Colonic Metastasis from Breast Cancer: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer often metastasizes to the lungs, bones, liver, and brain, colon metastasis from breast cancer (CMBC) is extremely rare. Case Report: The patient was a 63-year-old female. Mastectomy had been performed for breast cancer (pStage IIB) 15 years earlier at another hospital. Metastasis to the lumbar spine had been detected 4 years prior to referral to us and the patient had undergone hormonal therapy with an aromatase inhibitor. Furthermore, early primary sigmoid colon cancer had been endoscopically resected 2 years before referral. The patient was diagnosed with cancer recurrence in the colon at follow-up examinations performed 2 years after that endoscopic resection. After referral to our hospital, laparoscopic sigmoidectomy was performed. Based on the histopathological examination and immunohistological staining results (positive for cytokeratin 7, GATA-binding protein 3, estrogen receptor and human epidermal growth factor receptor-related 2 (2+); negative for cytokeratin 20, progesterone receptor, E-cadherin, gross cystic disease fluid protein 15 and caudal-related homeobox 2) the final pathological diagnosis was CMBC. Conclusion: Although extremely rare, the possibility of CMBC should be considered in the case of colonic tumors in patients with a history of breast cancer.Breast cancer is a common cancer with a yearly worldwide incidence of approximately 2,090,000 new cases and 630,000 deaths (1). The number of patients with breast cancer is increasing; however, its prognosis is better than that of other cancer types due to recent advances in surgical procedures, radiation, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy (2). Breast cancer generally metastasizes to the lungs, bones, liver, and brain, rarely to the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (3). In most cases to the GI, metastasis occurs in the stomach or small intestine, with colonic metastasis from breast cancer (CMBC) being extremely rare. We herein report a case of metastasis to the colon 15 years after mastectomy, with a review of the pertinent literature.

Ascending colon metastasis after breast cancer surgery: a case report and literature review

“…The patients with digestive tract metastasis of breast cancer usually have no specific symptoms. Endoscopic findings are non-specific (21)(22)(23). It is often difficult for patients to obtain an accurate diagnosis because of these non-specific symptoms.…”

“…Some were found during regular follow-up (15)(16)(17)(18)(19). Endoscopic findings are non-specific (21)(22)(23). It is often difficult for patients to obtain an accurate diagnosis because of these non-specific symptoms.…”

Diminutive Colon Metastasis From Breast Cancer: An Unexpected Finding in a Patient Undergoing Ulcerative Colitis Surveillance

“…Their endoscopic appearance varies, and they can present as large masses, irregular wall thickening, benign looking lesions resembling polyps or small nonspecific mucosal lesions, as in our case. 3,[10][11][12] Ιmmunohistochemical analysis plays a key role in differentiating breast cancer colon metastases from primary colorectal neoplasms and metastases originating from other malignancies. Most metastatic breast carcinomas stain positive for CK7 as in our case, contrary to GI malignancies that are negative for CK7 and positive for CK20 and CDX2.…”

Hormone Positive HER2 Negative Breast Cancer Metastatic to the Rectum: A Case Report

“…As the number of breast cancer survivors continues to increase, metastatic breast cancer presentations are predicted to rise. Breast cancer is the most common primary cancer to spread to the gastrointestinal tract [9]. Breast cancer that has spread to the GIT outside of the liver usually starts in the lobular carcinoma subtype, which makes up 8-14% of all breast adenocarcinomas.…”