Characteristics and Prognosis for Molecular Breast Cancer Subtypes in Chinese Women

Background: Breast cancer is regarded its it heterogeneous disease with four molecular subtypes. However, the clinicopathological characteristics among the different subtypes have not been Studied in Chinese demographic. This study clarifies the prevalence and clinicopathological features of each Subtype and investigates the independent prognosis Factors in the Chinese population. Methods: A retrospective review of 1,820 Chinese breast cancer women were classified into different molecular subtypes based oil the IHC-based definitions for ER, PR, and HER-2/neu to evaluate the clinicopathological features and prognosis. Results: Luminal A subtype was the most prevalent with the oldest medium age at first full-term birth. The basal cell-like subtype was associated with early onset, higher percentage of node positivity. family history of breast cancer, increased tumor size. advanced turner grade. higher prevalence in the premenopausal group and the earlier age at menarche. Univariate and multivariate analysis of OS and RFS identified the basal cell-like and HER-2/neu subtypes as negative prognostic factors. A family history was in independent predictor of shorter RFS and OS in only the basal cell-like Subtype. Conclusions: The basal cell-like Subtype is associated with it poor prognosis and a family history was it negative predictor in the basal cell-like subtype. J. Surg. Oncol. 2009;100:89-94. (C) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.