Metaplastic Breast Carcinoma: a Heterogeneous Disease

Abstract

The aim of this study is to evaluate clinicopathologic characteristics and the multi-disciplinary treatment results of metaplastic breast cancer (MBC) patients treated in a single institute. Seventeen female patients with MBC treated in our department between June 2000 and January 2012 were identified and retrospectively evaluated. The median age at diagnosis was 46 years (range, 26-66 years). The median tumor size at diagnosis was 3.5 cm (range 1.5-12 cm). Six (35%) patients underwent breast conservation surgery and 11 (65%) mastectomy. Axillary lymph node metastasis was found in 6 (35%) patients. Twelve (71%) had triple negative tumors. Postoperative RT and systemic adjuvant treatment was given to all patients accordingly to stage and biological characteristics. Median follow-up time was 27 months (range, 12-151 months). At the time of this analysis, 14 (82%) patients were alive with no evidence of disease, and 1 (6%) was alive with disease. The 3-year OS was 91% and 5-year 80%, and DFS rates were 76% and 76%, respectively. Despite the young age of our patients with mostly high grade tumors, larger tumor size and higher rates of lymph node metastasis, the survival outcomes in our study are favorable in comparison with previously reported series.

Natural history of metaplastic squamous cell breast cancer: a case report and literature review on surgical management

“…Prognosis for this group of patients remains controversial with some studies reporting a poorer outcome (11) compared to the aggressive IDCs and other reports showing similar survival between the two groups (12). However, these reports were mainly confined to small retrospective case series.…”

Metaplastic Breast Carcinoma: Analysis of Clinical and Pathologic Characteristics - A Case Series

“…Despite the large tumor size, lymph node involvement is rare in these cases (10,13). The incidence rate for lymph node metastasis is between 0% and 63% (9,10,19,20).…”

“…This form of cancer is usually found in the 49-59 years age group (8)(9)(10). In a population-based study by Pezzi et al (11), data from 892 patients with MBC were compared with those of patients with invasive ductal -carcinoma.…”

“…Patients with MBC were most commonly found to be older, with tumors of larger size and more advanced stage; they usually tested negative for ER and the tumors were poorly differentiated (11). Clinical examination usually reveals fast-growing palpable tumors (10,12). Most patients present with a well-defined mass over 2 cm in size, sometimes reaching 4-5 cm (3,10,13).…”

“…Clinical examination usually reveals fast-growing palpable tumors (10,12). Most patients present with a well-defined mass over 2 cm in size, sometimes reaching 4-5 cm (3,10,13). A connection between tumor size, recurrence, and survival rates has been suggested (10).…”