Clinical characteristics and prognosis of triple-negative breast cancer

Objective We investigated the clinical characteristics, and the prognostic factors of triple-negative breast cancer. Methods 130 triple-negative breast cancer patients were reviewed on clinical characteristics and prognosis. All cases were lack of expression of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2/neu determined by immunohistochemistry. Results 17.1% of all breast cancer patients (774 cases) were triple-negative breast cancer, and 68.9% of triple-negative breast cancer patients (91 cases) were premenopausal. 53.8% of patients (71 cases) had the tumors with T2 size, and 39.4% of them (52 patients) had lymph node metastasis. The rate of relapse in patients with lymph node metastasis was obviously higher than that in patients without lymph node metastasis ( P = 0.001). The median time of follow-up was 63 months. 33 cases relapsed and 20 patients died. 23 patients had at least two organs metastasis. The 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates were 73.8% and 85.7%. Conclusion Triple-negative breast cancer patients commonly have high rate of multiple distant metastasis in 2–3 years after treatment. The status of lymph node is the most important prognostic factor. The triple-negative breast caner patients with lymph node metastasis have poor prognosis.