Abstract
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Molecular Profiling and Clinical Characteristics of Breast Cancer in the Asir Region: a Retrospective Analysis
by Majed S. Al Fayi, Abdullah A. Alghamdi, Yahya M. M. Elqahtani, Irfan Ahmad, Mohammad M. Alam, Ali G. Alkhathami, Hossam M. Kamli,
Adil A. M. Yousif, Hatem M. A. Asiri
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Background: Breast cancer is a major health issue in the Asir region of Saudi Arabia and is characterized by diverse molecular subtypes and varying clinicopathological features. This study focuses on analyzing the molecular subtypes of breast cancer, investigating associated clinical and pathological factors, and assessing the role of im-munohistochemistry (IHC) in subtype classification.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 385 patients with breast cancer from Asir Central Hospital. Clinicopathological data, including tumor size and molecular subtype distribution, were collected. IHC was performed to determine the expression of the estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptors (PR), and HER2.
Results: The average patient age was 44.69 years (standard deviation [SD], 15.983), ranging from 4 to 93 years. The majority of cases were in women aged 31 - 60 years (60%), with fewer cases in individuals aged > 60 years (17.4%). Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) was the most common histological type (37.9%), followed by fibroadenoma (35.8%) and other benign tumors (14.5%). Most tumors were > 2 cm in size (2.6%), indicating a delayed diagnosis. Luminal A was the most frequent molecular subtype (67.3%), followed by triple-negative (19.23%) and luminal B (13.46%). Strong positivity for PR, ER, and HER2 was predominantly observed in IDC cases, with luminal A subtype showing the highest positivity rate.
Conclusions: This study emphasizes the predominance of the IDC and luminal A subtypes in the Asir region, underscoring the importance of tailored treatment strategies based on molecular profiles. These findings highlight the need for improved early detection and screening programs to address delayed diagnosis of breast cancer. Enhanced awareness and education about breast cancer, coupled with better access to screening, are crucial for improving patient outcomes in this region. IHC analysis has proven to be a reliable tool for identifying breast cancer subtypes and aiding precise treatment decisions.
DOI: 10.7754/Clin.Lab.2025.251034
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