Assam study reveals whyaggressive breast cancer is more common in Northeast India

Dibrugarh, June 6: Researchers from Assam Medical College have published a study that sheds new light on why breast cancer in Northeast India may be more aggressive and difficult to treat than in many other parts of the world, offering findings that could influence future cancer care and surgical treatment.

The study, led by Dr Gayatri Gogoi, Professor of Pathology at Assam Medical College and Adjunct Faculty at ICMR–Regional Medical Research Centre, Northeast Region, was published in Discover Oncology, a leading cancer research journal published by Springer Nature.

The research focuses on breast cancer patients from Assam and highlights striking differences from Western populations and even the rest of India. While the Luminal A subtype—which has a five-year survival rate of about 95%—is the most common form of breast cancer in Western countries, women in Northeast India are disproportionately affected by Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC), one of the most aggressive forms of the disease and one that lacks targeted treatment options.

The findings also reinforce concerns that Northeast India has the country’s youngest breast cancer patient population. Women in the region are diagnosed at an average age of 47 years, significantly younger than the national average of 54 years and the US average of 65 years.

The study examined how different molecular subtypes of breast cancer affect surgeons’ ability to completely remove tumours. Researchers found that the HER2-enriched subtype had the highest rate of positive surgical margins—meaning cancer cells remained at the edge of the removed tissue, increasing the risk of recurrence.

Nearly 77% of patients in the study had lymph node involvement, while 38% had tumours larger than five centimetres, indicating that most cases were diagnosed at an advanced stage. As a result, almost 90% of patients required complete breast removal surgery rather than breast-conserving procedures.
One of the study’s most unexpected findings was that Triple-Negative Breast Cancer, despite being highly aggressive, showed the lowest rate of positive surgical margins.

Researchers suggest that different breast cancer subtypes may possess distinct physical characteristics that influence how easily surgeons can distinguish cancerous tissue from healthy tissue during operations.

The findings have prompted the research team to develop advanced technologies for real-time tumour detection during surgery. The group is currently working on MEMS-based electrical sensors and piezoelectric ultrasound probes designed to help surgeons identify cancerous tissue more accurately in the operating theatre.

Dr Gogoi, who has previously received recognition from the Indian Council of Medical Research and holds a design patent for a breast self-examination model, said the findings underscore the urgent need for earlier detection, wider molecular testing, and more precise surgical planning for breast cancer patients in Northeast India.

The study adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that breast cancer in Northeast India has distinct biological characteristics that require region-specific research and treatment strategies rather than a one-size-fits-all approach.

Also Read: Arunachal woman killed as DEMU train drags SUV 400 metres at Assam crossing

Also Watch

Find latest news from every corner of Northeast India at hubnetwork.in, your online source for breaking news, video coverage.

ANSU launches admission helpdesk to boost NEHU access for Garo Hills students