Background: Breast matrix-producing carcinomas (MPCs) are rare, and usually triple-negative (TNBC; i.e. oestrogen receptor-, progesterone receptor-, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative). This study evaluated the clinical features, immunohistochemical profiles, and pathological response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) of patients with MPCs. Patients and Methods: Five MPCs were identified among 247 patients with TNBC receiving anthracycline-and taxane-based NAC. Pathological response was assessed using surgical specimens. Results: All tumours were histological grade 3 according to pre-treatment core biopsies. Mean Ki-67 and p53 positivity were 65% and 90%, respectively. All tumours were TNBC, and epidermal growth factor receptor-, cytokeratin 5/6-, and vimentinpositive. Grade 3 (pathological complete response) was achieved in 0% (0/5) and 32% (77/242) of those with MPCs and with TNBCs of no specific histological type, respectively, and grade 1a (poor response) in 80% (4/5) and 13% (31/242), respectively. Conclusion: MPCs are basal-type TNBCs expressing epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers, with a poor response to standard NAC. Further studies are needed to improve the treatment of this rare but aggressive tumour. Matrix-producing carcinoma (MPC) of the breast is a rare and specialized histological type of metaplastic carcinoma (1). MPC is defined as an invasive breast carcinoma with direct transition to a cartilaginous or osseous matrix with no intervening spindle-cell component. MPCs resemble triplenegative breast cancer (TNBC), defined as oestrogen receptor (ER)-, progesterone receptor (PR)-, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative (2-4). This tumour should, thus be, initially treated with chemotherapy. Although effective standardized regimens have been established for TNBC of no special histological type (NST TNBC), the efficacy of these treatments for minor histological types are unknown because of their rareness. We report five MPCs treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by surgery, and evaluate the clinical features, immunohistochemical expression profiles, and pathological response to NAC compared with NST TNBC.
Patients and MethodsPatients and treatment. Five cases of MPC were identified among 247 patients with TNBC who received NAC at Yokohama City University Medical Centre (Yokohama, Japan) between 2007 and 2015. Prior to surgery, patients received NAC consisting of sequential chemotherapy with FEC (fluorouracil 500 mg/m 2 , epirubicin 100 mg/m 2 , cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m 2 , q3w) or EC (epirubicin 100 mg/m 2 , cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m 2 , q3w) and docetaxel (75 mg/m 2 , q3w). One patient diagnosed with a T4 tumour received sequential EC, docetaxel, and TC (docetaxel 75 mg/m 2 , cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m 2 , q3w). All patients with stage II or III TNBC breast cancer were eligible for NAC. Patients with stage IV TNBC were eligible if NAC followed by surgery was needed for local control. All patients were staged according to the World Health Org...