Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study investigated the clinicopathological differences among breast cancer patients with distinct hepatitis B virus serological profiles. METHODS: Data were collected from 5004 female patients newly diagnosed with breast cancer at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University between 2012 and 2020. A comparative analysis was conducted to determine intergroup differences in clinicopathological characteristics among breast cancer patients with distinct hepatitis B virus serological profiles. RESULTS: Of the 5004 patients, 8.0% were infected with hepatitis B virus, 55.6% had prior hepatitis B virus infection, and 13.8% were positive only for hepatitis B surface antibody (HBsAb). Hepatitis B virus–infected patients demonstrated a higher incidence of liver enzyme abnormalities (14.1%) and a lower incidence of Ki67 ≥ 20% (54.2%) than HBsAb(+) patients (61.0%). HBsAb(+) patients showed lower progesterone receptor and hormone receptor positivity than hepatitis B virus–negative patients (51.7% vs. 57.2% and 65.5% vs. 70.4%, respectively). Logistic regression analysis indicated that hepatitis B virus–infected patients had a higher incidence of liver dysfunction (odds ratio: 1.535) but a lower incidence of Ki67 ≥ 20% (odds ratio: 0.777). Patients with hepatitis B virus infection had lower hormone receptor (odds ratio: 0.829) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (odds ratio: 0.788) positivity. CONCLUSIONS: The hepatitis B virus serological status influences the clinicopathological features of breast cancer, particularly Ki67, hormone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expression. Routine hepatitis B virus screening and monitoring are crucial during breast cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy.