AN ANALYSIS OF CHANGING TRENDS IN THE EPIDEMIOLOGICAL, PATHOLOGICAL AND RECEPTOR EXPRESSION OF BREAST CANCERS TREATED IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN SOUTH INDIA

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR:
Dr. S. Vidhya Lakshmi,
Associate Professor,
Department of Pathology,
PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research,
Coimbatore-641004.
Email: drvidhyalakshmi@yahoo.co.in

ABSTRACT: Carcinoma breast is the commonest malignancy of females all over the world and second leading cause of death due to cancer among females. The incidence of breast carcinoma in India is on the rise. The prognosis of tumors depends upon the size of the tumour at presentation, histological type, grade, marginal clearance and lymph node status. The prevalence of hormone receptor-positive breast cancer in Asian countries has been found to be lower than the western world where more than 50% tumours express hormone receptors. The study aims at determining the incidence and prevalence of hormonal receptors and Her-2-neu in various subtypes of breast carcinoma and the distribution of expression among the epidemiological subgroups of patients of different age groups, parity, reproductive status etc.  All cases of breast cancers attending the oncology OPD in a tertiary care hospital in South India during a 2 year period (2012-2013) were taken up for our study. The criteria of selection of patients included availability of histopathological diagnosis, hormone receptor studies, Her-2-neu expression status and follow up till the study period.  Breast carcinomas tend to occur more frequently in older and post-menopausal females. However the incidence of breast carcinoma in females below 40 is on the rise. Greater awareness regarding self-examination of breast, screening tests like mammogram and ultrasound and fine needle aspiration cytology should be advocated for an early diagnosis and better prognosis. Risk factors of developing carcinoma breast include obesity, diabetes, estrogen exposure and nulliparity. Most tumors belong to Grade III, probably because patients present to the hospital a late stage of cancer.  The prevalence of estrogen receptor positivity is 43.3%, progesterone receptor is 30% and Her 2 neu over expression is 56.6%.  Hormone receptor status depends on size, histological type and grade of the tumour. In our study we found that there is no significant association between hormone receptor status and age, menopausal status or number of axillary lymph nodes showing tumor deposits.

KEYWORDS: Breast cancers, tumour grading, hormone receptors.