title: Metaplastic breast cancer: clinical overview and molecular aberrations for potential targeted therapy.
abstract: Metaplastic breast cancer is a rare subtype of invasive mammary carcinoma, with an aggressive behavior and usually poor outcome. Responses to systemic chemotherapy are suboptimal compared to patients with standard invasive ductal carcinoma. Limited data are available in regards to best treatment modalities, including chemotherapy. This review gives an overview of metaplastic breast cancer and its clinical and pathologic characteristics, in addition to treatment strategies, clinical trials, and future directions.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Unit 1354, Houston, TX, 77030, USA, sabouharb@mdanderson.org.
authors.forename: Sausan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Abouharb
authors.forename: Stacy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moulder
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011379:Prognosis; D035583:Rare Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents