Metaplastic breast cancer : Pathological subtypes, clinical presentation, imaging characteristics, Immunohistochemistry, treatment and prognosis
Journal Title: International Journal of Medical Science and Public Health - Year 2014, Vol 3, Issue 9
Abstract
Metaplastic breast cancer is a rare subtype of breast cancer that is histologically heterogeneous, being composed of both sarcomatous and epithelial components. It presents as rapidly growing palpable masses. Incidence of nodal metastasis is low, as compared to intraductal carcinoma, but it has a high metastatic potential and more chances of local recurrence. Many different pathological classifications are available, the most popular being "Wargotz and Norris classification". Imaging features mimic those of intraductal carcinoma. Immunohistochemically, these tumors show a basal/myoepithelial phenotype with positivity for cytokeratins, AE1/AE3, smooth muscle actin, p63, alpha B-crystallin, etc. These tumors show no or very low positivity for hormone receptors or HER-2 over expression. Therefore, they are often called triple negative carcinomas. They are aggressive tumors with suboptimal response to standard chemotherapy regimens. Overall prognosis of the patients with metaplastic breast cancer is worse than the patients with intraductal breast carcinoma. Further research is needed for formulating targeted therapies for this aggressive tumor.
Authors and Affiliations
Farooq Wani
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP143150
- DOI 10.5455/ijmsph.2014.090720141
- Views 91
- Downloads 0
Morbidity and mortality trend and pattern of cancer in newly started cancer unit of tertiary care hospital in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh
Background: Cancer affects all communities worldwide. Approximately 12.7 million people were diagnosed with cancer and more than 7.6 million died in world during 2012. Cancer has become one of the 10 leading causes of de...
Low back pain: Correlation with anxiety, depression, and well-being and the effect of homeopathic medicines on the physical signs of patients
Background: This study was intended to prove or disprove the accusations that the homeopathic medicines are nothing but placebo by evaluating the reduction in the physical signs in patients with pathological low back pai...
Plasma homocysteine level and carotid intima–media thickness in type 2 diabetic patients
Background: The morbidity of atherosclerosis in diabetic patients is two to three times higher than in the normal population. In recent years, plasma homocysteine (Hcy) levels, a sulfur containing non-protein amino a...
Comparison of conventional viva examination with objective structured viva in second year pathology students
Background: The evaluation of students is an important part of any educational process and it is necessary to assess their performance. As a part of feedback for teaching process, it also helps improve the perform...
Monitoring of Polio Supplementary Immunization activities in some selected areas of Jammu region: Lessons learnt from the field
Background: Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus. It invades the nervous system and can cause total paralysis in a matter of hours. Supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) with oral polio vaccine a...