Clinico-pathological relationship between androgen receptor and tumour infiltrating lymphocytes in triple negative breast cancer

Abstract

Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype of breast can cer (BC) with ill-defined therapeutic targets. Androgen receptor (AR) and tumour-infiltrat ing lymphocytes (TILs) had a prognostic and predictive value in TNBC. The relationship between AR, TILs and clinical behaviour is still not fully understood. Methods: Thirty-six TNBC patients were evaluated for AR (positive if ≥1% expression), CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD20 by immunohistochemistry. Stromal TILs were quantified fol lowing TILs Working Group recommendations. Lymphocyte-predominant breast cancer (LPBC) was defined as stromal TILs ≥ 50%, whereas lymphocyte-deficient breast cancer (LDBC) was defined as.