Association and implications in triple negative and triple positive breast cancer: Relationship with sociodemographic and reproductive factors in Pakistan

Background & Objectives: Triple negative and triple positive breast cancer have adverse effects than other types of breast cancer. However, triple negative has poor prognosis with short survival as compared with triple positive breast cancer. Good prognosis is one of the key factors for successful treatment trial. This study aimed to find out the association of sociodemographic and reproductive features like parity, menopause, number of child bearing as risk factors in the development and prognosis of triple negative and triple positive breast cancer.

Methods: This study is a part of an ongoing project which is being conducted in Karachi from 2013 to 2020. Informed consent from triple negative breast cancer (n=134) and triple positive breast cancer (n=87) patients were taken prior to their recruitment into the study. Demographic, anthropometric, reproductive and disease history of patients were recorded. Means, frequency distribution, data classification and association analyses were done by SPSS version 17.0.

Results: Statistical analyses revealed that delayed first child bearing age and lower number of children are associated with the development of triple negative breast cancer. However, no significant effect of these parameters has been observed on the outcomes of triple positive breast cancer.

Conclusions: Reproductive factors have more pathological implications than sociodemographic factors in both triple positive and triple negative breast cancer development. These findings might prove to be beneficial for effective and better breast cancer management.