title: Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast: a clinicopathological review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mammary metaplastic carcinoma encompasses epithelial-only carcinoma (high-grade adenosquamous carcinoma or pure squamous cell carcinoma), biphasic epithelial and sarcomatoid carcinoma and monophasic spindle cell carcinoma.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinicopathological features of a large series of 34 metaplastic carcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  10 epithelial-only, 14 biphasic and 10 monophasic metaplastic carcinomas were assessed for nuclear grade, hormone receptor status, HER2/neu (cerbB2) oncogene expression, Ki-67 and p53, lymph node status and recurrence on follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Intermediate to high nuclear grade were assessed in most (33/34) tumours. Oestrogen and progesterone receptors were negative in 8 of 10 epithelial-only, all 14 biphasic, and 9 of 10 monophasic tumours, cerbB2 was negative in 7 of 10 epithelial-only, all 14 biphasic and 8 of 10 monophasic tumours. Ki-67 was found to be positive in 6 of 10 epithelial-only, 6 of 14 biphasic, and 7 of 10 monophasic tumours, whereas p53 was positive in 6 of 10 epithelial-only, 7 of 14 biphasic, and 8 of 10 monophasic tumours. Lymph node metastases were seen in 7 of 7 epithelial-only, 7 of 11 biphasic, and 3 of 7 monophasic tumours. Recurrences were seen in 4 of 7 epithelial-only, 8 of 9 biphasic, and 4 of 9 monophasic tumours.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  All three subtypes of metaplastic carcinoma are known to behave aggressively, and should be differentiated from the low-grade fibromatosis-like metaplastic carcinoma, which does not metastasize. Oncological treatment options may be limited by the frequently negative status of hormonal receptor and cerbB2.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. garytse@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Tse
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Putti
authors.forename: P C W
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Lui
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chaiwun
authors.forename: B K B
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Law
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008679:Metaplasia; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone