Breast cancer diagnosed during pregnancy and lactation: biological features and treatment options.
OBJECTIVE
Assessment of biological features and treatment of patients with breast cancer presenting during pregnancy or lactation.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical analysis of estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR), Ki-67, HER2/neu, prognostic markers, treatment and follow-up of 21 patients with breast cancer during pregnancy (BCdP) and 17 with breast cancer during lactation (BCdL) are presented.


RESULTS
Median age was 36 and 33 years, median tumour size was 2.4 and 2.5 cm, axillary lymph nodes were positive in 10 of 21 pregnant patients and 11 of 17 lactating patients, respectively. Both ER and PgR were not expressed in six of 21 pregnant women and nine of 17 lactating patients. All the six women who had concurrent diagnosis of breast cancer and pregnancy (first trimester) preferred termination of pregnancy although an alternative option was discussed. Five patients received anthracycline containing chemotherapy during the second and third trimester with no complications for patient and child. Conservative surgery was performed in 15 of 21 patients during pregnancy with no local reappearance after a median follow-up of 24 months. Three pregnant women underwent lymphoscintigraphy and sentinel lymph node biopsy.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients who had concurrent diagnosis of breast cancer and pregnancy (early first trimester) preferred termination of pregnancy to allow easier completion of treatment. Conservative surgery was safe also in women with BCdP. Sentinel node biopsy might be considered for pregnant patients with a clinically negative axilla.
Gentilini
O
O
Department of Breast Surgery, European Institute of Oncology, Via Ripamonti 435, 20141 Milan, Italy. oreste.gentilini@ieo.it
Masullo
M
M
Rotmensz
N
N
Peccatori
F
F
Mazzarol
G
G
Smeets
A
A
Simsek
S
S
De Dosso
S
S
Veronesi
P
P
Intra
M
M
Zurrida
S
S
Viale
G
G
Goldhirsch
A
A
Veronesi
U
U
D000029:Abortion, Legal; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001365:Axilla; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D007774:Lactation; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D015411:Mastectomy, Modified Radical; D015412:Mastectomy, Segmental; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000032:analysis; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000032:analysis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000032:analysis; D021701:Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone