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Pathologica Mar 2020The World Health Organization's new classification of breast tumors has just been published. This review aims to examine the morphological categorization of breast... (Review)
Review
The World Health Organization's new classification of breast tumors has just been published. This review aims to examine the morphological categorization of breast carcinomas which is still principally based on histological features and follows the traditions of histological typing. It gives a subjective and critical view on the WHO classifications and their changes over time, and describes the changes related to some of the most common or challenging breast carcinomas: in situ carcinomas, invasive breast carcinomas of no special type, lobular, cribriform, tubular, mucinous, papillary, metaplastic carcinomas and carcinomas with medullary pattern and those with apocrine differentiation are discussed in more details. Although the 5 edition of the classification is not perfect, it has advantages which are mentioned along with problematic issues of classifications.
Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Humans; Neoplasm Grading; Time Factors; World Health Organization
PubMed: 32202537
DOI: 10.32074/1591-951X-1-20 -
Modern Pathology : An Official Journal... Jan 2021Immunohistochemistry is an essential component of diagnostic breast pathology. The emergence of novel assays and applications is accompanied by new interpretation... (Review)
Review
Immunohistochemistry is an essential component of diagnostic breast pathology. The emergence of novel assays and applications is accompanied by new interpretation criteria and potential pitfalls. Immunohistochemistry assists in supporting breast origin for primary or metastatic carcinomas and identifying non-mammary metastases to the breast; however, no single immunostain is perfectly sensitive nor specific. GATA3 and Sox10 are particularly useful immunostains to identify triple negative breast carcinoma, which are often negative for other markers of mammary differentiation. Sox10 labeling is a major potential diagnostic pitfall, as Sox10 and S-100 label both triple negative breast carcinoma and metastatic melanoma; a pan-cytokeratin immunostain should always be included for this differential diagnosis. Novel immunohistochemistry serves as surrogates for the molecular alterations unique to several of special-type breast carcinomas, including the use of MYB in adenoid cystic carcinoma, pan-TRK in secretory carcinoma, and mutant IDH2 in tall cell carcinoma with reversed polarity (TCCRP). In addition, PD-L1 immunohistochemistry is an emerging, albeit imperfect, biomarker for breast cancer immunotherapy, with different assay parameters and scoring criteria in breast carcinoma compared to other tumor types. The expanding repertoire of novel immunohistochemistry provides additional diagnostic tools and biomarkers that improve diagnostic breast pathology and patient care.
Topics: B7-H1 Antigen; Biomarkers, Tumor; Breast; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Carcinoma, Adenoid Cystic; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; GATA3 Transcription Factor; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; SOXE Transcription Factors; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms
PubMed: 33110239
DOI: 10.1038/s41379-020-00697-3 -
Virchows Archiv : An International... Jan 2022Spindle cell lesions of the breast comprise a heterogeneous group of lesions, ranging from reactive and benign processes to aggressive malignant tumours. Despite their... (Review)
Review
Spindle cell lesions of the breast comprise a heterogeneous group of lesions, ranging from reactive and benign processes to aggressive malignant tumours. Despite their rarity, they attract the attention of breast pathologists due to their overlapping morphological features and diagnostic challenges, particularly on core needle biopsy (CNB) specimens. Pathologists should recognise the wide range of differential diagnoses and be familiar with the diverse morphological appearances of these lesions to make an accurate diagnosis and to suggest proper management of the patients. Clinical history, immunohistochemistry, and molecular assays are helpful in making a correct diagnosis in morphologically challenging cases. In this review, we present our approach for the diagnosis of breast spindle cell lesions, highlighting the main features of each entity and the potential pitfalls, particularly on CNB. Breast spindle cell lesions are generally classified into two main categories: bland-appearing and malignant-appearing lesions. Each category includes a distinct list of differential diagnoses and a panel of immunohistochemical markers. In bland-appearing lesions, it is important to distinguish fibromatosis-like spindle cell metaplastic breast carcinoma from other benign entities and to distinguish fibromatosis from scar tissue. The malignant-appearing category includes spindle cell metaplastic carcinoma, stroma rich malignant phyllodes tumour, other primary and metastatic malignant spindle cell tumours of the breast, including angiosarcoma and melanoma, and benign mimics such as florid granulation tissue and nodular fasciitis.
Topics: Breast; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Phyllodes Tumor
PubMed: 34322734
DOI: 10.1007/s00428-021-03162-x -
International Journal of Clinical and... 2015Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with molecular subtypes that have biological distinctness and different behavior. The objective of this study is to evaluate the...
Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with molecular subtypes that have biological distinctness and different behavior. The objective of this study is to evaluate the value of molecular subtypes in breast cancer management according to a retrospective analysis of breast carcinoma molecular subtypes, histopathological grade, and TNM stage. A retrospective study of 475 paraffin-embedded tissues of breast cancer samples from the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University was performed. Expression of ER, PR, Her-2 and Ki-67 was analyzed to classify molecular subtypes of breast cancer by immunohistochemistry. The differences of molecular subtypes of breast cancers in regard to TNM staging and pathological grade were analyzed using χ(2) tests. Values of P<0.05 were considered statistically significant. The frequency of luminal A, luminal B, HER2-positive luminal B, triple negative and non-luminal HER2-positive subtypes were: 35.5%, 22.5%, 13.1%, 15.2% and 13.7%, respectively. Among the five subtypes of breast cancer, the distribution of pathological grades showed a significant difference (P<0.001). There were significant differences in the distribution of TNM staging among the five subtypes of breast cancer (P<0.001). In addition to traditional prognostic indicators such as TNM staging and pathological grade, molecular subtype may aid clinical practice and research into breast cancer. Different molecular subtypes will lead to different prognosis and therapeutic option. Molecular subtyping is essential for breast cancer management.
Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Breast Neoplasms; Chi-Square Distribution; China; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Neoplasm Grading; Neoplasm Staging; Predictive Value of Tests; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors
PubMed: 26339424
DOI: No ID Found -
Acta Clinica Croatica Sep 2018- A young woman with breast cancer is considered to be a woman younger than 40. According to the literature, breast cancer in the population of young women usually is of...
- A young woman with breast cancer is considered to be a woman younger than 40. According to the literature, breast cancer in the population of young women usually is of a higher histologic grade, unfavorable hormonal status, and overall higher mortality rate when compared with breast cancer occurring in older population. We compared pathologic and immunohistochemical features of breast carcinoma in women under 40 years of age with the respective features in women over 60 years of age. The following parameters were observed in these two groups: tumor size, lymph node status, histologic grade, hormonal receptor status, Ki-67 prognostic index, Her2/neu status, and histologic type of the tumor. Early onset breast carcinoma was found to have a higher frequency of tumor grade 3 (29% . 17%) and estrogen receptor negativity (45% . 23%). In the group of young women, breast carcinoma was mostly multicentric (23% . 5%), triple-negative (32% . 10%), and was found to have higher proliferation index Ki-67 (25% . 10%). Our results confirmed differences between the young and older groups of patients. In the group of young women, we found predominantly unfavorable prognostic parameters of the disease.
Topics: Adult; Age Factors; Breast Neoplasms; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lymphatic Metastasis; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Grading; Neoplasm Staging; Prognosis; Receptors, Estrogen
PubMed: 31168183
DOI: 10.20471/acc.2018.57.03.13 -
Polish Journal of Pathology : Official... 2018Nasopharyngeal lymphoepithelioma is an undifferentiated carcinoma in a dominated lymphoplasma-histiocyte stroma. Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the breast is the... (Review)
Review
Nasopharyngeal lymphoepithelioma is an undifferentiated carcinoma in a dominated lymphoplasma-histiocyte stroma. Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the breast is the mammary counterpart of the lymphoepithelioma of the nasopharynx and is characterised by proliferation of poorly differentiated malignant cells within a prominent lymphoid infiltrate. It is a very rare primary carcinoma of the breast first reported in 1994 by Kumar and Kumar. Fewer than 40 cases have been reported in the English literature. In this manuscript a case of lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma of the breast in a 57-year-old patient is reported along with a literature review on this rare entity.
Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Biopsy; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinoma; Cell Differentiation; Cell Proliferation; Female; Humans; Immunohistochemistry; Lymphocytes; Middle Aged
PubMed: 29895134
DOI: 10.5114/pjp.2018.75344 -
Archives of Pathology & Laboratory... Nov 2017Primary neuroendocrine tumors of the breast are a rare and underrecognized subtype of mammary carcinoma. Neuroendocrine tumors of the breast occur predominately in... (Review)
Review
Primary neuroendocrine tumors of the breast are a rare and underrecognized subtype of mammary carcinoma. Neuroendocrine tumors of the breast occur predominately in postmenopausal women. The tumors are subclassified into well-differentiated and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine tumors, and invasive breast carcinoma with neuroendocrine features. Well-differentiated tumors show architectural similarity to carcinoids of other sites but lack characteristic neuroendocrine nuclei. Poorly differentiated neuroendocrine tumors are morphologically identical to small cell carcinoma of the lung. Neuroendocrine differentiation, seen in up to 30% of invasive breast carcinomas, is most commonly associated with mucinous and solid papillary carcinomas. The diagnosis of neuroendocrine differentiation requires expression of the neuroendocrine markers synaptophysin or chromogranin. The main differential diagnosis is a metastatic neuroendocrine tumor from an extramammary site. Neuroendocrine tumors of the breast are treated similarly to other invasive breast carcinomas. Although no consensus has been reached on the prognosis, most studies suggest a poor outcome.
Topics: Biomarkers, Tumor; Breast Neoplasms; Breast Neoplasms, Male; Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine; Cell Differentiation; Chromogranin A; Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Humans; Male; Neoplasm Grading; Neoplasm Staging; Prognosis; Synaptophysin
PubMed: 29072945
DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2016-0364-RS -
Cancer Immunology Research Apr 2020Immunotherapy using checkpoint inhibitors is one of the most promising current cancer treatment strategies. However, in breast cancer, its success has been limited to a... (Review)
Review
Immunotherapy using checkpoint inhibitors is one of the most promising current cancer treatment strategies. However, in breast cancer, its success has been limited to a subset of patients with triple-negative disease, whose durability of observed responses remain unclear. The lack of detailed understanding of breast tumor immune evasion mechanisms and the treatment of patients with highly heterogeneous metastatic disease contribute to these disappointing results. Here we discuss the current knowledge about immune-related changes during breast tumor progression, with special emphasis on the -to-invasive breast carcinoma transition that may represent a key step of immunoediting in breast cancer. Comprehensive characterization of early-stage disease and better understanding of immunologic drivers of disease progression will likely expand the tools available for immunotherapy and improve patient stratification.
Topics: Animals; Biomarkers, Tumor; Breast Neoplasms; Disease Progression; Female; Humans; Tumor Escape; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 32238387
DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.CIR-19-0786 -
Archives of Pathology & Laboratory... Jun 2015Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast is a rare but aggressive type of breast cancer that has been recognized as a unique pathologic entity by the World Health... (Review)
Review
Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast is a rare but aggressive type of breast cancer that has been recognized as a unique pathologic entity by the World Health Organization. Morphologically, it is characterized by the differentiation of neoplastic epithelium into squamous cells and/or mesenchymal-looking elements (squamous cells, spindle cells, cartilage or bone, etc). It shares many similarities with invasive ductal carcinoma and benign lesions on mammography, which further complicates the diagnosis. Treatment for metaplastic breast carcinoma is relatively unknown because of the rarity of the disease, but studies suggest that removal of the tumor and adjuvant radiation therapy has the greatest benefit.
Topics: Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Breast; Breast Neoplasms; Chemoradiotherapy; Etoposide; Female; Humans; Ifosfamide; Metaplasia; Prognosis
PubMed: 26030252
DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2013-0358-RS -
Archives of Pathology & Laboratory... Jan 2020Microglandular adenosis is a rare borderline neoplastic lesion of the breast composed of haphazardly located small, round tubules with a single cell layer interspersed... (Review)
Review
CONTEXT.—
Microglandular adenosis is a rare borderline neoplastic lesion of the breast composed of haphazardly located small, round tubules with a single cell layer interspersed within breast stroma and/or adipose tissue. Microglandular adenosis is devoid of a myoepithelial cell layer, and has a characteristic immunophenotype, being positive for S100 and negative for estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and HER2/. When associated with cancer, microglandular adenosis and associated invasive carcinoma share the same molecular alterations, including mutation; therefore, microglandular adenosis is considered a nonobligate precursor of triple (HER2/, estrogen and progesterone receptors)-negative breast carcinoma. Microglandular adenosis is an important diagnostic pitfall as it can be easily mistaken for a low-grade invasive carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE.—
To provide a review of the clinicopathologic features of microglandular adenosis and associated invasive carcinoma, with emphasis on key features separating entities in the differential diagnosis.
DATA SOURCES.—
Review of current literature on microglandular adenosis and associated invasive carcinoma and personal experience of authors.
CONCLUSIONS.—
Microglandular adenosis can mimic breast carcinoma; attention to key features, including morphologic-immunophenotypic correlation, is essential in establishing the diagnosis.
Topics: Breast Neoplasms; Female; Fibrocystic Breast Disease; Humans; Precancerous Conditions; Triple Negative Breast Neoplasms
PubMed: 31116044
DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2019-0049-RA