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Evaluation of expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2/neu) receptor was carried out on 80 breast cancer patients before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). No differences in expression were noted in 89% with reference to ER, 95% with reference to PR, and 91% with reference to HER2/neu status. A change in receptor status from positive to negative was noted in 12% for ER, 5% for PR, and 21% for HER2/neu after NAC. A negative to positive shift was noted in 11% for ER, 4% for PR, and 4% for HER2/neu after NAC. The possible reasons ascribed for change in receptor status after NAC are as follows: (1) Selection of chemoresistant clones with different receptor expression after NAC. (2) Tumor heterogeneity with variable receptor expression in different areas. (3) Ovarian suppression during NAC leading to alteration in receptor expression. (4) Technical considerations such as staining techniques and intra-observer and inter-observer differences in IHC slide interpretation before and after NAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by absence of estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER and PR) expression and lack of amplification of HER2 gene expression. It accounts for 15-20% of all breast cancer worldwide. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of TNBC patients visiting Surgery Department of Banaras Hindu University and correlate various clinico-pathological parameters vis-a-vis non-TNBC patients. TNBC accounted for 64/196 (32.6%) of all breast cancer patients. TNBC patients presented at a younger age (49 versus 55 years) compared to non-TNBC patients. TNBC patients had a higher chance of lymph node involvement (84 versus 75%), more grade III lesions (64 versus 50%), higher chance of lympho-vascular invasion (62.5 versus 45.5%) compared to non-TNBC patients. On follow-up of 36 months, the incidence of locoregional recurrence was 26.5% and distant metastasis 17.2% among TNBC patients compared to 16.6 and 12% respectively for non-TNBC patients. None of the TNBC patients developed bone metastasis which was seen in 7 of the non-TNBC patients. Stage for stage TNBC tumors had a worse histological profile and higher incidence of locoregional and distant metastases compared to non-TNBC patients. Although the prevalence of TNBC in our study was three times higher than reported worldwide yet their biological behavior is by and large similar to those reported worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]