DefinePK

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer remains a significant health challenge globally, particularly in Pakistan, where late-stage presentations contribute to high mortality rates. Understanding the distinct characteristics of breast cancer subtypes, especially triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), is crucial for guiding treatment decisions and predicting metastatic patterns.
Objective: This study aimed to compare the clinical presentations and metastatic characteristics of TNBC and non-TNBC patients in the Pakistani population.
Methodology: This cross sectional study was conducted at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Islamabad. A total of 68 breast cancer patients were included, divided into TNBC (n = 34) and non-TNBC (n = 34) groups. TNBC patients were found to be younger, with larger tumors and higher rates of lymph node metastasis compared to non-TNBC patients. Furthermore, TNBC demonstrated a distinct pattern of metastatic spread, with pulmonary metastases being more common, while non-TNBC patients exhibited a higher frequency of osseous metastases.
The mean age of patients was 45 years, with TNBC patients showing a higher percentage of younger individuals (<35 years) compared to non-TNBC patients (35% vs. 14.7%). Although TNBC patients exhibited a higher rate of positive family history and aggressive tumor characteristics (higher grade, larger size, and nodal involvement), these differences did not reach statistical significance.
Regarding metastatic patterns, statistically significant results were observed, with lung metastases being more common in TNBC patients (82.3% vs. 58.8%, p < 0.05), while bone metastases were more frequent in non-TNBC patients. Although TNBC patients showed higher numbers of liver and brain metastases, the differences were not statistically significant.
Conclusion: This study underscores the aggressive nature of TNBC and its distinct metastatic characteristics compared to non-TNBC in the Pakistani population. These findings have significant implications for personalized treatment approaches and improved patient outcomes.