Clinical characteristics of different histologic types of breast cancer

TLDR

Breast cancer is heterogeneous, and little is known about its rarer histologic subtypes. Using SEER data on 135,157 invasive cases diagnosed from 1992 to 2001, the study examined relationships between nine histologic types and tumor characteristics. The study found that lobular and ductal/lobular carcinomas were more likely to present at advanced stage, larger size, and node‑positive disease, whereas mucinous, comedo, tubular, medullary, and papillary tumors were associated with less aggressive features, inflammatory carcinoma showed more aggressive phenotypes, and distinct hormone receptor profiles and grades suggest different etiologies.

Abstract

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, though little is known about some of its rarer forms, including certain histologic types. Using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program data on 135 157 invasive breast cancer cases diagnosed from 1992 to 2001, relationships between nine histologic types of breast cancer and various tumour characteristics were assessed. Among women aged 50–89 years at diagnosis, lobular and ductal/lobular carcinoma cases were more likely to be diagnosed with stage III/IV, ⩾5.0 cm, and node-positive tumours compared to ductal carcinoma cases. Mucinous, comedo, tubular, and medullary carcinomas were less likely to present at an advanced stage. In general, similar differences were observed among women diagnosed at age 30–49 years. Inflammatory carcinomas are associated with more aggressive tumour phenotypes, and mucinous, tubular, and papillary tumours are associated with less aggressive phenotypes. The histologic types of breast cancer studied here differ greatly in their clinical presentations, and the differences in their hormone receptor profiles and grades point to their likely different aetiologies.