Clinicopathological features of infiltrating lobular carcinomas comparing with infiltrating ductal carcinomas: a case control study.
BACKGROUND
Infiltrating lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the second most common type of invasive breast cancers and it has been reported to have some unique biologic and epidemiologic characteristics.


METHODS
Clinicopathological features of 95 patients with ILC, their relapse free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were retrospectively investigated and compared with those of 3,621 patients with infiltrating ductal carcinoma-not otherwise specified (IDC-NOS) between January 1984 and December 2005.


RESULTS
ILC constitutes 2.3% of all invasive breast cancers. There were no difference between the ILC and the IDC-NOS groups regarding age at diagnosis, tumor size, nodal status, and treatment modalities except hormone therapy. The ILC group showed more estrogen receptor expression, less HER-2 expression and higher bilaterality. RFS and OS of the ILC patients were similar to those of the IDC. IDC-NOS metastasized more frequently to the lung and bone, whereas, ILC to the bone and ovary.


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of ILC was relatively low in Korean breast cancer patients. Comparing to IDC-NOS ILC showed some different features such as higher estrogen receptor expression, less HER-2 expression, higher bilaterality and preferred metastatic sites of bone and ovary. Contralateral cancers and bone and ovary evaluation should be considered when monitoring ILC patients.
Lee
Ju-Hyun
JH
Department of Surgery, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Park
Seho
S
Park
Hyung Seok
HS
Park
Byeong-Woo
BW
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen