Impact of Demographic Variables on Breast Cancer Staging, Treatment Approaches, and Prognosis

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer, a leading global malignancy, disproportionately affects developing nations like Bangladesh due to delayed diagnoses and limited resources. Objectives: To assess demographic impacts on breast cancer staging, treatment choices, and prognosis, and evaluate role of MMP1 expression in disease progression. Methods: This cross-sectional study (July 2022–June 2023) enrolled 34 histopathologically confirmed breast cancer patients from Dhaka Medical College. Demographic, clinical, and molecular data were collected via structured questionnaires and hospital records. MMP1 expression was analyzed using qRT-PCR in normal and tumor tissues. Statistical analyses included chi-square, t-tests, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results: Among 34 participants (mean age 47.41 ± 2.52 years; 76.47% ≤50 years), 47.05% had BMI >24.9. Most tumors were Stage II (41.18%) or III (26.47%). Luminal A and TNBC subtypes each comprised 29.41%. Mastectomy (64.71%) and chemotherapy (88.24%) predominated. MMP1 expression was significantly higher in tumor (median: 0.409, IQR: -1.058–1.983) vs. normal tissue (median: -1.774, IQR: -2.183–-0.609; p=0.002). Contraceptive use correlated inversely with MMP1 (rho=-0.283, p=0.019). Conclusion: Younger patients, elevated BMI, and MMP1 overexpression highlight the need for early detection and personalized strategies in resource-limited settings.