Neuroendocrine carcinomas of the breast.
BACKGROUND
Neuroendocrine (NE) breast cancers encompass a heterogeneous group of tumours showing morphological features similar to those of NE neoplasms of the gut and lung and expressing one or more neuroendocrine markers (neuron specific enolase, chromogranins synaptophysin) in at least 50% of tumour cells. They are rare lesions representing about 2-3% of all breast cancers and affecting more frequently elderly patients.


OBJECTIVE
Prospective observational study is to analyse the clinico-pathological aspects of NE carcinomas of the breast undergone surgical resection compared to breast carcinomas with a minor neuroendocrine component and to conventional invasive ductal or lobular cancers.


METHODS
Thirty-five consecutive breast carcinomas showing morphological features suggestive of an endocrine differentiation were selected among breast cancers undergone surgical treatment during the period of January 1979-December 2004.


RESULTS
The 35 patients were divided into two categories: 13 neuroendocrine carcinomas (NECs) and 22 ductal carcinomas with a minor neuroendocrine component (DC-NE). The average follow-up was 60 months. The patients with CNE developed breast cancer in an advanced age compared to the patients with infiltrating ductal carcinoma NAS or infiltrating lobular carcinoma. We did not find recurrent disease in the NEC group, while it was observed in 2 patients (9%) with DC-NE, in 6 cases (17%) with infiltrating ductal carcinoma NAS and in 7 cases (20%) with infiltrating lobular carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
The CNE compared with the infiltrating ductal and lobular carcinoma are statistically different in relation to the expression of the receptor of c-erb-B2, p53, progesterone, for the lymph node state at diagnosis and the risk of reappearance of breast tumour. Our study confirms the choice to consider the neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast as a separate histological group and seems to suggest a less aggressiveness of this type of tumour.
Rovera
Francesca
F
Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy. francesca.rovera@uninsubria.it
Masciocchi
Patrizia
P
Coglitore
Alessandra
A
La Rosa
Stefano
S
Dionigi
Gianlorenzo
G
Marelli
Marina
M
Boni
Luigi
L
Dionigi
Renzo
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D019002:CD56 Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D053379:Chromogranin A / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016708:Synaptophysin / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013997:Time Factors
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019002:CD56 Antigen; D053379:Chromogranin A; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D016708:Synaptophysin; D010751:Phosphopyruvate Hydratase