Invasive lobular breast cancer: critical issues and emerging options

Abstract

Invasive lobular carcinoma represents a unique entity of breast cancer with peculiar pathological and clinical features, which are different to the more common invasive ductal carcinoma. Indeed, emerging evidences suggest differences in both the metastatic and recurrence pattern and, above all, in the treatment sensitivity, with particular regard to chemotherapy. Nevertheless, the treatment decision of invasive lobular carcinoma is based upon data as a subgroup of trials where the large majority of patients were affected by a different histology. In this review, an overview of the literature about invasive lobular carcinoma is provided, aiming to investigate the role of emerging predictive and prognostic factors and to analyze the new therapeutic opportunities.