Immunohistochemical and clinicopathologic features of estrogen receptor-negative, progesterone receptor-positive, HER-2 negative breast carcinomas

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Currently, there is an ongoing debate whether progesterone receptor positive and estrogen receptor negative breast carcinomas represent a true distinct subtype of tumor or a mere immunohistochemical artifact. In this study, we conducted an immunohistochemistry panel with the antibodies TFF1, EGFR, and CK5 to reclassify this phenotype in a luminal or basal-like subtype. METHODS: Tumors estrogen receptor -/progesterone receptor +, Her-2 - from a large population of breast cancer patients were selected to be studied. Immunohistochemistry with the antibodies TFF1, EGFR, and CK5 was performed. Tumors showing positivity for TFF1, regardless of EGFR and CK5 results, were classified as luminal-like carcinomas. Those lesions that were negative for TFF1, but were positive for EGFR and/or CK5, were classified as basal-like triple-negative carcinomas. When the three markers were negative, tumors were classified as undetermined. Clinical pathologic characteristics of patients and tumor recurrence were evaluated. RESULTS: Out of 1188 breast carcinomas investigated, 30 cases (2.5%) presented the estrogen receptor -/progesterone receptor +/HER2- phenotype. Of them, 27 tumors (90%) were classified as basal-like triple-negative carcinomas, one as luminal-like (3.3%), and two as undetermined tumors (6.7%). The mean follow-up for the study group was 27.7 (2.7 to 50) months. Out of the 26 patients, 6 had cancer recurrence: 2 local and 4 systemic recurrences. The average time for recurrence was 17 (8 to 38) months. CONCLUSION: Estrogen receptor -/progesterone receptor +/tumors exhibit aggressive behavior, similar to triple-negative tumors. An appropriate categorization of these tumors should be made to improve their therapeutic management.

Immediate reconstruction with autologous fat grafting: influence in breast cancerregional recurrence / Reconstrução imediata com enxerto autólogo de gordura: influência na recorrência local de câncer de mama

ABSTRACT Objective: to evaluate local and systemic recurrence of breast cancer in patients submitted to autologous fat grafting in the immediate reconstruction after conservative surgery for breast cancer. Methods: this is a historical cohort study comparing 167 patients submitted to conservative surgery without reconstruction (conservative surgery group) with 27 patients submitted to conservative treatment with immediate graft reconstruction, following the Coleman's technique (lipofilling group). All patients had invasive carcinoma and were operated by a single surgeon from 2004 to 2011. The postoperative follow-up time was 36 months. Results: the overall incidence of local recurrence was 2.4%. No patient in the lipofilling group had local recurrence during the study period. For systemic recurrence, the rates obtained were 3.7% (one patient) for the fat grafting group and 1.8% (three patients) for the conservative surgery group without reconstruction. Conclusion: there was no significant difference for local or systemic recurrence in the groups studied. Immediate autologous fat grafting appears to be a safe procedure.

RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar recorrência local e sistêmica do câncer de mama em pacientes submetidas ao enxerto autólogo de gordura na reconstrução imediata após cirurgia conservadora para o câncer de mama. Métodos: estudo de coorte histórica em que foram comparadas 167 pacientes submetidas à cirurgia conservadora sem reconstrução com 27 pacientes submetidas ao tratamento conservador com reconstrução imediata do enxerto, seguindo técnica de Coleman. Todas as pacientes eram portadoras de carcinoma invasor e foram operadas por um único cirurgião, no período de 2004 a 2011. O tempo de acompanhamento pós-operatório foi 36 meses. Resultados: a incidência global de recidiva local foi 2,4%. Nenhuma paciente do grupo de lipoenxertia apresentou recorrência local durante o período do estudo. Para recorrência sistêmica, as taxas obtidas foram de 3,7% (uma paciente) para o grupo lipoenxertia e 1,8% (três pacientes) para grupo da cirurgia conservadora sem reconstrução. Conclusão: não houve diferença significativa para recorrência local ou sistêmica nos grupos estudados. O enxerto autólogo imediato de gordura parece ser um procedimento seguro.

Primary epidermoid carcinoma of the breast presenting as a breast abscess and sepsis / Carcinoma epidermoide primário de mama se apresentando como abscesso mamário e sepse

CONTEXT: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the breast is an extremely rare form of cancer, accounting for approximately 0.04 percent of all malignant breast tumors. To date, only a limited number of cases of SCC of the breast have been reported, and most of them presented like the usual breast carcinomas. CASE REPORT: A 39-year-old woman presented with a large breast abscess and signs of sepsis. After surgical debridement of the lesion, histopathological examination of the abscess capsule revealed the presence of SCC of the breast. The definitive treatment for the tumor consisted of modified radical mastectomy with resection of the residual lesion in the right breast. CONCLUSIONS: This unusual case illustrates how an apparently benign disorder such as a breast abscess might be related to a clinically occult malignancy. A review of the literature on SCC of the breast is presented.

CONTEXTO: O carcinoma de células escamosas da mama é um câncer extremamente raro, representando cerca de 0,04 por cento dos tumores malignos da mama. Até o momento, apenas um número limitado de casos da doença foi relatado, a maioria se apresentando clinicamente como um carcinoma de mama usual. RELATO DE CASO: Paciente feminina de 39 anos de idade se apresentando com grande abscesso de mama e sinais de sepse. Após debridamento cirúrgico da lesão, o exame histopatológico da cápsula do abscesso revelou a presença de carcinoma de células escamosas da mama. O tratamento definitivo do tumor foi uma mastectomia radical modificada com ressecção da lesão residual na mama direita. CONCLUSÃO: O presente caso, de apresentação incomum, demonstra como uma lesão aparentemente benigna, como um abscesso mamário, pode estar relacionada a uma neoplasia maligna oculta. Uma revisão da literatura a respeito do carcinoma de células escamosas de mama é apresentada.