Introduction : Breast cancer is the most common and deadly cancer among women worldwide. Immunohistochemistry techniques are routinely used to assess hormone receptor (HR) expression and the HER2 oncogene in breast cancer. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical, pathological, and molecular characteristics of breast cancer in Guinea. Materials and Methods : This was a retrospective observational study covering a period of 15 years and 8 months from April 11, 2007, to December 31, 2022, involving 144 patients with histologically confirmed breast cancer. Data from immunohistochemical studies conducted abroad were collected in each case, providing information on hormone receptor status (estrogen and progesterone), HER2 oncogene expression, and molecular subtype. Results: The average age was 47.1 ± 11.8 years, ranging from 24 to 80 years. There were 142 (98.6%) women and 2 (1.4%) men, with a sex ratio of 1.4%. The average tumor size was 13.1 ± 11.1 cm. Patients were in stage III and IV in 72 (50.3%) and 41 (28.6%) cases, respectively. The tumor was invasive ductal carcinoma in 127 (88.1%) cases and SBR grade III in 62 (43.1%) cases. Hormone receptors were positive in 75 (52.1%) cases. The HER2 oncogene was expressed in 47 (32.6%) cases. Among the molecular subtypes, there were 47 (32.6%) cases of Luminal A, 46 (31.9%) cases of triple negative, 26 (18.1%) cases of Luminal B, and 25 (17.4%) cases of HER2 overexpressed. Conclusion: Immunohistochemistry is unavailable in the country and, due to a lack of financial resources, very few patients have access to it . Despite this unavailability, the systematic use of this technique will make it possible to adapt and personalize treatment for each patient.
KeywordsCancerBreastMolecular TypeHer2 Oncogene
Bertucci, F. and Birnbaum, D. (2012) Genomics and Clinical Research in Breast Cancer. Médecine / Sciences , 28, 14-18. https://doi.org/10.1051/medsci/2012281s105
Traoré, B., Koulibaly, M., Diallo, A. and Bah, M. (2019) Molecular Profile of Breast Cancers in Guinean Oncological Settings. Pan African Medical Journal , 33, Article No. 22. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2019.33.22.18189
Mathieu, M.C. (2007) Molecular Subtypes of Breast Cancer. La Lettre du Sénologue , 38, 33-34.
Zemmouri, Y., De Croze, D., Vincent Salomon, A., Rouzier, R. and Bonneau, C. (2016) Caractérisation moléculaire des cancers du sein en pratique clinique. Gynécologie Obstétrique & Fertilité , 44, 285-292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gyobfe.2016.03.010
Fouad, A., Yousra, A., Kaoutar, Z., Omar, E.M. and Afaf, A. (2012) Molecular Classification of Breast Cancer in Morocco. The Pan African Medical Journal , 13, Article No. 91.
Trédan, O., Heudel, P.E., Dufresne, A. and Bachelot, T. (2017) Triple-Negative Breast Cancers Are Highly Heterogeneous. La Lettre du Cancérologue , 26, 501-504.
Kingu, M., Rahma, T., Nlandu, M., Bebele, K., Kiyabwe, S. and Ukundji, O. (2019) Epidemiological, Clinical and Molecular Profile of Breast Cancer in Hospitals in the City of Kinshasa. Kins Medical , 9, 326-332.
Dembele, S.B., Diakité, I., Samake, M., Coulibaly, B., Saye, Z., Bah, A., et al . (2019) Breast Cancer: Immunohistochemistry and Prognosis at the Gabriel Touré University Hospital in Bamako, Mali. Mali Médical , 34, 36-39.
Arnould, L., Penault-Llorca, F., Dohollou, N., Caron, O. and Levy, C. (2019) Cancer du sein de la femme jeune. Spécificités histologiques, pronostiques: En quoi sont-elles différentes des femmes plus âgées? Bulletin du Cancer , 106, S10-S18. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0007-4551(20)30042-4
Elidrissi Errahhali, M., Elidrissi Errahhali, M., Ouarzane, M., El Harroudi, T., Afqir, S. and Bellaoui, M. (2017) First Report on Molecular Breast Cancer Subtypes and Their Clinico-Pathological Characteristics in Eastern Morocco: Series of 2260 Cases. BMC Women ’ s Health , 17, Article No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12905-016-0361-z
Kheirelseid, E.A., Boggs, J.M., Curran, C., Glynn, R.W., Dooley, C., Sweeney, K.J., et al . (2011) Younger Age as a Prognostic Indicator in Breast Cancer: A Cohort Study. BMC Cancer , 11, Article No. 383. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-11-383
Uyisenga, J.P., Butera, Y., Debit, A., Josse, C., Ainhoa, C.C., Karinganire, E., et al . (2020) Prevalence of Histological Characteristics of Breast Cancer in Rwanda in Relation to Age and Tumor Stages. Hormones and Cancer , 11, 240-249. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12672-020-00393-3
Berman, A., Teig, B., Duracinsky, M., Gayet, M., Bellin, M.-., Guettier, C., et al . (2016) Diagnostic en un jour des lésions du sein: Évaluation médicale et psychologique de la prise en charge—Étude EVADIASEIN. Journal de Gynécologie Obstétrique et Biologie de la Reproduction , 45, 21-28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgyn.2015.01.003
Darré, T., Amégbor, K., Sonhaye, L., Kouyate, M., Aboubaraki, A., N’Timo, B., et al . (2013) Histological and Epidemiological Profile of Breast Cancer: Based on 450 Cases Observed at Lomé University Hospital. Médecine d ’ Afrique Noire , 60, 53-58.
Ghada, S., Khanchel, F. and Chelbi, E. (2017) Anatomopathological Profile of Breast Cancer in the Tunisian Capital. The Pan African Medical Journal , 26, Article No. 11.
Katalinic, A., Eisemann, N., Kraywinkel, K., Noftz, M.R. and Hübner, J. (2019) Breast Cancer Incidence and Mortality before and after Implementation of the German Mammography Screening Program. International Journal of Cancer , 147, 709-718. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.32767
Gnerlich, J.L., Deshpande, A.D., Jeffe, D.B., Sweet, A., White, N. and Margenthaler, J.A. (2009) Elevated Breast Cancer Mortality in Women Younger than Age 40 Years Compared with Older Women Is Attributed to Poorer Survival in Early-Stage Disease. Journal of the American College of Surgeons , 208, 341-347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2008.12.001
Belhadj, A., Seddiki, S., Belhadj, A., Zakmout, B., Araba, A.E.K.A. and Sahraoui, T. (2021) Prevalence and Prognosis of Molecular Phenotypes in Breast Cancer Patients by Age: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study in Western Algeria. Pan African Medical Journal , 38, Article No. 88. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2021.38.88.21370
Khalil, A.I., Bendahhou, K., Mestaghanmi, H., Saile, R. and Benider, A. (2016) Cancer du sein au Maroc: Profil phénotypique des tumeurs. Pan African Medical Journal , 25, Article No. 74. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2016.25.74.9966
Al Tamimi, D.M., Shawarby, M.A., Ahmed, A., Hassan, A.K. and AlOdaini, A.A. (2010) Protein Expression Profile and Prevalence Pattern of the Molecular Classes of Breast Cancer—A Saudi Population Based Study. BMC Cancer , 10, Article No. 223. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-10-223
Sørlie, T., Perou, C.M., Tibshirani, R., Aas, T., Geisler, S., Johnsen, H., et al . (2001) Gene Expression Patterns of Breast Carcinomas Distinguish Tumor Subclasses with Clinical Implications. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , 98, 10869-10874. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.191367098
Bhargava, R., Striebel, J., Beriwal, S., Flickinger, J.C., Onisko, A., Ahrendt, G. and Dabbs, D.J. (2009) Prevalence, Morphologic Features and Proliferation Indices of Breast Carcinoma Molecular Classes Using Immunohistochemical Surrogate Markers. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Pathology , 2, 444-455.
Blows, F.M., Driver, K.E., Schmidt, M.K., Broeks, A., van Leeuwen, F.E., Wesseling, J., et al . (2010) Subtyping of Breast Cancer by Immunohistochemistry to Investigate a Relationship between Subtype and Short and Long Term Survival: A Collaborative Analysis of Data for 10,159 Cases from 12 Studies. PLOS Medicine , 7, e1000279. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1000279
Sotiriou, C. and Pusztai, L. (2009) Gene-Expression Signatures in Breast Cancer. New England Journal of Medicine , 360, 790-800. https://doi.org/10.1056/nejmra0801289
Hu, Z., Fan, C., Oh, D.S., Marron, J., He, X., Qaqish, B.F., et al . (2006) The Molecular Portraits of Breast Tumors Are Conserved across Microarray Platforms. BMC Genomics , 7, Article No. 96. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-7-96
Perou, C.M., Sørlie, T., Eisen, M.B., van de Rijn, M., Jeffrey, S.S., Rees, C.A., et al . (2000) Molecular Portraits of Human Breast Tumours. Nature , 406, 747-752. https://doi.org/10.1038/35021093
Roy, M., Fowler, A.M., Ulaner, G.A. and Mahajan, A. (2023) Molecular Classification of Breast Cancer. PET Clinics , 18, 441-458. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpet.2023.04.002
Gaye, P.M., Diouf, M., Ba, M.B., Diouf, D., Sarr, F.N., Mané, M., et al . (2021) Epidemiological, Diagnosis, Therapeutic and Evolving Profile of Triple Negative Breast Cancer in Senegal. Advances in Breast Cancer Research , 10, 100-109. https://doi.org/10.4236/abcr.2021.103008