Invasive lobular triple negative carcinoma of breast: A clinico-pathological study done in south eastern part of India

Background: Triple Negative Breast Carcinomas (TNBC) are breast carcinomas which are negative for Estrogen receptor (ER) Progesterone receptor (PR) and no overexpression of Human Epidermal Growth Factor receptor-2 (HER-2). The five-year survival rate for breast carcinomas in general is good but the same is bad for TNBC. TNBC has got worse prognosis compared to hormone positive breast carcinomas.
Aim: The aim of present study is to compare invasive lobular TNBC with invasive ductal TNBC with morphologic, immunohistochemical and prognostic parameters.
Materials and Methods: One-year study was done at Tertiary Care Centre. Patients of all ages were included. Most of them were in 4th and 5th decade. Mammography, FNAC and Biopsy was done. Formalin-fixed mastectomy specimens received at MGM hospital are screened, diagnosed histopathologically for carcinoma of breast over a period of one year. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed to diagnose TNBC.
Results: Total no of cases – 72. No of Cases with positive ER, PR and or Her 2/neu are – 61. No of Cases with ER, PR and Her 2/neu negative (Triple negative) – 11 Percentage of Triple negative cases – 15 %. Most of the TNBCs show high grade and high mitotic count 74% and 82% respectively. Other hand, some cases 60% showed only ER and PR positivity without Her-2 and 25% showed only Her-2 positivity without ER and PR. Invasive lobular TNBC subtype is reported in 18%.
Conclusion: Overall TNBCs are high grade aggressive tumors and are more common in younger age groups. Whereas TNBCs associated with invasive lobular carcinoma are more common in 5th decade and were more aggressive compared to other subtypes.