Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a distinct, aggressive breast cancer subtype. Devoid of estrogen, progesterone, and HER-2/neu receptors, it resists standard hormonal therapies, urging specialized research and targeted therapeutic strategies.
A retrospective analysis was conducted on TNBC records from 2010-2020.We analysed 970 patients of breast cancer out of which TNBC constitutes 21.6%. We captured patient demographics, tumor profiles, treatments, and outcomes. Survival rates were analyzed using the Kaplan Meier method, correlated with tumor and patient factors. Stata 14.0 and SPSS 24.0 enabled data interpretation.
From the 150 TNBC cases examined, the median age at presentation was 47 years. The dominant histological feature was invasive ductal carcinoma. Tumor staging showed T4 stage (32.7%), T2 stage (31.3%), T3 stage (30.7%), and T1 stage (5.3%). In terms of N-stage, 41.3% had N1 disease, followed by N0 (35.3%), N2 (17.3%), and N3 (6%). About 64% displayed nodal involvement. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was received by 57.3% with the taxane-based regimen being predominant. After this, 22% achieved a complete pathological response. Recurrence patterns were alarming with a significant risk within the first two years post-diagnosis, primarily in the lungs. The three-year data recorded an overall survival of 85.2% and progression-free survival of 72.6%.
TNBC's inherent aggressiveness underscores the importance of early detection and precision-based therapies. The study emphasizes frequent lung recurrences, advocating intensive post-treatment monitoring. The substantial benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy on survival were clear. Enhanced research is vital to improve treatment strategies and outcomes for TNBC patients.