Rare Breast Tumors with Neuroendocrine Features and Comprehensive Review of the Literature
Received Date : 12 Nov 2023
Accepted Date : 02 Jan 2024
Available Online : 23 Jan 2024
Müge BÜYÜKAKSOYa, Selin AKTÜRK ESENb, Burak CİVELEKb, Öznur BALb,
Fahriye Tuğba KÖŞb, Efnan ALGINb, Mehmet Ali Nahit ŞENDURb, Doğan UNCUb
aAnkara City Hospital, Clinic of Internal Medicine, Ankara, Türkiye
bAnkara City Hospital, Clinic of Medical Oncology, Ankara, Türkiye
Doi: 10.37047/jos.2023-100272 - Article's Language: EN
J Oncol Sci.
ABSTRACT
This study aimed to examine the histopathological characteristics, treatment modalities, survival features, and factors influencing
these traits in patients with neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN) of the breast. We retrospectively reviewed the case records of breast NEN patients
who were followed up in Ankara Numune Training and Research Hospital and Ankara City Hospital Medical Oncology clinics from December
2005 to June 2022. After noting their clinical and pathological features in survival files, the obtained data were analyzed and compared. Our single-
center study included nine patients with breast NENs. Histologically, four (55.5%) and two (22.2%) patients exhibited well-differentiated neuroendocrine
tumor (NET) and poorly differentiated neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC), respectively. The last two (22.2%) patients showed an
invasive breast carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation (IBC-NED). All patients underwent surgery after diagnosis. Of them, six (66.7%)
and five (55.6%) patients received adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy, respectively. The patients with diagnoses of IBC-NED and breast
NEC as well as two patients diagnosed with well-differentiated breast NET received adjuvant chemotherapy. Moreover, all patients received
hormonal therapy. The median overall and the median disease-free survival were 10.6 (7.3-13.8) years and 6.2 (1.1-11.3) years, respectively. It
is essential to understand the biology of breast NENs to enhance the diagnosis, treatment, and patient outcomes. Hence, further research is warranted
to elucidate the underlying mechanisms, validate potential therapeutic targets, and establish optimal management strategies for such patients.
Keywords: Breast neuroendocrine carcinoma; breast neuroendocrine neoplasia; invasive breast carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation; well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumor