title: Basal-like phenotype in a breast carcinoma case series from Sudan: prevalence and clinical/pathological correlations.
abstract: Basal-like breast cancer, an aggressive subtype associated with high grade, poor prognosis, and younger age, is reported frequently in Africa. We analyzed the expression of the basal cytokeratins (CKs) 5/6 and 17 in a case series from Central Sudan and investigated correlations among basal CK status, ER, PgR, and Her-2/neu, and individual/clinicopathological data. Of 113 primary breast cancers 26 (23%), 38 (34%), and 46 (41%) were, respectively, positive for CK5/6, CK17, and combined basal CKs (CK5/6 and/or CK17). Combined basal CK+ status was associated with higher grade (P < .03) and inversely correlated with ER (P < .002), PgR (P = .004) and combined ER and/or PgR (P < .0002). Two clusters based on all tested markers were generated by hierarchical cluster analysis and k-mean clustering: I: designated "hormone receptors positive/luminal-like" and II: designated "hormone receptors negative", including both basal-like and Her-2/neu+ tumors. The most important factors for dataset variance were ER status, followed by PgR, CK17, and CK5/6 statuses. Overall basal CKs were expressed in a fraction of cases comparable to that reported for East and West African case series. Lack of associations with age and tumor size may represent a special feature of basal-like breast cancer in Sudan.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, National Cancer Institute (NCI-UG), University of Gezira, P. O. Box 20, Hospital Street, Wad Medani, Sudan.
authors.forename: Khalid Dafaallah
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Awadelkarim
authors.forename: Carmelo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arizzi
authors.forename: Elgizouli Omer Musa
authors.initials: EO
authors.lastname: Elamin
authors.forename: Hussein M A
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Hamad
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Blasio
authors.forename: Salwa O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Mekki
authors.forename: Ihsan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Osman
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Biunno
authors.forename: Nasr Eldin
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Elwali
authors.forename: Massimo Costanzo
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Barberis
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mariani-Costantini