Assessing the Androgen Receptor Status in Clinicopathologic and Hematologic Characteristics of the Triple-negative Breast Cancer

Background Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype with significant treatment challenges. Emerging evidence suggests that the androgen receptor (AR) may play a key role in prognosis, but findings are inconsistent. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between AR status and TNBC while examining associated clinicopathologic, hematologic, and demographic factors. Methods We analyzed AR staining in 74 TNBC cases from 250 tissue samples collected from 2017 to 2023. Patient age, tumor size, lymphovascular invasion, Ki-67 levels, and hematologic indices like mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and hemoglobin (Hb) were evaluated between AR-positive and AR-negative groups. Results Of tumors analyzed, 29.8% (22 out of 74) were AR-positive. These tumors were generally smaller, had lower Ki-67 rates, and were more common in older women. AR expression correlated significantly with MCV (p = 0.043) and Ki-67 (p = 0.014), and showed non-significant positive associations with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (p = 0.069) and lymphovascular invasion (LVI) (p = 0.055). Conclusion Our findings suggest that AR may be a useful biomarker in TNBC progression, underscoring the need for further research to assess its potential as a targeted therapeutic marker to improve treatment strategies and patient outcomes.