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.     

Malignant adenomyoepithelioma of the breast: a case with distant metastases

Adenomyoepithelioma is thought to be a low-grade malignancy, and cases showing malignant behavior are rare. A massive breast tumor with skin invasion in a 60-year-old woman was diagnosed as malignant adenomyoepithelioma. Despite the tumor size and skin invasion, no axillary lymph node metastases were detected. Light microscopy showed proliferation of tubular structures composed of atypical epithelial and myoepithelial cells and occasional anaplastic cells with mitotic figures extending to the epidermis of the skin. Twenty-four months after the surgery the patient complained of dull pain in the right thigh, and was found to have bone, lung and mediastinal lymph node metastases. There was neither local recurrence nor axillary lymph node metastasis. Subsequent femur fracture was treated by osteotomy. Despite additional chemoradiotherapy, the patient died 43 months after the first operation. Our case and literature review indicated that this tumor tends to show hematogenous metastasis.     

Bone metastases from breast carcinoma: histopathological - radiological correlations and prognostic features

The aim of this study was to identify factors that may be associated with the development of bone metastases in patients with metastatic breast carcinoma and to see if any of these factors had a bearing on subsequent survival. In total, 492 patients presented to the Nottingham City Hospital with metastatic breast carcinoma between July 1997 and December 2001. Of these, 267 patients had bone metastases at presentation with metastatic disease, 91 patients in this group had bone as their only site of metastatic disease. Sites of first presentation of metastatic disease were prospectively recorded, as were histological features of the primary tumour (tumour type, histological grade, lymph node stage, tumour size and oestrogen receptor (ER) status). The radiological features of the bone metastases, the metastasis-free interval and serological tumour marker levels at presentation with metastases were all recorded. There was a significant association between the development of bone metastases and lower grade tumours (P=0.019), ER-positive tumours (P<0.0001) and the lymph node stage of the primary tumour (P=0.047). A multivariate analysis found that metastasis-free interval, additional sites of metastatic disease other than bone, ER status and serological tumour marker levels all independently contributed to survival from time of presentation with bone metastases.     

乳腺癌术后骨转移回顾性分析

目的 分析乳腺癌术后骨转移的临床特征.方法 对407例原发乳腺癌术后发生骨转移的情况进行回顾性分析.结果 50例患者术后发生骨转移.这50例患者中,术后30个月内发生骨转移的病例占54.0%,5年内骨转移发生率为76.0%,发病年龄≤50岁的占60%.病理类型以浸润性导管癌为主的占82.0%.骨转移部位最多发生在脊柱,以胸椎、腰椎为主.其次是骨盆、肋骨、胸骨、颅骨、下肢骨.乳腺癌术后是否出现骨转移在年龄、腋淋巴结转移、孕激素受体(PR)、癌基因CerbB2表达方面无统计学差异(P＞0.05).但在肿瘤病理类型及雌激素受体(ER)表达方面的差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).结论 乳腺癌术后30个月内为骨转移高发期,骨转移部位以脊柱及骨盆、肋骨、胸骨多见.乳腺癌术后发生骨转移与年龄、腋淋巴结转移、PR、CerbB2表达方面无关,与肿瘤病理类型、ER有关.     

A case of quadruple primary malignancies including breast,tongue, and thyroid cancers and osteosarcoma in a young female without karyotype abnormality

The patient was a 41-year-old, premenopausal woman with a chief complaint of well-circumscribed palpable, right breast mass without nipple discharge. Although she noticed the lump 3 months previously, the size of the tumor (1.1 × 0.9 cm²) had been stable. The patient’s mother suffered from gastric cancer. Her previous history of the triple different malignancies was as follows: (1) left osteosarcoma [amputation of left lower leg at 15 years old (y/o)]. After the operation, she was treated with various kinds of anticancer drugs including a total of 45 g ifosphamide and 342 g methotrexate; (2) tongue cancer (right radical neck resection; 23 y/o); and (3) thyroid cancer (right lobectomy; 40 y/o). There was no evidence of recurrence of these malignancies at the present consultation. At the time of tongue cancer operation, chromosome abnormality was investigated, but the results were normal. Physical examination showed a well-delimited, elastic-firm, mobile tumor in the central outer right breast. Regional lymph nodes were not palpable. Mammography showed a focal asymmetry in the right upper breast on the mediolateral oblique view. Ultrasonography revealed a hypoechoic mass with irregular margins. Distant metastases could not be detected by whole-body computed tomography scan. The histology of the Mammotome^® (vacuum-assisted core needle biopsy) specimen revealed that this tumor was low-grade ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). She underwent breast-conserving surgery with sentinel lymph node biopsy. On permanent histopathological examination, the diagnosis of the tumor was intracystic papilloma with low-grade DCIS. Surgical margin was negative, and sentinel lymph node metastases could not be observed. Estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER/PR) were strongly positive, but human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER-2) overexpression was not tested because the lesion was DCIS. She has received no adjuvant therapy and is currently disease free 3 months after surgery.     

Isoechoic axillary lymph node metastases of mucinous carcinoma of the Breast: A case report

We report a case of isoechoic axillary lymph node metastasis of mucinous carcinoma (so-called pure mucinous carcinoma) of the breast. A 47-year-old premenopausal woman was referred to our hospital with a 2 years history of mass and distortion of her left breast and with recent worsening of her symptoms. Ultrasonography demonstrated a well-circumscribed mass, about 5 cm in diameter, which was isoechoic compared to the surrounding fat tissue. Distal enhancement was also recognized. A left axillary ultrasonographic scan demonstrated four nodules, which were indistinct because of their isoechogenicity compared to the surrounding tissue. Based on a preoperative diagnosis of mucinous carcinoma of the left breast with left axillary lymph nodes metastases, left mastectomy and left axillary nodal dissection were performed. Mucinous carcinoma with axillary lymph node metastases was diagnosed histologically. The lymph node metastases showed histological findings identical to those of the primary tumor, which was considered to be the reason for their isoechogenicity. Although lymph node metastasis of mucinous carcinoma of the breast is rare, ultrasonographers should perform careful scanning when the primary breast mass is suspicious for mucinous carcinoma, because lymph node metastases of mucinous carcinoma can be more indistinct and difficult to detect than those of other types of breast cancer.     

Axillary node metastasis from T1N0M0 breast cancer: possible avoidance of dissection in a subgroup

BACKGROUND: Axillary lymph node dissection is now no longer considered to be the standard treatment in all patients with invasive breast cancer. We have attempted to identify a sub-group of patients with invasive breast carcinoma who may not need to undergo axillary lymph node dissection. METHODS: Patients (n = 823) with T1 N0M0 invasive breast cancer treated at our hospital between 1970 and 1994 were studied. We investigated the relationship between positive axillary lymph nodes and the following clinico-pathological factors: patient age, menopausal status, contralateral breast cancer (synchronous or asynchronous), tumor location, tumor size (T:cm), histopathology, histological grade, presence or absence of malignant microcalcification or spiculation on mammography and estrogen receptor status. RESULTS: The incidence of axillary lymph node metastases in patients with T1N0M0 invasive breast cancer was 25% (208/823). The node-negative group was significantly older than the node-positive group. Premenopausal patients had a higher rate of lymph node metastases although this was not significant. The frequency of nodal metastases when related to the tumor size was as follows: T< or =1.0 cm, 17%; T< or =1.5 cm, 25%; T< or =2.0 cm, 29%. Mammography revealed that patients with malignant calcification or spiculation had a significantly higher rate of nodal metastases than those without these findings. Certain tumor types (medullary, mucinous and tubular carcinomas) had lower positive rates for lymph node involvement. With regard to the histological grade, lymph node positivity increased significantly with high-grade tumors. No correlation was observed between any other factors and the presence or absence of lymph node metastases. CONCLUSIONS: It may be possible to avoid axillary lymph node dissection in postmenopausal patients (50 years or older) where the histological type is favorable when the tumor diameter is < or =1.0 cm and when microcalcification or spiculation is absent on mammography.      

A case of advanced breast cancer with multiple lung, bone and lymph node metastases successfully treated with 5'-DFUR alone

A 78-year-old female patient with locally advanced breast cancer, bleeding from a deep ulcer, and with multiple bone, lung and distant lymph node metastases was successfully treated with 5'-DFUR alone. She was at first treated with docetaxel + 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-DFUR) + tamoxifen, but they were discontinued because of deep venous thrombosis. She underwent simple mastectomy due to periodically recurring bleeding and infection. After administration of 5'-DFUR alone, a decrease of abnormal accumulation on a bone scintigram was obtained in 10 months, the lung metastases were diagnosed as being in complete remission (CR) at 11 months and the lymph node metastases were diagnosed as being in CR at 14 months. These states have continued to the present. The administration of 5'-DFUR alone is suitable for tumor dormancy in some cases.     

前哨淋巴结阳性早期乳腺癌非前哨淋巴结的组织学检测及临床意义

目的：研究早期乳腺癌患者前哨淋巴结(SLN)阳性时非前哨淋巴结(NSN)转移的可能性及其临床意义。方法：对84例SLN阳性接受乳癌根治术的早期乳腺癌患者的NSN及HER-2免疫组化等进行检测，分析NSN转移的发生率及相关临床因素。结果：SLN阳性患者NSN转移的检出率是48．8％(41／84)，NSN转移与原发肿瘤的大小、SLN转移灶的大小及HER-2的表达状况有关，原发肿瘤直径小于1cm及SLN转移灶小于1mm时NSN无转移，NSN的阳性率随原发肿瘤及SLN转移灶直径的增大而提高，HER-2蛋白阳性者NSN转移率高。结论：原发肿瘤直径小于1cm且SLN转移灶小于1mm时的早期乳腺癌患者可免于腋窝清扫，反之亦然；HER-2阳性患者NSN转移率较高，应考虑腋窝清扫。     

肝门部胆管癌伴乳腺和骨骼肌同时转移1例报告及文献综述

肝门部胆管癌曾被普遍认为生长缓慢。骨骼肌是恶性肿瘤转移最不常见的部位之一。我们报道1例肝门部胆管癌伴乳腺和骨骼肌同时转移,并做相关文献综述。一48岁女性病人,因黄疸并体重减轻入院,诊断为肝门部胆管癌Bismuth-Corlette Ⅳ,行 ERCP塑料内支架置入术加体外三维适型放疗,效果良好,2个月后肝门部肿瘤明显缩小,黄疸消退,正常生活。因经济原因拒绝手术。10个月后,发现左大腿痛性肿块和左乳无痛性包块,全身检查未发现其他部位转移灶,原发灶肿瘤无明显变化,诊断为肝门部胆管癌伴左乳腺及左股网头肌的股直肌转移,并经术后病理证实。但术后4个月起,患者再次出现黄疸,频发胆管炎,不能耐受放疗,最终死于肝功能衰竭。肝门部胆管癌并远处转移文献报道很少,病人多是局部病变广泛并全身多发转移,转移部位多是颈淋巴结、骨骼及门脉系统,但原发灶肿瘤稳定时伴乳腺和骨骼肌同时转移尚未见报道。     

Metastatic patterns in adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: Unique metastatic patterns cited in the literature often arise from anecdotal clinical observations and autopsy reports. The authors analyzed clinical data from a large number of patients with histologically confirmed, distant-stage adenocarcinoma to evaluate metastatic patterns. METHODS: Tumor registry data were collected between 1994-1996 on 11 primary tumor sites and 15 metastatic sites from 4399 patients. The primary and metastatic sites were cross-tabulated in various ways to identify patterns, and the authors developed algorithms by using multinomial logistic regression analysis to predict the locations of primary tumors based on metastatic patterns. RESULTS: Three primary tumors had single, dominant metastatic sites: ovary to abdominal cavity (91%), prostate to bone (90%), and pancreas to liver (85%). The liver was the dominant metastatic site for gastrointestinal (GI) primary tumors (71% of patients), whereas bone and lung metastases were noted most frequently in non-GI primary tumors (43% and 29%, respectively). In a study of combinations of liver, abdominal cavity, and bone metastases, 86% of prostate primary tumors had only bone metastases, 80% of ovarian primary tumors had only abdominal cavity metastases, and 74% of pancreas primary tumors had only liver metastases. A single organ was the dominant source of metastases in 7 sites: axillary lymph node from the breast (97%), intestinal lymph node from the colon (84%), thoracic lymph node from the lung (66%), brain from the lung (64%), mediastinal lymph node from the lung (62%), supraclavicular lymph node from the breast (51%), and adrenal gland from the lung (51%). CONCLUSIONS: The algorithms that the authors developed achieved a cross-validated accuracy of 64% and an accuracy of 64% on an 1851-patient independent test set, compared with 9% accuracy when a random classifier was used.     

Successful chemo-endocrine therapy for multiple bone metastases and myelophthisis caused by occult breast carcinoma

We report a 55-year-old postmenopausal woman with occult breast carcinoma with multiple bone metastases and myelophthisis in whom complete response (CR) was achieved with chemo-endocrine therapy. At the time of admission, she had anemia and left axillary lymph node enlargement, with extremely high levels of serum tumor markers and no breast mass on physical examination or on a mammogram. Roentgenograms and bone scintigrams showed multiple bone, lung, and pleural metastases. Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration cytology from the left axillary lymph node revealed an invasion of adenocarcinoma cells. On immunohistochemical staining, the cancer cells were positive for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), and gross cystic disease fluid protein-15 (GCDFP-15). CR was induced with a combination chemotherapy of doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and 5-fluorouracil (CAF), and has been maintained with sequential docetaxel administration with endocrine therapy. Her performance status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group) improved from 4 to 0. This patient represents a very specific and rare case in whom a primary tumor could not be detected despite severe advanced breast carcinoma, and in whom CR was achieved by chemo-endocrine therapy. Received: October 21, 1999 / Accepted: July 28, 2000     

A case of adriamycin and methotrexate-resistant recurrent breast cancer treated with doxifluridine and mitomycin C]

A 49-year-old woman was diagnosed with local recurrence and cervical lymph node and bone metastases 55 months after surgery for breast cancer. She was treated with goserelin acetate and tamoxifen but the disease was assessed as progressive after 8 months. Five courses of CMF therapy were performed but lung, pleural and mediastinal lymph node metastases were detected. Then, five courses of CAF therapy were carried out, but a contralateral breast metastasis was detected and the patient complained of shortness of breath. The CAF therapy was assessed as PD. We attempted administration of doxifluridine (5'-DFUR) and mitomycin C (MMC) on an outpatient basis. After 6 months, no progressive disease was detected and she was relieved of her shortness of breath. The combination therapy was assessed as long NC. Combination therapy with 5'-DFUR and MMC is thus a useful treatment for adriamycin- and methotrexate-resistant breast cancer, especially in terms of quality of life.     

Extraskeletal osteosarcoma in the axilla associated with breast carcinoma.

A case of extraskeletal osteosarcoma arising in the axilla in a 77-year-old woman is described. Because of its association with an ipsilateral breast carcinoma, the axillary mass was at first assumed to be a lymph node with metastatic breast carcinoma. The occurrence of extraskeletal osteosarcoma in the axillary is rare and association with breast carcinoma has never, to our knowledge, been described.     

A case of breast cancer diagnosed by inguinal lymph node metastasis

We describe a case of a 58-year-old woman with right inguinal lymph node swelling and a T1 tumor in the right breast. She was referred with an 18-month history of the former complaint and a six-month history of the latter. Excisional biopsy of the inguinal lymph node revealed breast cancer metastasis. Radiographical examination showed no metastases to the lungs, liver or bone. Modified radical mastectomy was performed. Histological examination revealed solid tubular carcinoma, PT2, PM (axillary lymph node metastases 4/16), stage IV. Estrogen and progesterone receptors were negative. Three cycles of postoperative cyclophosphamide, adriamycin and 5-fluorouracil (CAF) chemotherapy were given, and the right inguinal area was irradiated with 40 Gy. The patient complained of swelling in both legs three years after surgery. Computed tomography revealed marked lymph node swellings in the pelvic cavity. She died six months later. Inguinal lymph node metastasis from breast cancer is very rare, although distant lymph node metastasis in the cervix occurs frequently. This case should help clarify how breast cancer metastasizes to distant lymph nodes.     

p53突变型乳腺癌中Ki67表达水平的临床意义

目的：探讨乳腺癌组织中p53的突变情况及Ki67的表达水平,明确p53与Ki67联合作用在乳腺癌临床病理因素上的体现。方法：应用免疫组化SP法检测165例乳腺癌组织中p53、Ki67的表达,分析其与临床病理因素之间的关系。结果：p53的突变率为55.8%（92/165）,Ki67的阳性表达率为69.1% （114/165）。p53的突变情况与患者年龄、肿块大小、淋巴结转移、TNM分期、ER和PR的表达水平无关,但与HER-2的表达水平呈正相关。在总人群中Ki67的表达水平与肿块大小和淋巴结转移无关。亚组分析显示在p53突变的患者中,Ki67的表达水平与肿块的大小呈正相关（r=0.311,P=0.003）,与淋巴结转移呈正相关（r=0.342,P=0.001）。结论：在p53突变型乳腺癌中Ki67的表达与T分期及N分期均呈正相关,在p53突变人群中Ki67对乳腺癌的生物学行为和患者的预后可能有更高的预测价值,二者联合检测与解读可能更有助于判断乳腺癌患者的预后。     

Two cases of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) therapy for control of liver metastases from breast cancer

We present two cases of liver metastases from breast cancer treated by radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for elongation of life. Case 1: A 50-year-old woman was treated by left mastectomy (stage IIIa) in December 2002. In April 2004, she was treated with a combination therapy of weekly paclitaxel and trastuzumab for multiple liver metastases, left supraclavicular lymph node metastases, and multiple bone metastases. After 16 courses of weekly paclitaxel and trastuzumab, liver metastases decreased significantly in size. Because liver metastases recurred during a continuation of weekly paclitaxel and trastuzumab, we performed RFA and chemotherapy using a hepatic artery infusion of docetaxel for liver metastasis. The aggravation spread to the liver lesion and she died after 20 months from liver metastases. Case 2: A 65-year-old woman was treated by left mastectomy (stage IIA) in 1984, and the distant metastasis was not found through the course after an operation. She was noted with a liver function aberration in another hospital in March 2005. We scanned it, and it was diagnosed as multiple liver and bone metastases from breast cancer. Because she did not hope for an anticancer drug treatment for multiple liver metastases, we performed RFA in May 2005. After the second RFA was performed, she does not show any new lesion to the liver for 10 months.     

Efficacy of combined chemoendocrine therapy with doxifluridine, cyclophosphamide, and fadrozole hydrochloride hydrate in a case of stage T4N3M1 breast cancer

A 66-year-old female presented with a swollen lump in the left breast. She was diagnosed as having advanced breast cancer of stage T4N3 (supraclavicular lymph node) M1 (bone). The administration of CEF and TAM failed to improve her condition. After the treatment regimen was changed to combined chemoendocrine therapy with CPA, EPI, 5'-DFUR, and MPA, the areas of bone metastases were reduced. However, MPA caused side-effects (acute obstruction of the lower limb), and thus the treatment was discontinued after 4 months. Subsequently, the treatment combination was changed to CPA, EPI, 5'-DFUR, and fadrozole hydrochloride hydrate. After one year of the treatment, a complete response (CR) was obtained with the disappearance of the supraclavicular lymph node and bone metastases. After EPI reached the maximum administration amount, the remaining CPA, 5'-DFUR and fadrozole hydrochloride hydrate oral administrations were continued. As of 3 years and 10 months after the onset of the chemoendocrine therapy, CR has been maintained with suppression of the primary and metastatic lesions, without degrading the patient's quality of life.     

Risk of internal mammary lymph node metastases and its prognostic value in breast cancer patients

The risk of an internal mammary lymph node (IMN) metastasis and its prognostic value for patients with invasive breast cancer were assessed by evaluating 142 patients who had either a mastectomy with lymph node dissection or a biopsy of the IMN. By univariate analysis, overall survival significantly correlated with the patient's age, clinical axillary node status, tumor size, and DNA ploidy, as well as histologically confirmed axillary and IMN metastases. By multivariate analysis, however, only the presence of axillary and IMN metastases appeared to be an important independent factor affecting survival. However, the incidence of IMN metastases was associated significantly with age, clinical tumor and axillary node status, tumor size, axillary lymph node metastases, and DNA ploidy. Accordingly, the patient's age, tumor size, DNA ploidy, and axillary lymph node metastases proved to be effective variable for discrimination. Consequently, in predicting the presence of IMN metastases, a diagnostic accuracy of 82%, a sensitivity of 84%, and a specificity of 82% can be achieved by a discriminant function. We conclude that the discriminant function with these four variables is effective in assessing the risk of IMN metastases. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Collision Metastasis of Breast and Ovarian Adenocarcinoma in Axillary Lymph Nodes: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Despite their accepted clinical and genetic association, the incidence of synchronous breast and ovarian carcinoma is rare. Moreover, collision metastasis from both breast and ovarian carcinomas to the same lymph node, to our knowledge has never been reported. Review of the literature revealed eleven cases of metastatic malignant tumors colliding in the same lymph node, none of which had both ovarian and breast carcinoma. Our case was that of a 63 year old woman presenting with a breast lump that was diagnosed as infiltrating ductal carcinoma after a needle biopsy. One month later the patient was found to have malignant ascites, omental carcinomatosis and an ovarian mass. Histology and immunohistochemistry revealed high grade serous papillary adenocarcinoma. When surgery was done to treat the breast tumor some of the axillary lymph nodes revealed metastases from the breast primary, others metastases from the ovarian primary and one had both tumors in a collision phenomenon. Immunohistochemistry was used to confirm this finding.