Breast metastasis of signet ring cell carcinoma from the colon: a case report

Abstract

Background Colon cancer is one of the most common diagnosed malignancies. Despite the use of surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and other comprehensive treatments, distant metastasis is still one of the main causes for dying of colon cancer. The common metastatic site of colon cancer is the liver, lung, and bone. In this article, we report a rare case of breast metastasis of signet ring cell carcinoma from the colon. Case presentation A 44-year-old woman was diagnosed with colon cancer and received a radical surgery of colon cancer in 2019. Combined with postoperative pathological and computed tomography (CT) images, a diagnosis of cT3N2M0 mucinous adenocarcinoma of colon (according to AJCC cancer staging manual, Version 8) was established. Adjuvant chemotherapy (XELOX: oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 on day 1 plus capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 twice daily on days 1 to 14 every 3 weeks for 18 weeks) was performed followed by surgical resection. Fourteen months later, the patient underwent mastectomy for breast mass, which was diagnosed pathologically as metastasis of signet ring cell carcinoma from the colon. XELOX chemotherapy regimen (oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 on day 1 plus capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 twice daily on days 1 to 14 every 3 weeks for 24 weeks) combined with bevacizumab (7.5 mg/kg on day 1) was used after the mastectomy. The patient had stable disease according to her last examination (RECIST criteria). Conclusion It is rare to find a report of a patient of colon cancer that metastasizes to breast. We hope to increase treatment experience for patients with this rare metastasis.

Successful treatment of breast metastasis from primary transverse colon cancer: A case report

“…After specific binding, the two antibodies block the intracellular signal transduction pathway by inhibiting the binding of ligands to EGF receptor, resulting in inhibition of proliferation of cancer cells, inducing apoptosis of cancer cells, and reducing the production of matrix metalloproteinase and vascular endothelial growth factor[ 16 ]. Wang et al [ 6 ] performed treatment with XELOX chemotherapy regimen in combination with bevacizumab in a patient with breast metastasis from colon cancer for 8 cycles, increasing successful treatment experience for patients with this rare metastasis. This is similar to our research.…”

“…In addition, most of the other reports only reported the diagnosis of this rare metastasis. The average survival time is 14.9 mo according to the literature[ 6 ]. Only one case had a more than 5-year overall survival with colon cancer metastasis to the breast[ 6 ].…”

“…The average survival time is 14.9 mo according to the literature[ 6 ]. Only one case had a more than 5-year overall survival with colon cancer metastasis to the breast[ 6 ]. The patient had a 16-mo disease-free survival in our case, which has exceeded the average level, indicating that our treatment is effective.…”

“…Breast metastasis is rare, with an incidence of 0.5%–3%[ 3 ], and is especially rare from colon carcinoma. Since the first case reported in 1976[ 4 ], only no more than 30 cases have been reported[ 5 , 6 ]. Hsieh and Hsu[ 7 ] summarized 45 cases that were previously reported, and we found that about 60 studies have reported this rare case so far by searching the literature in the Reference Citation Analysis ( ) database, PubMed, and Embase.…”