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Clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast

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Abstract

Primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast (PSCCB) is a rare type of breast carcinoma, the clinical behavior of which has not been accurately characterized. The aim of this study was to evaluate its prevalence, characteristics, prognosis, and effective treatment modalities in patients attending our institution. The records of the Cancer Institute and Hospital of Tianjin Medical University from 1985 to 2013 were searched and 29 patients with PSCCB (0.086 % of all patients with breast cancer) identified. Their clinicopathological features, treatment methods used, and outcomes were analyzed. The median tumor size was 4.50 cm. Axillary lymph nodes metastases were present in 41.4 % of patients. The median overall survival was 39 months (range 7–144 months), with 34.5 % surviving at 5 years. The median relapse-free survival was 32 months (range 4–144 months), with 27.6 % relapse-free surviving at 5 years. According to univariate analysis, the time interval between onset of the first symptom and first presentation to a health professional (TI) (P = 0.017), use of adjuvant chemotherapy (P = 0.044), and T stage (P = 0.048, T1 vs. T2, T3, T4) were significant prognostic factors for overall survival. PSCCB is an extremely aggressive disease associated with large tumor size, rapid progression, frequent relapse, and a high death rate. Imaging findings are nonspecific and easily misinterpreted as benign. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy may be effective. Early diagnosis and treatment of this rare entity are critical to patient prognosis.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 81201725) and the Foundation of Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital (Grant No. 1310).

Conflict of interest

None of the authors has any competing interests to declare. The authors have no relevant financial interests to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Breast Cancer Surgery, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, 300060, China

    Jing Liu, Jing-yan Sun, Shan-shan He, Xin Wang, Jian Yin & Xu-chen Cao

  2. Key Laboratory of Breast Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Medical University, Ministry of Education, Tianjin, 300060, China

    Jing Liu, Jing-yan Sun, Shan-shan He, Xin Wang, Jian Yin & Xu-chen Cao

  3. Department of Thyroid and Neck Tumors, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin, 300060, China

    Yang Yu

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  1. Jing Liu
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  2. Yang Yu
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  3. Jing-yan Sun
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  4. Shan-shan He
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  5. Xin Wang
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  6. Jian Yin
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  7. Xu-chen Cao
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Correspondence to Jian Yin or Xu-chen Cao.

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Liu, J., Yu, Y., Sun, Jy. et al. Clinicopathologic characteristics and prognosis of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast. Breast Cancer Res Treat 149, 133–140 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-014-3224-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-014-3224-z

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