Androgen Receptor Expression in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for ۱۵ to ۲۰% ofall breast cancers. These patients do not benefit from hormone therapy and othertargeted treatments of breast cancer. Recently, researchers proposed the use ofandrogen receptor (AR)-targeted therapies in this subset of patients. The rate of ARexpression in TNBC patients varies from ۰ to ۵۳%. AR positivity is associated witha better outcome for breast cancer patients. The purpose of this study was to evaluateAR status in TNBC patients and its association with other demographic andpathologic features. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the Cancer Institute ofIran, affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Sciences, in ۲۰۱۵. Archivedformalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded breast tumor blocks were evaluated todetermine the AR status of the tumors. Demographic and pathologic characteristicsof the patients were retrieved from the department of pathology database. Data wereanalyzed with SPSS ۱۸.۰. Results: Seventy-seven TNBC patients with the mean age of ۴۵.۳ ± ۱۱.۵ wereassessed. Twenty-six patients (۳۴%) showed AR expression, and ۵۱ patients (۵۶%)did not have AR expression. There was no significant correlation between AR statusand age, tumor size, histopathologic type of tumor, or lymph node involvement.However, AR positivity had a statistically significant association with a lower tumorgrade and lymphovascular invasion (P = ۰.۰۲۹ and P = ۰.۰۱, respectively). Conclusion: TNBC patients with AR expression tend to have lower tumorgrades and higher rates of lymphovascular invasion.

Keywords:

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) , androgen receptor (AR) , histopathological features