A case of spindle cell carcinoma of the breast-long survival achieved by multiple surgical treatment

Spindle cell carcinoma of the breast was formerly called carcinosarcoma, and is relatively rare. We report a case of spindle cell carcinoma of the breast. The patient was treated with multiple surgeries and achieved long-term survival. The patient was a 52-year-old woman, in whom small induration developed at the areola of the nipple of the right breast. The lesion was resected, and benign tumor was diagnosed pathologically. Four years later, she had recurrence at the scar, and a typical mastectomy was performed. A tumor developed again 5 years later; the lesional focus was at the scar of the right chest wall and invasion of the ribs and the sternum was noted. The sternum and the right costal cartilage of ribs 3-9 were dissected together. The right chest wall was reconstructed and adjuvant radiation therapy performed. Four years after this operation, tumor recurred near the scar and chest wall resection including part of the pericardial cavity and the left lung was performed. However, 6 months later, invasion of the mediastinum, heart and lung were noted. The patient died 16 years after the first surgery. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberance of the breast was diagnosed at the second operation. However, the diagnosis was changed to spindle cell carcinoma of the breast following immunohistochemical studies. Spindle cell carcinoma of the breast is rare, and definitive histopathological diagnosis is often difficult. When spindle cell carcinoma is suspected, comprehensive diagnostic studies including immunohistochemical examinations should be performed. Even in case with multiple recurrences correctly performed operations may contribute to prolongation of survival.     

A case of advanced breast cancer with multiple organ metastases successfully treated by tamoxifen]

A 66-year-old postmenopausal woman presented in June 1991 with a giant ulcerated left breast tumor. She had discovered the tumor two years previously, but had never visited any medical institution. She was diagnosed as advanced breast cancer with multiple lung metastases, bone metastasis, and both supraclavicular lymph node metastases by physical examination, fine needle aspiration cytology, chest X-P, and bone scintigraphy. Incisional biopsy, performed to confirm the histological type of breast cancer and to evaluate estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER and PgR) status, revealed solid-tubular carcinoma. Both ER and PgR were highly positive at 322.6 and 228.0 fmol/mg protein, respectively. Therefore, endocrine therapy was chosen to treat this advanced breast cancer patient, although she had multiple organ metastases. Twenty mg of Tamoxifen a day was administered per os. After treatment with tamoxifen, the size of ulceration started to decreased and the dyspnea caused by multiple lung metastases was reduced. Eight weeks after, she showed partial response (PR) determined from the size of the ulceration and chest X-P. She has been maintaining PR for more than 9 months. Thus, Tamoxifen was shown to be very effective for this case of advanced breast cancer with multiple organ metastases.     

Local control of advanced breast cancer with mohs'paste

We report two cases of primary advanced breast cancer that was locally controlled by using Mohs'paste. CASE 1: A 70- year-old woman was suffering massive exudates and offensive smell from her right giant breast tumor. Histopathological examination showed an invasive ductal carcinoma. However, she didn't have distant metastases. The patient received chemotherapy and the breast tumor has been fixed using Mohs'paste, and dissected. The giant tumor became flat and dry, so we could perform a radical operation. Then, she had contra-lateral axillary lymph node metastases. We performed a resection of left axillary lymph node and radiation therapy. After two years, we have not found a new lesion. CASE 2: A 54-year- old woman with right local advanced breast cancer discharged massive exudates and oozed blood. Histopathologically, she had an invasive ductal carcinoma. Moreover, she had lung and contra-lateral axillary lymph node metastases. She received chemotherapy and the breast tumor has been fixed using Mohs'paste, and dissected. The bleeding and exudates stopped almost completely, and the breast tumor became flat and dry. Both patients had experienced a mild pain, but their QOL improved remarkably. It is suggested that the patient with local advanced breast cancer may be controlled by using Mohs' paste.     

A case of postoperative lung and pleural recurrence after 20 years in a breast cancer patient with marked response to orally administered UFT and cyclophosphamide

A 62-year-old woman who underwent standard radical mastectomy for left breast cancer developed pleural and pulmonary metastases 16 years later. She complained of slight dyspnea, and computed tomography of the chest revealed a tumor with marked pleural effusion. Her serum level of carcinoembryonic antigen was also increased (49 ng/ml). Systemic chemotherapy with cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, and 5-fluorouracil (CAF) was performed, but she did not show a marked response to CAF therapy. Therefore, she was orally administered UFT and CPA for 5 consecutive days followed by 2 drug-free days. Pleural disseminated foci and a lung tumor were reduced in size on chest CT and the CEA level was decreased within the normal limit. Recently, it was reported that UFT demonstrated significant antiangiogenic activity. This effect may play an important role in the efficacy seen in this patient.     

Remarkable improvement in a patient with metastatic and locally advanced HER2-positive breast cancer treated with trastuzumab plus vinorelbine

A 39-year-old premenopausal nulliparous woman presented with severe pain in her right breast, bleeding and pus-like discharge, and a deep ulcer approximately 18 cm in diameter.Contralateral breast metastasis, bilateral axillary lymph node metastases, and multiple lung and bone metastases were detected on computed tomography.Five years previously she had undergone surgery for ovarian cancer and had prematurely discontinued adjuvant chemotherapy because of side effects. Following the administration of pain control, the patient received trastuzumab(Tr)plus vinorelbine(VNR)for her breast cancer as first-line therapy to avoid hair loss.The ulcer on her right chest wall underwent complete epithelialization and the patient's performance status improved from 3 to 0.The pus-like discharge, pain, bleeding, and odor from the breast resolved completely, and 5 months later, her quality of life had improved.The lung metastases also resolved completely.No adverse affects, including hematotoxicity and hair loss, were seen until treatment failure 12.5 months later. Second-line and third-line treatments were performed, but brain metastases developed, and the patient's overall condition deteriorated because of the development of ileus of unknown etiology.She died 21 months later.The patient received all therapies on an outpatient basis. Combination therapy using Tr and VNR is superior in safety and tolerability, and has been considered an option for first-line treatment of metastatic, locally advanced HER2-positive breast cancer.     

Regression of a metastatic lung mass after receiving whole brain irradiation: Can the abscopal effect cross the blood–brain barrier?

An abscopal effect refers to distant tumor regression after localized irradiation. The mechanism is thought to be via local radiotherapy triggering the immune system which then attacks distant tumor sites. Only several cases of solid tumors with an abscopal effect have been reported in the past few decades, and whether an abscopal effect can cross the blood–brain barrier is still unknown. Herein, we present a female patient who was admitted due to unsteady gait and dyspnea. Chest X‐ray (CXR) and chest CT showed a huge lung mass with left lung collapse and multiple liver masses. Brain MRI also showed multiple brain metastases. A bronchoscopic biopsy proved metastatic adenocarcinoma from colorectal cancer based on immunohistochemical staining. She therefore received 30 Gy (10 fractions) for the brain metastases; however, she refused to receive any systemic therapy for her lung mass and asked for hospice care. She was therefore transferred to a nursing home and was lost to follow‐up. She returned 2 months later due to right pneumonia with fever and productive cough. Surprisingly, her left lung mass had markedly regressed even though she had not received any additional systemic anticancer therapy. This may be the first case of an abscopal effect after receiving whole brain irradiation for brain metastases.     

A case of metastatic Breast Cancer with HER2 gene amplification that responded completely to single agent trastuzumab

An 80-year-old woman visited our hospital with a massive ulcerated tumor in the upper lateral quadrant of the right breast. Her performance status was 2. Histopathologically, a mass consisting of a huge primary tumor and metastatic axillary lymph nodes was seen and invasive ductal carcinoma was diagnosed. Both estrogen and progesterone receptors were negative. Herceptest (DakoCytomation, Glostrup, Denmark) showed 2 + staining and HER2 amplification was detected by fluorescent in situ hybridization. CT revealed multiple lung metastases. Her old age and performance status of 2 made aggressive chemotherapy difficult. After receiving 5'-DFUR 600 mg/day as the first line treatment for two months, the tumors progressed. As second-line treatment, single agent therapy with a loading dose, a trastuzumab 4 mg/kg followed by 2 mg/kg weekly was recommended. The patient also received 60 Gy radiotherapy. Six months after the second line treatment, the breast tumor disappeared and only a scar remained on the chest wall and axilla. CT showed no lung tumors. During the trastuzumab treatment, no adverse effect was observed. Her performance status improved to zero, and she is alive and free from the disease 24 months after the disappearance of the tumor.     

肺肉瘤样癌的临床病理分析

目的探讨肺肉瘤样癌（pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma,PSC）的临床病理学特征,以提高对肺肉瘤样癌的早期诊断。方法回顾性分析6例肺肉瘤样癌的临床特征、影像学表现及病理学特征。结果6例患者最常见的呼吸系统临床表现为咳嗽、咳痰（100．O％）,其次5例为痰中带血（83．3％）和4例胸痛（66．7％）;影像学表现为增强CT扫描可见肿块实体部分轻度强化,转移淋巴结环形强化1例,肺内转移3例,纵隔转移2例,腋窝淋巴结转移2例,胸膜及胸壁侵犯3例,胸腔积液3例,肋骨转移1例,肝转移1例,脑转移2例;病理诊断3例为多形性癌,2例梭形细胞癌,1例为巨细胞癌。结论肺肉瘤样癌临床少见,其临床表现无特异性,肺部增强cT检查具有一定的特异性,诊断仍需依靠病理学检查,免疫组织化学有助于确诊。     

乳腺纯上皮化生性癌9例观察及文献复习

背景与目的:乳腺化生性癌十分少见。对此,本文旨在探讨乳腺纯上皮化生性癌的病理和临床特征以及治疗。方法:回顾性分析1997-2007年9例在我院治疗的女性乳腺纯上皮化生性癌病例。结果:患者中位年龄50岁(37～78岁),9例均行根治术或改良根治术,病理诊断为梭形细胞化生性癌6例,鳞癌3例。雌激素受体(ER)和/或孕激素受体(PR)阳性者2例。2例淋巴结转移。中位随访时间为25(3～112)个月,术后局部复发1例,远处转移3例,肺转移2例,2例患者死亡,1例带瘤生存。结论:本病以梭形细胞化生性癌多见,可同时表达上皮和间叶组织抗原,但较少表达ER和PR。患者多以无痛性肿块就诊,肿块局切复发率高。腋窝淋巴结转移少见,肺转移多见。手术治疗宜选择单纯乳房切除加前哨淋巴结活检。     

Value of Porous Titanium Alloy Plates for Chest Wall Reconstruction after Resection of Chest Wall Tumors

Objective: To explore the value of porous titanium alloy plates for chest wall reconstruction after resectionof chest wall tumors. Materials and Methods: A total of 8 patients with chest wall tumors admitted in ourhospital from Jan. 2006 to Jan. 2009 were selected and underwent tumor resection, then chest wall repair andreconstruction with porous titanium alloy plates for massive chest wall defects. Results: All patients completedsurgery successfully with tumor resection-induced chest wall defects being 6.5×7 cm~12×15.5 cm in size. Twoweeks after chest wall reconstruction, only 1 patient had subcutaneous fluidify which healed itself after pressurebandaging following fluid drainage. Postoperative pathological reports showed 2 patients with costicartilagetumors, 1 with squamous cell carcinoma of lung, 1 with lung adeno-carcinoma, 1 with malignant lymphoma ofchest wall, 2 with chest wall metastasis of breast cancers and 1 with chest wall neurofibrosarcoma. All patientshad more than 2~5 years of follow-up, during which time 1 patient with breast cancer had surgical treatmentdue to local recurrence after 7 months and none had chest wall reconstruction associated complications. Themean survival time of patients with malignant tumors was (37.3±5.67) months. Conclusions: Porous titaniumalloy plates are safe and effective in the chest wall reconstruction after resection of chest tumors.     

Two cases of stromal sarcoma, so-called malignant fibrous histiocytoma of breast treated with reduction surgery

CASE 1: A 64-year-old woman with right breast cancer had a partial mastectomy and radiotherapy four years ago was admitted to our hospital because of right breast mass. The vacuum associated biopsy of tumor resulted in breast sarcoma, thus a nipple-spearing mastectomy was performed. The final histological diagnosis was stromal sarcoma, and was identical to histological findings of malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Three months after the operation, a chest wall recurrence appeared. Although tumor resection with latissimus dorsi flap was performed, there were pleural dissemination and malignant pleural effusion. She died six months after the first surgery. CASE 2: A 60-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of left breast mass, but she refused a further clinical examination. She readmitted fourteen months later due to a huge sized left breast mass with necrosis and smelling discharge. CT scan showed a huge tumor of left breast and multiple lung metastases. Biopsy of the tumor resulted in breast sarcoma. Total mastectomy with split thickness skin grafting was performed. The final histological diagnosis was identical to the first case. A local recurrence appeared thirty days after the operation, and she died fifty-one days after the operation.     

Massive mucinous carcinoma of the breast untreated for 6 years

 We report a patient with a massive mucinous carcinoma of the breast that had been untreated for 6 years. A 47-year-old premenopausal woman presented with a large right-breast mass. Although she had noticed a lump in the right breast 6 years previously, she had not sought treatment. The tumor had enlarged gradually and become ulcerated. With a diagnosis of advanced breast cancer with skin invasion, she underwent right mastectomy with a free skin graft. No lymph node metastases or distant metastases were detected. The histologic diagnosis of the tumor was pure mucinous carcinoma of the breast with no component of ordinary invasive ductal cancer. She has been well without evidence of tumor recurrence for 7 years after the surgery. The prognosis for mucinous carcinoma of the breast has been recognized as relatively good. The results in our patient are consistent with the biological behavior of this carcinoma. Received: August 29, 2002 / Accepted: December 12, 2002 Correspondence to:F. Yoneyama     

Two cases of HER2-positive advanced or metastatic breast cancer, responding to lapatinib and capecitabine

The first patient was a 59-year-old woman who was diagnosed with invasive scirrhous carcinoma. The tumor was estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, progesterone receptor (PgR)-positive, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive. The patient was treated with adjuvant chemotherapy and endocrine therapy after surgery. Liver metastases developed 5 years after surgery. She was treated with trastuzumab combined with vinorelbine, paclitaxel, or docetaxel. The liver metastases increased in size, 9 years after surgery, and she was treated with lapatinib and capecitabine. The efficacy of chemotherapy was judged as a partial response. The second patient was a 74-year-old woman who was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma in 2005. The tumor was ER-negative, PgR-positive, and HER2-positive; she was treated with trastuzumab and paclitaxel. She developed dyspnea in January 2010. Chest radiograph showed increased lung metastases and left pleural effusion; she was treated with lapatinib and capecitabine. Lung metastases decreased and left pleural effusion disappeared after the first cycle of chemotherapy. The efficacy of chemotherapy was judged as a partial response.     

A case of lung adenocarcinoma with postoperative recurrence maintaining complete remission by treatment with gefitinib

A 78-year-old woman without a smoking history was admitted to our hospital because of a tumor 4 cm in diameter found in her right lung at a cataract preoperative inspection check in May 2005. Her serum CEA level was 72. 4 ng/mL. Then, with the diagnosis of pT2N1M0, she was thus administered 2 courses of CBDCA(AUC=4)/GEM(1, 000 mg/m2)as adjuvant chemotherapy. Thereafter, a progressive increase in serum CEA was noted, and the chest CT obtained in March 2006 revealed two left lung metastases of 12 mm and 6mm in diameter. The patient was started on gefitinib. One month later her serum CEA level was within the normal range, and the lung metastatic nodules were not detected on the chest CT. In August 2007, the gefitinib was discontinued because of severe pain due to paronychia. Afterwards, and until May 2010, no recurrence has been detected, and her serum CEA has remained at a normal level. DNA analysis revealed a mutation of EGFR gene in exon 19 in the resected tumor.     

A long survival of a patient with poor performance status who suffered from advanced right breast cancer with multiple lung metastases controlled by trastuzumab as a key drug

We report a case of a 60-year-old woman with poor performance status (PS). She suffered from advanced right breast cancer with multiple lung metastases, which was controlled by chemotherapy with trastuzumab as the key drug. The patient presented with a 4 cm-sized large right breast mass. Her PS was poor due to progressive spinocerebellar degeneration. The biopsy specimen of the breast mass showed scirrhous type of the invasive ductal carcinoma (ER+, HER2 2+). Multiple lung metastases were also detected by computed tomography. Considering her poor PS, the patient was treated with mild systemic therapy using trastuzumab as the key drug. A different drug response was achieved between the breast mass and lung metastatic lesions, and the tumors were maintained as stable disease (SD) during first 18 months. However, she finally passed away due to respiratory failure resulting from lung metastasis, 33 months after starting treatment. The autopsy findings showed a difference of HER2 expression between the breast tumor and lung metastatic lesions. It must be recognized that differences of HER2 expression between the primary tumor and metastatic lesions are sometimes demonstrated in patients with breast cancer, and that trastuzumab can be used as a key drug in some patients as in the current case.     

A case of aged advanced breast cancer with multiple lung and pleural metastases responding to exemestane monotherapy

A 76-year-old woman was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer with bilateral multiple lung and pleural metastases in March 2003. Her CEA and CA15-3 level were 7.6 ng/ml and 98.3 U/l, respectively. However, she refused intensive chemotherapy and chose a hormonal monotherapy with exemestane instead. The patient then did not return to our department for about one year, during which time she continued to take the same medications. When she visited again, CEA and CA15-3 level were reduced to within the normal range, and her multiple lung and pleural metastases were found to have almost completely disappeared upon computed tomography. Exemestane is expected to be an effective agent for the treatment of hormonal receptor-positive postmenopausal woman with life-threatening advanced breast cancer.     

A case of advanced breast cancer with multiple lung and liver metastases successfully treated with multi-disciplinary therapy

We report a case of advanced breast cancer with multiple lung and liver metastases (T4bN1M1) achieving a significant improvement of QOL by multi-disciplinary therapy. The patient was a 63-year-old woman with slight jaundice who had ascites and an ulcerative breast lump with multiple lung and liver metastases. A core needle biopsy for breast tumor led to a diagnosis of an invasive ductal carcinoma positive for HER2/neu protein expression. She received 6 cycles of tri-weekly docetaxel (60 mg/m2) and weekly trastuzumab. Although the ascites and the jaundice disappeared after chemotherapy, the response for breast tumor, metastatic sites in the lung and the liver were less satisfactory. Fifteen-months later, she received radiation therapy so that metastasis in the brain was recognized. But she had no neurological symptoms. Multi-disciplinary therapy can improve patient's QOL and the clinical outcomes in Stage IV advanced breast cancer.     

Primary small cell carcinoma of the breast

Primary small cell carcinoma of the breast is a very rare disease, and only a few case reports have described small cell carcinoma of the breast that responds to chemotherapy. Here, we report a case of primary small cell carcinoma of the breast that was treated with surgery and chemotherapy for postoperative local recurrence in the chest wall and metastasis to the liver. The metastatic lesions showed a partial response (PR) to carboplatin and irinotecan, but did not respond to subsequent Taxotere and doxifluridine (5′-DFUR) treatment. We then treated the metastatic lesions with CBDCA and etoposide (VP-16), and were able to stop disease progression. Small cell carcinoma of the breast is as aggressive as its pulmonary counterpart. Therefore, the best therapy for primary small cell carcinoma of the breast may be surgery followed by adjuvant therapy similar to that recommended for small cell lung carcinoma.     

Doxifluridine, medroxyprogesterone acetate and cyclophosphamide(DMpC)combination therapy found effective for case of chest wall recurrent breast cancer with bone and pleural metastases

A 67-year-old woman in poor general condition consulted my clinic with complaints of dyspnea and right chest wall pain. There was a huge and moist ulcer, caused by recurrence and post-radiation, on her right anterior to posterior chest wall. A chest X-ray demonstrated massive pleural effusion. Bone scinti gram showed multiple metastases in the spine, femur and pelvis. Her general condition was so poor that standard chemotherapy was unsuitable. Therefore, the patient was orally administered DMpC(doxifluridine, medroxyprogesterone acetate and cyclophosphamide)combination therapy. The pleural effusion had completely disappeared after 11 weeks, and the elevated serum CA15-3 and CEA value returned to a normal range 13 weeks later. No side effects were observed from this therapy. The patient clinically achieved good QOL in 6 months form this therapy with zoredronic acid administration. DMpC therapy appears to have few side effects and might be an effective treatment option for recurrent breast cancer patients with a poor general health condition.     

Usefulness of low-dose irinotecan for multiple lung metastases of cholangiocellular carcinoma after operation--a case report

We treated a patient in whom low-dose irinotecan therapy was effective for the treatment of multiple lung metastases of cholangiocellular carcinoma after operation. The patient was a 50-year-old man. He underwent extended right hepatectomy for cholangiocellular carcinoma, and multiple lung metastases occurred 8 months after operation. For the treatment of lung metastases, low-dose irinotecan therapy (70 or 40 mg/week) was carried out. Eighteen months after the lung recurrence, he is still alive with a good quality of life, although the lung metastases have progressed. These results suggest that low-dose irinotecan therapy can be effective for lung metastases of cholangiocellular carcinoma.