Androgen receptor expression in triple negative breast cancer: an Algerian population study

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a molecular subtype of breast cancer characterized by the absence of estrogen and progesterone receptors and the lack of HER2 overexpression. TNBC is highly heterogeneous, complicating the identification of new therapeutic targets. However, the expression of t...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Amel Hedjem, Amal Kouchkar, Amel Ladjeroud, Nacera Zerrouki, Fatima Benaissa, Nasir A. Ibrahim, Mohammed Saad Aleissa, Nosiba S. Basher, Assia Derguini, Takfarinas Idres, Karim Houali
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Libyan Journal of Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19932820.2025.2535778
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850096378419609600
author Amel Hedjem
Amal Kouchkar
Amel Ladjeroud
Nacera Zerrouki
Fatima Benaissa
Nasir A. Ibrahim
Mohammed Saad Aleissa
Nosiba S. Basher
Assia Derguini
Takfarinas Idres
Karim Houali
author_facet Amel Hedjem
Amal Kouchkar
Amel Ladjeroud
Nacera Zerrouki
Fatima Benaissa
Nasir A. Ibrahim
Mohammed Saad Aleissa
Nosiba S. Basher
Assia Derguini
Takfarinas Idres
Karim Houali
author_sort Amel Hedjem
collection DOAJ
description Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a molecular subtype of breast cancer characterized by the absence of estrogen and progesterone receptors and the lack of HER2 overexpression. TNBC is highly heterogeneous, complicating the identification of new therapeutic targets. However, the expression of the androgen receptor (AR) in the luminal androgen receptor (LAR TNBC) subgroup has opened the door to alternative therapeutic approaches. This study aimed to assess AR expression and correlate it with clinicopathological factors in 160 early-stage TNBC patients treated from February 2015 to February 2017. Our findings reveal that AR expression is observed in 16.87% (27/160) of ≥1% AR positivity cases. Moreover, a significant 12.5% (20/160) was found in ≥10% AR positive cases. Positive AR expression was inversely correlated with a high Ki-67 proliferation index and with the basal immunophenotype. The five-year survival rate for our cohort was 83.12%, and no significant association between AR expression and overall survival was observed (p = 0.77). The study highlights the potential role of AR expression in TNBC and its implications for therapeutic strategies, although no significant association with overall survival was found.
format Article
id doaj-art-3f2d92ae9d3d4aa8a2ba22eeb64447af
institution DOAJ
issn 1993-2820
1819-6357
language English
publishDate 2025-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series Libyan Journal of Medicine
spelling doaj-art-3f2d92ae9d3d4aa8a2ba22eeb64447af2025-08-20T02:41:14ZengTaylor & Francis GroupLibyan Journal of Medicine1993-28201819-63572025-12-0120110.1080/19932820.2025.2535778Androgen receptor expression in triple negative breast cancer: an Algerian population studyAmel Hedjem0Amal Kouchkar1Amel Ladjeroud2Nacera Zerrouki3Fatima Benaissa4Nasir A. Ibrahim5Mohammed Saad Aleissa6Nosiba S. Basher7Assia Derguini8Takfarinas Idres9Karim Houali10Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University M’hamed Bougara, Boumerdes, AlgeriaDepartment of Pathology, Pierre and Marie Curie Cancer Center, Algiers, AlgeriaDepartment of Medical, Pierre and Marie Curie Cancer Center, Algiers, AlgeriaLaboratoire Ressources Naturelles, University Mouloud Maameri, Tizi Ouzou, AlgeriaLaboratory of Biomathematics, Biophysics, Biochemistry and Scientometry L3BS, University of Bejaia, Bejaïa, AlgeriaBiology Department, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaBiology Department, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaBiology Department, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaMicrobial Ecology Laboratory, FSNV, Abderrahmane MIRA University, Bejaïa, AlgeriaLaboratory for Livestock Animal Production and Health Research, Rabie Bouchama National Veterinary School of Algiers, Algiers, AlgeriaLaboratory of Analytic Biochemistry and Biotechnology (LABAB), Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Biological and Agronomic Sciences, Mouloud Mammeri University, Tizi-Ouzou, AlgeriaTriple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a molecular subtype of breast cancer characterized by the absence of estrogen and progesterone receptors and the lack of HER2 overexpression. TNBC is highly heterogeneous, complicating the identification of new therapeutic targets. However, the expression of the androgen receptor (AR) in the luminal androgen receptor (LAR TNBC) subgroup has opened the door to alternative therapeutic approaches. This study aimed to assess AR expression and correlate it with clinicopathological factors in 160 early-stage TNBC patients treated from February 2015 to February 2017. Our findings reveal that AR expression is observed in 16.87% (27/160) of ≥1% AR positivity cases. Moreover, a significant 12.5% (20/160) was found in ≥10% AR positive cases. Positive AR expression was inversely correlated with a high Ki-67 proliferation index and with the basal immunophenotype. The five-year survival rate for our cohort was 83.12%, and no significant association between AR expression and overall survival was observed (p = 0.77). The study highlights the potential role of AR expression in TNBC and its implications for therapeutic strategies, although no significant association with overall survival was found.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19932820.2025.2535778Triple-negative breast cancerandrogen receptorchemotherapyestrogen receptorHER2TNBC classification
spellingShingle Amel Hedjem
Amal Kouchkar
Amel Ladjeroud
Nacera Zerrouki
Fatima Benaissa
Nasir A. Ibrahim
Mohammed Saad Aleissa
Nosiba S. Basher
Assia Derguini
Takfarinas Idres
Karim Houali
Androgen receptor expression in triple negative breast cancer: an Algerian population study
Libyan Journal of Medicine
Triple-negative breast cancer
androgen receptor
chemotherapy
estrogen receptor
HER2
TNBC classification
title Androgen receptor expression in triple negative breast cancer: an Algerian population study
title_full Androgen receptor expression in triple negative breast cancer: an Algerian population study
title_fullStr Androgen receptor expression in triple negative breast cancer: an Algerian population study
title_full_unstemmed Androgen receptor expression in triple negative breast cancer: an Algerian population study
title_short Androgen receptor expression in triple negative breast cancer: an Algerian population study
title_sort androgen receptor expression in triple negative breast cancer an algerian population study
topic Triple-negative breast cancer
androgen receptor
chemotherapy
estrogen receptor
HER2
TNBC classification
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/19932820.2025.2535778
work_keys_str_mv AT amelhedjem androgenreceptorexpressionintriplenegativebreastcanceranalgerianpopulationstudy
AT amalkouchkar androgenreceptorexpressionintriplenegativebreastcanceranalgerianpopulationstudy
AT amelladjeroud androgenreceptorexpressionintriplenegativebreastcanceranalgerianpopulationstudy
AT nacerazerrouki androgenreceptorexpressionintriplenegativebreastcanceranalgerianpopulationstudy
AT fatimabenaissa androgenreceptorexpressionintriplenegativebreastcanceranalgerianpopulationstudy
AT nasiraibrahim androgenreceptorexpressionintriplenegativebreastcanceranalgerianpopulationstudy
AT mohammedsaadaleissa androgenreceptorexpressionintriplenegativebreastcanceranalgerianpopulationstudy
AT nosibasbasher androgenreceptorexpressionintriplenegativebreastcanceranalgerianpopulationstudy
AT assiaderguini androgenreceptorexpressionintriplenegativebreastcanceranalgerianpopulationstudy
AT takfarinasidres androgenreceptorexpressionintriplenegativebreastcanceranalgerianpopulationstudy
AT karimhouali androgenreceptorexpressionintriplenegativebreastcanceranalgerianpopulationstudy