Neuroendocrine breast cancer: retrospective analysis of 96 patients and review of literature

Abstract

This study showed a better prognosis in patients with NEBC compared with breast carcinomas with a minor neuroendocrine component and with conventional invasive ductal or lobular cancers.

Primary Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Breast: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

“…Günhan-Bilgen et al [9] and Lopez-Bonet et al [5] found that these tumors represent 0.27% and 0.51% of breast cancer cases respectively. More recently, in Rovera et al's report [6], among 2829 patients who underwent surgery for breast cancer, there were 61 patients with NEBC. According to the WHO, the incidence of NEBC is less than 1% [4].…”

“…In Bonet's report [5], the median age was 63 years .Only one patient was 35 years old, the rest of the patients were above 50 years old. Rovera [6] reports a mean age at diagnosis of 70 years, and 90.5% of the patients were in menopause. In agreement with previous reports, our patient had 77 years old.…”

“…In Rovera's report [6], 96 patients with NEBC were divided into two groups; the first group was composed of 61 patients with expression of a neuroendocrine marker in more than 50% of neoplastic cells, and the second was composed of 35 patients with expression of neuroendocrine markers in less than 50% of the tumor cells. This study showed a better prognosis in patients with NEBC compared to breast carcinomas with a minor neuroendocrine component and to conventional invasive ductual or lobular cancers.…”

“…The 10-year survival of patients with NEBC component is reported to be 87% [6]. Prognostic factors in NEBC seem to not differ from those classically considered in other breast cancer subtypes [5].…”

“…Primary neuroendocrine breast carcinomas (NEBC) have been considered special features within conventional breast carcinomas until recently [5]. These tumors mostly affect elderly patients [4], and their prognosis is relatively more favorable than the majority of breast cancers [6]. Open Access Library Journal…”