Clinical and Pathological Characteristics of Patients with High-Risk Breast Cancer Based on BRCA Mutation Profiles: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to determine the differences in clinicopathological features of Turkish patients with high-risk breast cancer based on the mutation status of two breast cancer susceptibility genes (BRCA1/2). Materials and Methods: This study enrolled patients with invasive breast cancer who have been evaluated for BRCA1/2 mutations due to the presence of high-risk factors admitted to two tertiary referral centers in Turkey. Clinical and histopathological features were analyzed in BRCA1 mutation carriers, BRCA2 mutation carriers, and non-carriers. Results: A total of 302 patients with a mean age of 44.2 +/- 9.9 (22-82) years were included. BRCA1/2 mutation was found in 75 (24%) patients, of whom 41 (13.6%) were BRCA1 mutation carriers and 37 (12.3%) were BRCA2 mutation carriers. Moreover, 104 (34.4%) and 4 (1.3%) patients had family history of breast and ovarian carcinoma, respectively. The rates of triple negativity (56.1%), histologic grade 3 (65.9%), and lymphovascular invasion (78%) were significantly higher in BRCA1 mutation carriers than in non-carriers and BRCA2 mutation carriers. Furthermore, 87% of triple-negative BRCA1 mutation carriers had histologic grade 3 tumors compared with 38.9% in non-triple-negative BRCA1 mutation carriers, and the difference was significant. Conclusion: Findings of this study showed that BRCA1-related breast cancers represent a distinct group with unique pathological features, which are usually associated with a poor prognosis.