Invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast had poor clinical characteristics but showed no difference in prognosis compared with invasive ductal carcinoma.

Zhenping Wang,Shiping Yang,Changsheng Ye,Jia Yao,Mingfeng Liu,Guanqiao Li,Guangyu Yao

doi:10.1186/s12957-016-0960-z

Abstract

BackgroundIt is controversial for prognosis of invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) compared with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast. To better understand the difference between IMPC and IDC prognoses, we conducted this retrospective study.MethodsData from 33 patients with IMPC were retrospectively reviewed, and the clinicopathologic characteristics and survival status were compared with those of 347 patients with IDC who were treated during the same period.ResultsThe IMPC cases were of larger tumor size, greater proportion of nodal involvement, and an increased incidence of lymphovascular invasion compared with IDC cases. The overall survival (OS), local relapse-free survival (LRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and failure-free survival (FFS) rates were not significantly different between IMPC and IDC. The 3-year OS rate was 97 vs 94.2 % for the IMPC and IDC patients, respectively. The 3-year FFS rate was 87.9 vs 86.2 % for the IMPC and IDC patients, respectively. For IMPC patients, the 3-year LRFS rate was 93.9 % and in IDC patients was 89.0 %. The 3-year DMFS rates of IMPC patients was 90.9 % and IDC patients was 89 %.ConclusionsIMPC had poor clinical characteristics, but it showed no difference in OS, FFS, LRFS, and DMFS compare with IDC.

Highlights

It is controversial for prognosis of invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) compared with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast
Immunohistochemistries of biologic factors such as estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and treatment modalities
The clinicopathological characteristics of patients with IMPC and IDC A total of 33 patients with IMPC of the breast were identified in our database

Summary

Introduction

It is controversial for prognosis of invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) compared with invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) of the breast. Invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) was first described by Siriaunkgul and Tavassoli as a rare variant of invasive breast carcinoma characterized by pseudopapillary and tubuloalveolar arrangement of tumor cell clusters in sponge-like, clear empty spaces, mimicking extensive lymphatic invasion [2]. As described by Luna More et al, IMPC is characterized by small, tightly cohesive groups of neoplastic cells within well-delineated clear spaces resembling lymphatic vessels [3]. The incidence of IMPC ranges from 3 to 6 % of all primary breast cancers [4]. Due to the low incidence of this breast cancer variant, most studies examining IMPC have small sample sizes; the clinicopathological characteristics and the clinical prognostic factors of invasive micropapillary carcinoma are not well understood.

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