Socioeconomic and Reproductive Correlates of TNBC: Insights from a Bangladeshi Cohort

Abstract

Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive variety of breast cancer with limited therapeutic options, disproportionately affecting younger and socioeconomically disadvantaged women. Despite increasing incidence in South Asia, region-specific data remain scarce. This study aimed to assess the demographic, reproductive, and clinical characteristics of TNBC patients in a tertiary care center in Bangladesh. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed at National Institute of Cancer Research & Hospital, Dhaka and Ahsania Mission Cancer and General Hospital, Dhaka, from January 2018 to December 2024. A total of 198 immunohistochemically confirmed TNBC patients were included. Data on socio-demographics, reproductive history, body mass index, family history, and clinical features were collected through structured interviews and medical records. Descriptive statistics were performed using SPSS version 25.0. Results: The mean age at diagnosis was 46.75 ± 9.10 years, with 60.6% of patients being premenopausal. Most participants were married (98.9%), multiparous (60.6%), and had breastfed (93.9%). High parity and early age at first childbirth (mean age 20.56 ± 3.96 years) were common. The majority belonged to middle (55.1%) or lower-middle (36.4%) socioeconomic classes, and 56.6% hailed from in rural settings. A positive family history of cancer was reported by 31.3% of participants, with 18.7% participants reported history of breast cancer specifically. The mean BMI was 23.74 ± 3.71 kg/m². Hypertension (68.2%) and diabetes (57.6%) were the most prevalent comorbidities. Conclusion: TNBC in this Bangladeshi cohort was more prevalent among younger, premenopausal women with high parity and limited socioeconomic resources. Despite high breastfeeding rates, the persistence of TNBC suggests the influence of genetic, metabolic, and environmental factors. These findings underscore the need for early detection strategies and region-specific risk profiling in South Asian populations.