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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
biochemistry, genetics and molecular biology
Differences in biological features of breast cancer between Caucasian (Italian) and African (Tanzanian) populations
Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, Volume 145, No. 1, Year 2014
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Description
Information on hormone receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) expression in breast cancer is acknowledged as mandatory for prognostic stratification and treatment planning. Data on the biological features of African breast cancers are poor. We decided to compare histopathological and biomolecular characteristics (estrogen and progesterone receptor - ER, PgR, and HER2) of Tanzanian and Italian breast cancers. Differences in proliferating index and androgen receptor (AR) expression in triple-negative patients from the two case series were also assessed. Of the 103 consecutive patients seen at the Bugando Medical Center (Mwanza, Tanzania) from 2003 to 2010, who underwent biopsy or surgical resection of primary breast cancer, 69 patients had tissue samples that were evaluable for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), and HER2. Histopathological assessment and biomolecular determinations were performed at the Cancer Institute of Romagna (IRST IRCCS, Meldola, Italy). Caucasian breast cancers were randomly extracted from an electronic database and matched (1:2 ratio) for year of diagnosis and age at diagnosis. Median age of both populations was 51 years (range 27-84). With respect to Caucasian tumors, Tanzanian breast cancers at diagnosis more frequently showed high histological grade (mainly grade 3) (P = 0.03), advanced clinical stage (III or IV) (P < 0.001), ER negativity (52.2 %, P < 0.001) and high proliferation (P = 0.0002). Triple-negative tumors were over-represented in Tanzanian women. AR was positive in 38.5 and 38 % of triple-negative Tanzanian and Italian breast cancers, respectively. Our results show that histopathological and biomolecular characteristics in Tanzanian and Italian breast cancers differ substantially. The high frequency of poorly differentiated, ER-negative, highly proliferating tumors, together with advanced stage at presentation, could be considered as the main prognostic factors linked to the high mortality rates for breast cancer in the African population. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York.
Authors & Co-Authors
Amadori, Dino
Italy, Meldola
Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo Per lo Studio e la Cura Dei Tumori
Serra, Patrizia
Italy, Meldola
Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo Per lo Studio e la Cura Dei Tumori
Bravaccini, Sara
Italy, Meldola
Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo Per lo Studio e la Cura Dei Tumori
Farolfi, Alberto
Italy, Meldola
Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo Per lo Studio e la Cura Dei Tumori
Puccetti, Maurizio
Italy, Ravenna
Ospedale S. Maria Delle Croci
Carretta, Elisa
Italy, Meldola
Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo Per lo Studio e la Cura Dei Tumori
Medri, Laura
Italy, Forli
Morgagni-pierantoni Hospital
Nanni, Oriana
Italy, Meldola
Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo Per lo Studio e la Cura Dei Tumori
Tumedei, Maria Maddalena
Italy, Meldola
Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo Per lo Studio e la Cura Dei Tumori
Kahima, Jackson
Tanzania, Mwanza
Bugando Medical Center
Masalu, Nestory A.
Tanzania, Mwanza
Bugando Medical Center
Statistics
Citations: 30
Authors: 11
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1007/s10549-014-2903-0
ISSN:
01676806
e-ISSN:
15737217
Research Areas
Cancer
Health System And Policy
Study Design
Cross Sectional Study
Study Locations
Tanzania
Participants Gender
Female