title: Preliminary monocentric results of biological characteristics of pregnancy associated breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We performed a mono-institutional study for evaluating the biological data, such as p53, Ki67 and BRCA mutations, as well as clinical characteristics of pregnancy associated breast cancer (PABC), its therapeutic management and the prognosis in a small cohort of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively examined 26 patients with PABC. Clinical and histopathological characteristics along with Ki67, p53 and BRCA mutations were analysed. Information about chemotherapy, surgery and radiotherapy was recovered. Data about long-term prognosis was registered and computed by Kaplan-Meier analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 26 patients, 17 (65%) were considered as having a locally advanced breast cancer. The majority of them (65.4%) had a ductal invasive carcinoma. Oestrogen and progesterone receptors were positive in 13 (50%) patients, resulting both negative in four (15.4%) subjects. HER-2 was positive in 5 subjects (19.2%). Ten patients underwent conservative surgery treatment, and 14 were sent to radical mastectomy (38 vs. 54%) associated with axillary lymph node dissection in 18 cases. Many patients (65%) were further treated with adjuvant chemotherapy and/or hormone therapy. Eight out of 11 patients undergoing the evaluation of BRCA mutation were positive while only 2 out of 3 patients had a mutation of p53. After a median follow-up of 110 months (range: 8.2-1227 mo.), 18 women were still alive, six patients (25%) died and two were lost. Three patients showed a loco-regional recurrence, after a median period of 26 months (range: 2-42 mo.). Distant metastases verified in six patients after a median period of 12.5 months (range: 2-108 mo.). The prognosis was less favourable in BRCA mutated patients than no-BRCA mutated group, although not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In women with PABC, the initial stage of disease is more advanced requiring more aggressive treatment.
authors.affiliation: Surgery Oncology Unit, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV - IRCCS, Padova, Italy. Electronic address: silvia.michieletto@ioveneto.it.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Michieletto
authors.affiliation: Surgery Oncology Unit, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV - IRCCS, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Tania
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saibene
authors.affiliation: Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine Unit, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV - IRCSS, Padova, Italy. Electronic address: laura.evangelista@tin.it.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Evangelista
authors.affiliation: Surgery Oncology Unit, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV - IRCCS, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barbazza
authors.affiliation: Surgery Oncology Unit, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV - IRCCS, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaello
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grigoletto
authors.affiliation: Oncology 2 Unit, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV - IRCCS, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: Oncology 2 Unit, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV - IRCCS, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ghiotto
authors.affiliation: Surgery Oncology Unit, Istituto Oncologico Veneto IOV - IRCCS, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bozza
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001365:Axilla; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D019398:Genes, BRCA1; D024522:Genes, BRCA2; D016158:Genes, p53; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000235:genetics; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008408:Mastectomy / Q000379:methods*; D009154:Mutation; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; C508053:ERBB2 protein, human
keywords: Pregnancy associated breast cancer; Prognosis; Surgery; Treatment