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This story is from October 3, 2013

Triple-negative breast cancer rampant among women in coastal Andhra Pradesh: Study

A recent Andhra Medical College study has revealed that women from coastal Andhra Pradesh are more likely to develop breast cancer due to the triple-negative status of protein molecules or biomarkers.
Triple-negative breast cancer rampant among women in coastal Andhra Pradesh: Study
VISAKHAPATNAM: Even as October is being celebrated as the breast cancer awareness month, the prognosis for women of coastal Andhra is bad. A recent study by Andhra Medical College (AMC) on breast cancer cases has revealed that women from coastal AP are more likely to develop breast cancer due to the absence of protein molecules or biomarkers called "triple-negative cancer".
The study undertaken by the department of pathology of AMC on breast cancer cases concluded that 56.6% of the samples of women from north coastal AP were triple negative cases.
Incidentally, even in the case of cervical cancer, women from this region are more susceptible, say researchers.
The just-concluded, two-year study titled "ER, PR and HER2/Neu receptor status in carcinoma breast patients and subtypes" found that in 56.6% patients, all the three biomarkers (protein molecules) are negative or absent, which indicates a bad prognosis and makes it very difficult to treat. The biomarkers include Oestrogen Receptor, Progesterone Receptor and HER2/ Neu receptor. When all the three receptors are negative, they are called triple negative cancers showing aggressive clinical behaviour.
Breast cancer, which originates from the breast tissue, most commonly from the inner lining of milk ducts or the lobules that supply the ducts with milk, globally accounts for 22.9% of all cancers in women. Its symptoms include a lump or pain in the breast or nipple discharge. It is generally diagnosed by the physician or through self-examination of breasts, mammography, ultrasound, FNAC (fine needle aspiration cytology) and biopsy.
“Breast cancer is a hormone dependant tumour but in cases where Oestrogen receptor and Progesterone receptors are negative, hormone therapy becomes ineffective. Also, when the third biomarker HER2/Neu is also negative, Herceptin drug therapy is ineffective. Most of these breast cancer cases, especially those from the rural areas, are detected in stage 3 and 4,” said Dr A Bhagya Lakshmi, professor and head, department of pathology, AMC.

“Of the total 111 mastectomy specimens received, immunohistochemistry (IHC) study was done in 52 patients. The size of the tumour was more than 2cm in a majority of cases we studied, which is a bad prognosis, and over 50% of the triple-negative cases were seen women over 45 years of age. Nearly 95% of the women had more than one children, contradicting the popular notion that breastfeeding reduces the cancer risk,” said assistant professor and pathologist Dr P Urmila Devi, who undertook the study.
Meanwhile, the department is also carrying out a study on molecular pathology of breast cancer cases in coastal areas in collaboration with Translational Research Institute of Molecular Sciences, Visakhapatnam, said Dr Bhagya Lakshmi, adding that the project would be submitted to the department of biotechnology soon for a grant of around Rs 75 lakh.
Dr Muralikrishna Voona, managing director and surgical oncologist at Mahatma Gandhi Cancer Hospital said, “Breast cancer is the most common malignancy and the second leading cause of cancer death in women after cervical cancer in the coastal regions of AP. The risk factors are mainly age, menstrual status, lack of breastfeeding, family history, diet high in saturated fat, late pregnancies, prior irradiation treatment and obesity among other things. The standard treatment includes surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, with chemotherapy required in 90% of cases and radiation therapy in 60% cases.”
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About the Author
Sulogna Mehta

Sulogna Mehta is a principal correspondent with The Times of India in Visakhapatnam. She handles beats such as Medical and Health, Tourism, Women and child welfare and communities. She has a liking for medical and health related stories. She has interest in creative writing. Her hobby is travelling.

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