Apocrine Breast Carcinoma Histopathological Characteristics

Abstract

Introduction: Apocrine carcinoma (AC) is a distinctive and rare type of malignancy, counted to 0.3-4% of all breast cancer cases. It does not have a particular clinical or radiological feature, although it is characterized by the apocrine morphology, estrogen receptor-negative and androgen receptor-positive profile. Material and Methods: Studied material came from biopsies, excisional biopsies and modified radical mastectomies. Examined samples were stained with standard methods including hematoxylin and eosin. To determine the immunohistochemical expression of ER, PR and HER2 receptors appropriate antibodies were used. Results: Among 1,222 patients with breast cancer only 5 of them were diagnosed with apocrine carcinoma (0.4%). All of them were above 50 years old (51-63, mean: 57). Tumor size varied from 1.4 cm to 3.8 cm with a mean size 2.4 cm, while mean size in all 1,222 studied cases counted for 1.9cm. 2 tumors were classified as high-grade (G3), 1 as G2 and 1 as G2. 4 out of 5 tumors did not affect lymph nodes (N0 stage), whereas 1 sample was classified as N2 with 9/19 affected nodes. This observation was consistent with the whole studied group, in which N0 stage made up the largest percentage. Discussion: Presented results suggest that AC is less frequent in premenopausal patients. AC tends to present as noninvasive without nodal involvement and its biological behavior is less aggressive. Due to the fact that AC is definitely rare type of breast cancer, modern medicine has still limited options to offer for its treatment. Further research needs to be conducted in order to develop target therapies for this carcinoma.