Triple-negative breast cancer among ghanaian women seen at Korle-Bu teaching hospital

ABSTRACT

Background. Women with African ancestry in the United States and in continental Africa have been found to have exceptionally increased frequencies of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC); prompting speculation that this risk may have an inherited basis and may at least partially explain breast cancer outcome disparities related to racial/ethnic identity. Our goal was to evaluate the breast cancers diagnosed in one of the largest health care facilities in western Africa; and to compare the frequencies as well as risk factors for TNBC versus non-TNBC. Methods. We reviewed all breast cancer cases that had immunohistochemistry (Novolink Detection system); in 2010. Results. The overall study population of 223 breast cancer cases was relatively young (median age 52.4?y); and most had palpable tumors larger than five centimeters in diameter. More than half were TNBC (130 cases; 58.3%). We observed similar frequencies of young age at diagnosis; stage at diagnosis; and tumor grade among cases of TNBC compared to cases of non-TNBC. Conclusion. Ghanaian breast cancer patients tend to have an advanced stage distribution and relatively young age at diagnosis. The triple-negative molecular marker pattern is the most common seen among these women; regardless of age; tumor grade; and stage of diagnosis. Additional research is necessary regarding the causes of TNBC; so that we can elucidate the reasons for its increased prevalence among women with African ancestry