Research Information System
Thesis Type: Expertise In Medicine
Institution Of The Thesis: Gazi Üniversitesi, Tıp Fakültesi, Turkey
Approval Date: 2020
Thesis Language: Turkish
Student: OĞULCAN BOZ
Supervisor: NAZAN GÜNEL
Abstract:Breast cancer is one of the most important problems that threaten women's health. Thanks to the improvements in treatment options, its incidence has been increasing gradually, but positive developments have been recorded in its mortality. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) affects women at a younger age than other breast cancer types. It acts more aggressively. There are not enough treatment options effective for TNBC. In the last few years, a huge interest has been observed in breast cancer therapy targeting immune checkpoint molecules, especially in the triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing molecule 3 (TIM-3) is an immune checkpoint molecule, expressed on T cells. It is responsible for T cell anergy, which is thought to play a role in carcinogenesis. Our study aims to investigate TIM-3 expression in TNBC and to show its relationship with clinicopathological data. 50 patients with TNBC diagnosis were evaluated in this study. Immunohistochemically, TIM-3 expression was examined in paraffin blocks. Expression percentages and scores were compared with clinicopathological data and survival data. 97 TIM-3 expression was positive in 28 (56%) of 50 patients. Tumoral TIM-3 expression was detected in 18 cases (36%) and stromal TIM-3 expression in 27 cases (54%). The tumoral TIM-3 expression was associated with a lower N stage. No relation was found between other clinicopathological data and TIM-3 expression. A relationship that was close to being statistically significant was found between total TIM-3 expression, high tumoral TIM-3 expression and shorter overall survival (OS). A statistically significant relationship was found between high stromal TIM-3 expression and shorter OS. It has not been shown statistically that stromal TIM-3 expression is an independent factor in predicting survival. In our study, it was concluded that TIM-3 expression may be a negative prognostic marker in terms of overall survival (OS) even though there is no relation with the clinicopathological and prognostic factors other than the N stage in TNBC. Studies with larger case groups are required for stronger statistical evidence.