title: Primary Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Breast Metastatic to the Bones, Which Chemotherapy?
abstract: The primary neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the breast is defined as immunohistochemical expression of neuroendocrine markers (chromogranin and synoptophysin) in more than 50% of the neoplastic cells according to World Health Organization (WHO) classification of tumors in 2003 (Tumours of the Breast and Female Genital Organs, 2003, Lyon: IARC Press). It accounts for less than 5% of all cancers arising from the breast (Tumours of the Breast and Female Genital Organs, 2003, Lyon, France: IARC Press). However, based on the study conducted by Wang et al., the primary NEC of breast comprises less than 0.1% of all mammary carcinomas (Frankf Z Pathol, 73, 1963, 24). Because of the rarity of the disease and absence of the prospective trials, there is no standard treatment for primary NEC of the breast. Herein, we report the case of a middle age woman with primary NEC with bone metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, New York.
authors.forename: Aye M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Soe
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, New York.
authors.forename: Gardith
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, New York.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guevara
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, The Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn, New York.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xiao
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018278:Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary; D003657:Decision Making; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D012886:Skull; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: chromogranin; neuroendocrine carcinoma; synaptophysin