Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of breast cancer that is characterized by being more aggressive, presentation in younger age, and higher response rate to chemotherapy. It is more likely to recur and to metastasize early.
Methods: Retrospective review of the medical records of TNBC patients treated in a single Egyptian cancer center during a 4-year period.
Results: Sixty-five patients were included. Forty-six percent of patients were < 50 years old and 22% had a positive family history. Ten (15%) patients were metastatic at presentation. Modified radical mastectomy was performed in 42% of patients and adjuvant chemotherapy was administered in 55% of them. Relapse occurred in 12 (22%) out of 55 patients who had no distant metastasis at presentation (M0). The overall survival rate of M0 patients at 12, 24 and 36 months was 96%, 91% and 88%; respectively. The disease-free survival rate of M0 patients at 12, 24 and 36 months was 90%, 81% and 71%; respectively.
Conclusion: In Egyptian female patients,TNBC is an aggressive subtype of breast cancer that occurs at younger age. Frequently, it is of high grade and presents in an advanced stage.