Tumor characteristics and the clinical outcome of invasive lobular carcinoma compared to infiltrating ductal carcinoma in a Chinese population

A-Yong Cao,Guang-Yu Liu,Liang Huang,Jiong Wu,Zhi-Ming Shao,Gen-Hong Di,Jin-Song Lu,Zhen-Zhou Shen

doi:10.1186/1477-7819-10-152

Abstract

BackgroundWe sought to compare the baseline demographics, standard pathologic factors and long-term clinical outcomes between ILC and infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) using a large database.MethodsClinicopathologic features, overall survival (OS), and recurrence/metastasis-free survival (RFS) were compared between 2,202 patients with IDC and 215 patients with ILC.ResultsILC was significantly more likely to be associated with a favorable phenotype, but the incidence of contralateral breast cancer was higher for ILC patients than for IDC patients (8.4% vs. 3.9%; P =0.001). The frequencies of recurrence/metastasis (P = 0.980) and death (P = 0.064) were similar among patients with IDC and patients with ILC after adjustment for tumor size and nodal status. The median follow-up was 42.8 months.ConclusionsChinese women with ILCs do not have better clinical outcomes than their counterparts with IDC. Management decisions should be based on individual patient and tumor biologic characteristics, and not on lobular histology.

Highlights

We sought to compare the baseline demographics, standard pathologic factors and long-term clinical outcomes between Invasive lobular carcinomas (ILC) and infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) using a large database
Patient characteristics Most patients with ILC presented with a palpable mass (191 cases, 84.9%) or nipple discharge (4 cases, 1.9%); 13.2% (20 cases) of the patients only presented with mammographic microcalcifications
We further reviewed the manifestations on mammograms of every ILC patient presenting with a palpable mass and found that 183 cases (85.1%) were accompanied with abnormal radiological changes, including 29 cases (13.5%) with malignant microcalcifications

Summary

Introduction

We sought to compare the baseline demographics, standard pathologic factors and long-term clinical outcomes between ILC and infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) using a large database. Invasive lobular carcinomas (ILC) are believed to be more frequently multicentric and bilateral and may be distinguished from infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) histologically by its cell type and pattern of invasion, as well as by its immunohistochemical profile [5,6]. Limited data have been reported on the biologic features of lobular carcinomas within the context of their clinical outcome. Some features such as age at diagnosis, tumor size, lymph node status, histological grade, and stage of disease are confirmed to be important prognostic factors for survival in IDC patients [13,14,15]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion