Outcome in breast molecular subtypes according to nodal status and surgical procedures

Abstract

Background: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the surgical treatment and outcome of breast cancer according to molecular subtypes.

Methods: We identified 1,194 patients consecutively treated for primary breast cancer from 2004 to 2010. The type of surgery, pathological findings, local recurrence, and distant metastasis were evaluated for 5 molecular subtypes: luminal A and B, luminal HER2 (Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2), HER2 , and triple negative.

Results: Breast-conserving surgery (BCS) was performed more frequently in luminal A (70.6%), triple-negative (66.2%), and luminal HER2 tumors (60.9%) (P < .001). A sentinel node biopsy was performed more frequently in luminal A (60%), and luminal HER2 (29.3%) types (P < .001). Among the 791 BCS, positive nodes were observed more often in HER2 (50%) and luminal B (44.9%) types (P = .0003). The number of local recurrences was higher in the node-negative luminal B subtype (3.4%).

Conclusions: Molecular subtypes exert an impact on BCS and nodal surgery rates. The local relapse rates are influenced by the molecular subtypes according to the nodal status.