Hormone receptor and HER2 status in patients with breast cancer by races in southeastern Turkey.

PURPOSE Hormone receptor (HR) status is a prognostic factor in women with breast cancer and differs among different ethnic groups. HR status among Turkish, Kurdish and Arabic women with breast cancer living in Turkey is unknown and in this study we investigated the relationship between HR and HER2 status and race. METHODS FA total of 648 women with breast cancer (Turkish 438, Kurdish 174, Arabic 35 and Armenian 1) living in southeastern Turkey and referred to the Department of Radiation Oncology between July 2006-July 2012 were included in the study. Patients were categorized into 4 groups according to their HR status. Estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) positive (ER+/PR+), ER positive and PR negative (ER+/PR-), ER negative and PR positive (ER-/PR+) and ER and PR negative (ER-/PR-). Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status was recorded immunohistochemically (IHC) as negative (0 and 1+), and positive (3+). Statistical analysis included ER, PR, HER2, triple subtypes (combination of ER, PR and HER2), and race. RESULTS The median age at diagnosis was 48 years (range 20-83). ER+, PR+ and HER2+ patients were 453 (70%), 470 (72.6%) and 206 (32.1%), respectively. ER+/PR+ rates among Turkish and Arabic patients were similar, but were higher than Kurdish patients (p<0.002). Triple-negative (ER-/PR-/HER2-) rates among Kurdish and Arabic patients were similar, but were higher than Turkish patients (p=0.04). CONCLUSION Turkish, Kurdish and Arabic women with breast cancer in southeastern Turkey differed by HR status. Compared to Turkish and Arabic patients, Kurdish patients had more unfavorable prognostic factors.