The prognostic value of tumour-stroma ratio in triple-negative breast cancer

Eur J Surg Oncol. 2012 Apr;38(4):307-13. doi: 10.1016/j.ejso.2012.01.002. Epub 2012 Jan 20.

Abstract

Background: Triple-negative cancer constitutes one of the most challenging groups of breast cancer given its aggressive clinical behaviour, poor outcome and lack of targeted therapy. Until now, profiling techniques have not been able to distinguish between patients with a good and poor outcome. Recent studies on tumour-stroma, found it to play an important role in tumour growth and progression.

Objective: To evaluate the prognostic value of the tumour-stroma ratio (TSR) in triple-negative breast cancer.

Methods: One hundred twenty four consecutive triple-negative breast cancer patients treated in our hospital were selected and evaluated. For each patient the Haematoxylin-Eosin (H&E) stained histological sections were evaluated for percentage of stroma. Patients with less than 50% stroma were classified as stroma-low and patients with ≥ 50% stroma were classified as stroma-high.

Results: Of 124 triple-negative breast cancer patients, 40% had a stroma-high and 60% had a stroma-low tumour. TSR was assessed by two investigators (kappa 0.74). The 5-years relapse-free period (RFP) and overall survival (OS) were 85% and 89% in the stroma-low and 45% and 65% in the stroma-high group. In a multivariate cox-regression analysis, stroma amount remained an independent prognostic variable for RFP (HR 2.39; 95% CI 1.07-5.29; p = 0.033) and OS (HR 3.00; 95% CI 1.08-8.32; 0.034).

Conclusion: TSR is a strong independent prognostic variable in triple-negative breast cancer. It is simple to determine, reproducible and can be easily incorporated into routine histological examination. This parameter can help optimize risk stratification and might lead to future targeted therapies.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / metabolism
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / mortality
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / pathology*
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Netherlands
  • Prognosis
  • Receptor, ErbB-2 / metabolism
  • Receptors, Estrogen / metabolism
  • Receptors, Progesterone / metabolism
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Stromal Cells / pathology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Receptors, Estrogen
  • Receptors, Progesterone
  • Receptor, ErbB-2