The prognostic value of triple negative in stage II/III breast cancer.

Introduction: Breast cancer is no longer seen as a single disease but rather a multifaceted disease composed of distinct biological subtypes with diverse natural history, clinical, pathological, and molecular features. Recent attention has been directed at the molecular classification of breast cancer.

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic value of triple-negative subtype in stage II/III breast cancer and to define the role of clinical stage in prognosis of breast cancer.

Methods: We used the immunohistochemical technique to divide 255 cases of breast cancer, stages II and III, into four subtypes according to estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor and Her-2 expression.

Results: Triple-negative subtype comprised 76.5% of the cases with 12.3% recurrence rate. Luminal A subtype also carried a poor outcome with 16.7% recurrence rate.

Conclusion: Triple-negative subtype has the worst overall and disease-free survival in stage II/III breast cancer. Clinical stage is still an independent prognostic factor in the breast cancers of all types.