title: Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast: sensitivity to cisplatinum-based chemotherapy.
abstract: Primary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the breast is a rare malignancy whose optimal treatment and prognosis are unknown. A patient with SCC whose tumor responded dramatically to chemotherapy as part of multimodal treatment is presented. A 61-year-old woman had a palpable 5.5-cm tender left breast mass with overlying skin edema and erythema and irregular margins by mammography. Fine needle aspiration revealed malignant squamous cells with keratinization; incisional biopsy confirmed SCC. Extensive evaluation for an extramammary primary site of disease was negative. Neoadjuvant cisplatinum and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) led to tumor shrinkage and complete resolution of pain and erythema. Modified radical mastectomy with post-operative chest wall radiation were performed. Neither residual invasive carcinoma nor metastatic nodal disease was found, though intraductal carcinoma with marked squamous features was identified. The patient remains disease-free 2.5 years after diagnosis. Cisplatinum-based chemotherapy should be considered in the treatment regimen of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dejager
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Redlich
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Dayer
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Komorowski
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D001940:Breast / Q000473:pathology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015411:Mastectomy, Modified Radical; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D002945:Cisplatin