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Metaplastic sarcomatoid carcinoma of the breast appears more aggressive than other triple receptor-negative breast cancers

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Abstract

Metaplastic sarcomatoid carcinoma (MSC) of the breast is usually triple receptor (ER, PR, and HER2) negative and is not currently recognized as being more aggressive than other triple receptor-negative breast cancers. We reviewed archival tissue sections from surgical resection specimens of 47 patients with MSC of the breast and evaluated the association between various clinicopathologic features and patient survival. We also evaluated the clinical outcome of MSC patients compared to a control group of patients with triple receptor-negative invasive breast carcinoma matched for patient age, clinical stage, tumor grade, treatment with chemotherapy, and treatment with radiation therapy. Factors independently associated with decreased disease-free survival among patients with stage I–III MSC of the breast were patient age > 50 years (P = 0.029) and the presence of nodal macrometastases (P = 0.003). In early-stage (stage I–II) MSC, decreased disease-free survival was observed for patients with a sarcomatoid component comprising ≥95% of the tumor (P = 0.032), but tumor size was the only independent adverse prognostic factor in early-stage patients (P = 0.043). Compared to a control group of triple receptor-negative patients, patients with stage I–III MSC had decreased disease-free survival (two-sided log rank, P = 0.018). Five-year disease-free survival was 44 ± 8% versus 74 ± 7% for patients with MSC versus triple receptor-negative breast cancer, respectively. We conclude that MSC of the breast appears more aggressive than other triple receptor-negative breast cancers.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by Cancer Center Support Grant # CA16672 from the NCI.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Unit 85, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    T. R. Lester, L. Huo, W. G. Davis & M. Z. Gilcrease

  2. Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    K. K. Hunt, K. M. Nayeemuddin, B. W. Feig & L. L. Rourke

  3. Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    R. L. Bassett Jr

  4. Department of Breast Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    A. M. Gonzalez-Angulo & V. Valero

  5. Department of Systems Biology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    A. M. Gonzalez-Angulo

Authors
  1. T. R. Lester
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  2. K. K. Hunt
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  3. K. M. Nayeemuddin
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  4. R. L. Bassett Jr
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  5. A. M. Gonzalez-Angulo
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  6. B. W. Feig
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  7. L. Huo
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  8. L. L. Rourke
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  9. W. G. Davis
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  10. V. Valero
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  11. M. Z. Gilcrease
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. Z. Gilcrease.

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Lester, T.R., Hunt, K.K., Nayeemuddin, K.M. et al. Metaplastic sarcomatoid carcinoma of the breast appears more aggressive than other triple receptor-negative breast cancers. Breast Cancer Res Treat 131, 41–48 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-011-1393-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-011-1393-6

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