Abstract
Background and Objectives: Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-low breast cancers have garnered significant attention in oncology, particularly triple-negative breast cancer. This study seeks to ascertain whether they constitute a unique subtype of breast cancer.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study at Hiwa Hospital in Sulaimani, involved 302 patients from January 1, 2013, to January 1, 2023. Demographic, gynecological characteristics, and other related variables were analyzed. Furthermore, clinical staging, pathological grading, and histopathological subtyping are studied. Immunohistochemistry subclassifies triple-negative breast cancer patients to human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative possessing human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 scores of 0, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-low owning a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 scores of 1+ and 2+ along negative in-situ hybridization.
Results: The study population's average age was 47.1 (SD = 11.39). Statistics showed no correlations between human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-zero and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-low breast cancer for demographic, gynecological, or pathological factors (p = 0.245). After analysis, the survival rates of the two groups, 5-year (p = 0.554) and 10-year (p = 0.323), were not statistically significant.
Conclusions: Demographics, pathological, clinical features, and 5- and 10-year overall survival rates were similar for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-0 and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-low breast cancer patients. Thus, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-low breast cancer is not yet recognized as a distinct clinical entity.