Exploring the Relationship Between Breast Feeding History and Hormonal, HER2/Neu Receptor Status in Breast Cancer Patients

Authors
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61706/MECOJ160231
Keywords:
Breastfeeding, Hormonal Receptors, HER2/Neu, Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, Breast cancer Epidemiology
Abstract

It is evident that breastfeeding exerts a significant influence on the risk of developing breast cancer, potentially impacting the biological characteristics of tumors. However, the relationship between this and hormonal and HER2/neu receptor expression remains unclear, particularly in Middle Eastern populations. The objective of this study is to explore the association between breastfeeding history and receptor status (ER, PR, HER2/neu) among breast cancer patients. The present retrospective observational study analysed 144 breast cancer patients. The demographic, reproductive, and tumour-related variables were obtained from the medical records. Patients were categorised based on their breastfeeding history, and receptor patterns were compared using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. A total of 70.6% of patients had a history of breastfeeding. The present study found an association between breastfeeding and reduced rates of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) (p = 0.014). No significant associations were observed between breastfeeding and ER, PR, or HER2/neu expression in isolation. The investigation revealed that demographic variables, including age, parity, and family history of breast cancer, exhibited no statistical correlation with receptor status. The analysis revealed a correlation between breastfeeding history and a reduced incidence of TNBC, suggesting a potential protective effect against more aggressive tumour subtypes. Further studies with larger populations are warranted to validate these findings.

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Published
2026-07-21
Data Availability Statement

The data that supports the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Issue
Vol. 2 No. 3 (2026): July - September
Section
Research Article/Original Research
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Copyright (c) 2026 Karrar Kareem Hammood, Muataz Fawzi Hussein

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Hammood, K. K., & Hussein, M. F. (2026). Exploring the Relationship Between Breast Feeding History and Hormonal, HER2/Neu Receptor Status in Breast Cancer Patients. Middle Eastern Cancer and Oncology Journal, 2(3), 10-16. https://doi.org/10.61706/MECOJ160231

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