Androgen receptor status as a predictive tool for TNBC patients with DCIS

In this retrospective analysis of TNBC patients undergoing adjuvant chemotherapy between 2000 and 2017 presented by Dr Kristien Borremans from University Hospitals Leuven , the study aimed to assess the impact of AR expression and the presence of DCIS. The hypothesis suggested that AR-positive TNBC might display a less aggressive phenotype, and the coexistence of DCIS could imply a slower disease progression.

Contrary to existing literature, the results revealed that patients with concurrent DCIS exhibited higher lymph node involvement and lower tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes, contradicting the previously suggested less aggressive nature. AR expression was more prevalent in older patients and exclusively in cases with coexisting DCIS. However, no statistically significant differences were observed in breast cancer-specific survival or distant relapse.

These findings underscore the clinical importance of recognizing that the presence of DCIS might potentially contribute to a slightly more aggressive nature of the disease.

Reference:

Merkcx M, The prognostic role of androgen receptor status in patients with triple negative breast cancer with an associated ductal carcinoma in situ. SABCS 2023, #PO5-03-10