Pattern of Recurrence in Radically Treated Triple Negative Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

Background: In India approximately 20% of the patients with breast cancer are triple receptor negative. Owing to the aggressive nature and shorter disease-free survival judicious follow up and identification of failure pattern will benefit the patient. Similar studies have been conducted among non-Hispanic population and in China. This study aims to identify failure pattern in radically treated breast cancer patients who are triple receptor negative among Indian population. Methods : This prospective observational study was conducted in the Department of Radiation Oncology, a tertiary cancer centre in Kerala, India. The objective was to record the pattern of recurrence among triple negative breast cancer patients who completed their planned radical treatment. 171 patients with triple negative breast cancer were included in the study. Patients who completed the planned radical treatment were kept under regular follow up. Details of clinical examination and investigations during the follow up were recorded periodically. Results : Out of 171 patients 30 patients had a recurrence of disease. Median age of the population was 53 years. Among the 30 patients who had a recurrence, 16 patients (53%) had systemic relapse and 14 patients (47%) had locoregional relapse. Lung was found to be the most common site of distant metastasis (37%). Ipsilateral chest wall was found to be the most common site of locoregional relapse (50%). 6 months disease free survival was found to be 91.8% and 1-year disease free survival was found to be 70.2%. Conclusion : Among radically treated triple negative breast cancers relapses, systemic recurrence was more than locoregional recurrences.