Clinicopathological Profile and Molecular Subtypes of Breast Cancer in Bangladeshi Women: A Tertiary-Care Surgical Population Study

Abstract

Introduction: Breast cancer in Bangladeshi women often presents at a younger age with advanced stage. The variable molecular characteristics influencing prognosis and treatment response. Local clinicopathological and subtype data remain limited in tertiary surgical settings. The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinicopathological features and molecular subtypes of breast cancer among Bangladeshi women in a tertiary level. Methods: This prospective cohort study was conducted at Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh and East West Medical College Hospital (EWMCH), Dhaka, Bangladesh, from January 2019 to December 2022. A total of 147 histopathologically confirmed breast cancer patients were enrolled using purposive sampling. Demographic, clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical data Estrogen Receptor(ER), Progesterone Receptor(PR), Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor(HER2), Kiel 67(Ki-67) were recorded. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 23.0. Results: Most patients were £50 years (62.6%) and presented with stage II–III disease (72.8%). Invasive ductal carcinoma predominated (88.4%). Tumors >2 cm (71.4%) and nodal metastasis (64.6%) were common. ER positivity was 55.1%, PR positivity was 49.0%, HER2 overexpression 27.2%, and high Ki-67 58.5%. Luminal A was most frequent (32.0%), followed by luminal B (26.5%), triple-negative (23.1%), and HER2-enriched (18.4%). Aggressive subtypes were significantly associated with higher grade and larger tumors (p<0.05). Conclusion: Bangladeshi women with breast cancer frequently present at a younger age and advanced stage, with a substantial proportion of aggressive molecular subtypes. These findings highlight the need for early detection strategies and subtype-guided management in tertiary care settings. Journal of Surgical Sciences 2024;28(1): 15-19