Diagnosis of Primary Colorectal Carcinoma with Primary Breast Cancer: Associations or Connections?

Abstract

Introduction Although once very uncommon, multiple primary malignant neoplasms (MPMN) are becoming an increasingly popular subject in medical literature. With 182,000 new diagnoses per annum, breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer amongst women in the United States. Colorectal cancer remains the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in females, and the third in males worldwide. Methods In order to gather literature on synchronous and metachronous occurring breast and colon cancer, we searched PubMed using keywords such as 'colorectal cancer', 'breast cancer', and 'MPMN'. We searched through case reports, case series, clinical trials, letters to the editor, and retrospective series. We included any manuscript in English published between January 1990 and January 2019. The articles featured patients who had primary colorectal cancer with primary breast cancer. Articles featuring patients with more than two malignancies or malignancies other than colorectal and breast cancer were excluded. Furthermore, any metastatic cancers were excluded as well. This narrowed our search down from over 100 manuscripts to just four. Results Fortunately, the prognosis was found to be no different for these patients with MPMN assuming diagnosis and treatment are performed in a timely fashion. Additionally, it appears that although a patient with one primary cancer is at a greater risk for the development of a second cancer, it is still an odd phenomenon and thus an unlikely occurrence. Conclusion Detection of one cancer increases the odds of detecting another cancer. Hence, it is important to consider the possibility of a synchronous tumor in a patient with a newly diagnosed colon tumor, as well as to not only consider disease recurrence when following up post-resection.

Synchronous Malignancies Identified by PET-CT Scan in Breast Cancer Patients

“…[14][15][16][17][18] For example, as in Case 3 in our series, an association between breast cancer and lung cancer has been previously reported. [19][20][21] Similarly, an association between breast and colorectal cancer has also been previously reported, 22 as in Case 1 in this case series. Nevertheless, most studies have reported the incidence of metachronous second primary malignancies after breast cancer, 14,[16][17][18][19] and only a few studies have investigated the rate of synchronous tumors.…”

Influence of Ce3+ Substitution on Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Properties of ZnCexFe2−xO4 Nanoparticles (X = 0.0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, and 0.08) Conjugated with Ebselen and Its Role Subsidised with γ-Radiation in Mitigating Human TNBC and Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Proliferation In Vitro

“…About 3% of breast cancer patients have an additional primary cancer. Breast cancer susceptibility genes have been found to increase the susceptibility to colon cancer of patients with breast cancer [ 13 ].…”

MicroRNAs Regulate Tumorigenesis by Downregulating SOCS3 Expression: An In silico Approach

“…44,45 Several studies suggest that mutations in genes involved in BC (BRCA1 and BRCA2) are also susceptible to cause CC. 46,47 Moreover, ROBO1 and CHEK2 mutations are also observed in both BC and CC. 48 SOCS3, a tumor suppressor gene, is associated with BC and CC development and progression due to its downregulation that results in dysregulation of JAK/STAT pathway.…”