ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine the breast cancer immunohistochemistry (IHC) receptor status for tests performed at the University of the West Indies (UWI) from January 2002 to December 2007 and to investigate for an association between receptor profile and patient age, tumour grade and stage.

Methods: The UWI breast cancer IHC receptor database was examined to determine receptor profile, patient age, tumour histology, grade, size and lymph node status.

Results: In total, 1383 breast cancer cases were tested for oestrogen receptor (ER) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER 2) statuses during the study period; progesterone receptor (PR) testing was not available. Receptor profiles were: ER+/HER2− (50.2%), ER−/HER2− (28.1%), ER+/HER2+ (15.3%) and ER−/HER2+ (6.4%). Across all age groups, ER+/HER2− was the most frequent profile (45–52%) and ER−/HER2− was the second most frequent (27–34%). There was no statistically significant association between the receptor profile and age (p = 0.079). Amongst Grade III tumours, ER−/HER2− was the most prevalent profile (44.6%); ER+/HER2− was the most prevalent for Grade I and Grade II tumours (60.7 and 48.8%, respectively). There was a statistically significant association between the receptor profile and tumour grade (p = < 0.001). There was no statistically significant association between the receptor profile and tumour stage (p = 0.359).

Conclusion: The prevalence of ER/HER2-negative breast cancer was 28%, in keeping with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) prevalence in African-American populations. There was a statistically significant association between the receptor profile and tumour grade (p < 0.001) (most Grade III tumours were ER−/HER2−), in keeping with the biologically aggressive behaviour of TNBC.