like to acknowledge the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia who awarded a 2021 Science Student scholarship to support the completion and presentation of this work. This work was presented in part at the New Zealand Society of Oncology/New Zealand Society of Pathology 2022 Annual Meeting where it won the IGENZ Trainee Oral Presentation prize.
Disclosure
The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.