Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Preoperative Staging and Work-Up of Patients Affected by Invasive Lobular Carcinoma or Invasive Ductolobular Carcinoma

Lobular-Like Features and Outcomes of Mixed Invasive Ductolobular Breast Cancer (MIDLC): Insights from 54,403 Stage I-III MIDLC Patients

BACKGROUND

Mixed invasive ductolobular breast cancer (MIDLC) is a rare histological subtype of breast cancer (BC), with components of both invasive ductal cancer (IDC) and invasive lobular cancer (ILC). Its clinicopathological features and outcomes have not been well characterized.

METHOD

The National Cancer Database 2010-2017 was reviewed to identify women with stage I-III BCs. Univariate analysis was performed using Chi-square or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests and multivariable analysis with logistic regression to predict surgical decisions. Survival was assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.

RESULTS

We identified 955,828 women with stage I-III BCs (5.7% MIDLC, 10.3% ILC, and 84.0% IDC). MIDLC was more like ILC than IDC in terms of multicentricity (14.2% MIDLC, 13.0% ILC, 10.0% IDC), hormone receptor positivity (96.6% MIDLC, 98.2% ILC, 81.2% IDC), and use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC; 5.8% MIDLC, 5.2% ILC, 10.8% IDC). 744,607 women underwent upfront surgery. The mastectomy rates were 42.3% for MIDLC, 46.5% for ILC, and 33.3% for IDC (all p < 0.001). With 5.5 years of median follow-up, the adjusted overall survival in the upfront surgery hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) biological subgroup was better in MIDLC (hazard ratio 0.88, p < 0.001) and ILC (hazard ratio 0.91, p < 0.001) than in IDC. Like ILC, MIDLC also had a lower pathological complete response to NAC than IDC (12.3% MIDLC, 7.3% ILC, 28.6% IDC).

CONCLUSIONS

MIDLC displays a mixed pattern of characteristics favoring features of ILC compared with IDC, with favorable 5-year overall survival compared with IDC within the HR+/HER2- subtype who underwent upfront surgery.

Lobular Carcinoma of the Breast: A Comprehensive Review with Translational Insights

The second most common breast carcinoma, invasive lobular carcinoma, accounts for approximately 15% of tumors of breast origin. Its incidence has increased in recent times due in part to hormone replacement therapy and improvement in diagnostic modalities. Although believed to arise from the same cell type as their ductal counterpart, invasive lobular carcinomas (ILCs) are a distinct entity with different regulating genetic pathways, characteristic histologies, and different biology. The features most unique to lobular carcinomas include loss of E-Cadherin leading to discohesion and formation of a characteristic single file pattern on histology. Because most of these tumors exhibit estrogen receptor positivity and Her2 neu negativity, endocrine therapy has predominated to treat these tumors. However novel treatments like CDK4/6 inhibitors have shown importance and antibody drug conjugates may be instrumental considering newer categories of Her 2 Low breast tumors. In this narrative review, we explore multiple pathological aspects and translational features of this unique entity. In addition, due to advancement in technologies like spatial transcriptomics and other hi-plex technologies, we have tried to enlist upon the characteristics of the tumor microenvironment and the latest associated findings to better understand the new prospective therapeutic options in the current era of personalized treatment.

Multimodality imaging in lobular breast cancer: Differences in mammography, ultrasound, and MRI in the assessment of local tumor extent and correlation with molecular characteristics

Introduction

Invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC) is a diagnostic challenge due to the diversity of morphological features. The objective of the study was to investigate the presentation and local extent of ILC using various imaging techniques and to assess the correlation between imaging and molecular profile.

Materials and methods

We reviewed 162 consecutive patients with ILC found on vacuum-assisted biopsy, who underwent evaluation of the lesion morphology and extent using ultrasound (US), mammography (MMG), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Radiographic features were compared with ILC intrinsic subtype based on the expression of Ki-67 and estrogen, progesterone, and HER2 receptors.

Results

A total of 113 mass lesions and 49 non-mass enhancements (NMEs) were found in MRI. Masses were typically irregular and spiculated, showing heterogeneous contrast enhancement, diffusion restriction, and type III enhancement curve. NMEs presented mainly as the area of focal or multiregional distribution with heterogeneous or clumped contrast enhancement, diffusion restriction, and type III enhancement curve. Lesion extent significantly varied between MRI and MMG/ultrasonography (USG) (P < 0.001) but did not differ between MGF and ultrasonography (USG). The larger the ILC, the higher the disproportion when lesion extent in MRI was compared with MMG (P < 0.001) and ultrasonography (USG) (P < 0.001). In the study group, there were 97 cases of luminal A subtype (59.9%), 54 cases of luminal B HER2− (33.3%), nine cases of luminal B HER2+ (5.5%), and two cases of triple negative (1.2%). The HER2 type was not found in the study group. We did not observe any significant correlation between molecular profile and imaging.

Conclusion

MRI is the most effective technique for the assessment of ILC local extent, which is important for optimal treatment planning. Further studies are needed to investigate if the intrinsic subtype of ILC can be predicted by imaging features on MRI.

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma Arising in Ectopic Breast Tissue: A Case Report

Incomplete regression of the embryonic mammary line occurs in 0.3-6% of the population. Ectopic breast tissue is mostly asymptomatic and can undergo malignant transformation. Ectopic breast cancer accounts for 0.2-0.6% of all breast cancers. Screening breast examinations can miss these lesions due to their location making the diagnosis more challenging. We describe a case of a primary invasive lobular carcinoma in an ectopic breast on the left axilla detected in a 49-year-old woman. Firstly diagnosed as a sebaceous cyst, the lesion was excised under local anesthesia. Histopathology showed breast tissue widely infiltrated by an invasive carcinoma. Excision of the remnant tissue with axillary lymph node dissection was performed. Ectopic breast carcinoma is a rare diagnosis and there is a general lack of awareness. The presence of an abnormal mass along the mammary ridge should raise clinicians’ attention. Management of primary ectopic breast carcinoma should be based on a multidisciplinary approach under the same principles as breast cancer. Furthermore, it does not appear to bring a worse prognosis when diagnosed at similar disease stages.

Germline Pathogenic Variants in Cancer Predisposition Genes Among Women With Invasive Lobular Carcinoma of the Breast

PURPOSE

To determine the contribution of germline pathogenic variants (PVs) in hereditary cancer testing panel genes to invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) of the breast.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study included 2,999 women with ILC from a population-based cohort and 3,796 women with ILC undergoing clinical multigene panel testing (clinical cohort). Frequencies of germline PVs in breast cancer predisposition genes (ATM, BARD1, BRCA1, BRCA2, BRIP1, CDH1, CHEK2, PALB2, PTEN, RAD51C, RAD51D, and TP53) were compared between women with ILC and unaffected female controls and between women with ILC and infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC).

RESULTS

The frequency of PVs in breast cancer predisposition genes among women with ILC was 6.5% in the clinical cohort and 5.2% in the population-based cohort. In case-control analysis, CDH1 and BRCA2 PVs were associated with high risks of ILC (odds ratio [OR] > 4) and CHEK2, ATM, and PALB2 PVs were associated with moderate (OR = 2-4) risks. BRCA1 PVs and CHEK2 p.Ile157Thr were not associated with clinically relevant risks (OR < 2) of ILC. Compared with IDC, CDH1 PVs were > 10-fold enriched, whereas PVs in BRCA1 were substantially reduced in ILC.

CONCLUSION

The study establishes that PVs in ATM, BRCA2, CDH1, CHEK2, and PALB2 are associated with an increased risk of ILC, whereas BRCA1 PVs are not. The similar overall PV frequencies for ILC and IDC suggest that cancer histology should not influence the decision to proceed with genetic testing. Similar to IDC, multigene panel testing may be appropriate for women with ILC, but CDH1 should be specifically discussed because of low prevalence and gastric cancer risk.

The additive role of dynamic contrast-enhanced and diffusion-weighted MR imaging in preoperative staging of breast cancer

Background

In women with diagnosed breast cancer, accurate loco-regional staging and preoperative examination are of utmost importance for optimal patient management decisions. MRI may be warranted for correct preoperative staging as recommended from international guidelines. DWI-MRI can be combined with CE-MRI to assess more functional data. So we aimed to evaluate the performance of CE-MRI and qualitative DWI-MRI in preoperative loco-regional staging of malignant breast lesions as regards the local extension of the disease and axillary lymph node status, beyond standard assessment with mammography and ultrasound. This prospective study included 50 female patients with pathologically proven malignant breast lesions (BIRADS VI) coming for preoperative staging. Full-field digital mammography (FFDM) and ultrasound, CE-MRI, and DWI-MRI findings were compared for all patients, and the findings were evaluated independently. Results were then correlated to postoperative histopathology.

Results

Fifty women with pathologically proven malignant breast lesions (BIRADS VI) were enrolled in this study; the mean age of this study population was 43.25 years. The 50 patients were divided into 2 groups: 37/50 (74%) underwent upfront surgery and 13/50 (26%) received neoadjuvant therapy before surgery. All patients performed DCE and DWI-MRI breast. Among patients who underwent upfront surgery, DCE-MRI showed the highest correlation with the postoperative pathology size and the overall sensitivity regarding multiplicity. Regarding patients who received neoadjuvant therapy, DCE-MRI was found to have the highest correlation with the postoperative pathology concerning lesion size and multiplicity after completion of the neoadjuvant chemotherapy cycles.

Conclusion

CE-MRI can accurately map lesion extension and detect multifocality/multicentricity, thus tailor surgical management options (either conservative surgery or mastectomy). Qualitative DWI can be combined with ultrasonography for better evaluation of the axillary nodal status.

Multifocality and Multicentrality in Breast Cancer: Comparison of the Efficiency of Mammography, Contrast-Enhanced Spectral Mammography, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging in a Group of Patients with Primarily Operable Breast Cancer

BACKGROUND

The multifocality and multicentrality of breast cancer (MFMCC) are the significant aspects that determine a specialist's choice between applying breast-conserving therapy (BCT) or performing a mastectomy. This study aimed to assess the usefulness of mammography (MG), contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in women diagnosed with breast cancer before qualifying for surgical intervention to visualize other (additional) cancer foci.

METHODS

The study included 60 breast cancer cases out of 630 patients initially who underwent surgery due to breast cancer from January 2015 to April 2019. MG, CESM, and MRI were compared with each other in terms of the presence of MFMCC and assessed for compliance with the postoperative histopathological examination (HP).

RESULTS

Histopathological examination confirmed the presence of MFMCC in 33/60 (55%) patients. The sensitivity of MG in detecting MFMCC was 50%, and its specificity was 95.83%. For CESM, the sensitivity was 85.29%, and the specificity was 96.15%. For MRI, all the above-mentioned parameters were higher as follows: sensitivity-91.18%; specificity-92.31%.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with MFMCC, both CESM and MRI are highly sensitive in the detection of additional cancer foci. Both CESM and MRI change the extent of surgical intervention in every fourth patient.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Features in Different Types of Invasive Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy affecting women worldwide, and early diagnosis of breast cancer is the key to its successful and effective treatment. Traditional imaging techniques such as mammography and ultrasound are used to detect and configure breast abnormalities; unfortunately, these modalities have low sensitivity and specificity, particularly in young patients with dense breast tissue, breast implants, or post-surgical scar/architecture distortions. Therefore, breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been superior in the characterization and detection of breast cancer, especially that with invasive features. This review article explores the importance of breast MRI in the early detection of invasive breast cancer versus traditional tools, including mammography and ultrasound, while also analyzing the use of MRI as a screening tool for high-risk women. We will also discuss the different MRI features for invasive ductal carcinoma and lobular carcinoma and the role of breast MRI in the detection of ductal carcinoma in situ with a focus on the utilization of new techniques, including MR spectroscopy and diffusion-weighted imaging.

Lobular Breast Cancer: A Review

Invasive lobular carcinoma accounts for 5%–15% of all invasive breast cancers, with a marked increase in incidence rates over the past two decades. Distinctive biological hallmarks of invasive lobular carcinoma include the loss of cell adhesion molecule E-cadherin leading to cells with a discohesive morphology, proliferating into single-file strands and estrogen receptor positivity. These key molecular features can make diagnosis difficult, as invasive lobular carcinoma is challenging to detect both physically and with current standard imaging. Treatment of invasive lobular carcinoma strongly favors endocrine therapy due to low chemosensitivity and lower rates of pathological response as a result. This review will summarize the distinct biological and molecular features of invasive lobular carcinoma, focusing on the diagnostic challenges faced and the subsequent surgical and medical management strategies. Prospective therapeutic options will also be explored, highlighting how furthering our understanding of the unique biology of lobular breast carcinoma is essential in guiding and informing the treatment of patients in the future.

Preoperative loco-regional staging of invasive lobular carcinoma with contrast-enhanced digital mammography (CEDM)

The aim of our study was to assess the performance of contrast-enhanced digital mammography (CEDM) in the preoperative loco-regional staging of invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) patients, about the valuation of the extension of disease and in measurement of lesions. Then, we selected retrospectively, among the 1500 patients underwent to CEDM at the Breast Diagnostics Department of the Careggi University Hospital of Florence and the National Cancer Institute of Milan from September 2016 to November 2018, 31 women (mean age 57.1 aa; range 41-78 aa) with a definitive histological diagnosis of ILC. CEDM has proved to be a promising imaging technique, being characterized by a sensitivity of 100% in the detection of the index lesion, and of 84.2% in identifying any adjunctive lesions: It was the presence of a non-mass enhancement (NME) to lower the sensitivity of the technique (25% vs. 100% for mass-like enhancements or a mass closely associated with a NME). Specificity in the characterization of additional lesions was 66.7%, and the diagnosis of the extension of disease was correct in 77.4% of cases: NME also led to a decrease in diagnostic accuracy in the evaluation of disease extension up to 40% versus 85% for masses and 80% for masses associated with NME (M/NME). Moreover, in 12/31 (38.7%), CEDM allowed to correctly identify lesions not shown by mammography + ultrasonography + tomosynthesis: In the half of these (6/12), there was a multicentricity, thus allowing an adequate surgical planning change. CEDM was also very accurate in analyzing the maximum diameter of the masses, while it was much less reliable in the case of the M/NME and pure NME. In conclusion, CEDM is a new promising imaging technique in the loco-regional preoperative staging and in the evaluation of disease extension for ILC, especially in case of mass enhancement lesions.

Caveolin-1: a multifaceted driver of breast cancer progression and its application in clinical treatment

Human breast cancer is one of the most frequent cancer diseases and causes of death among female population worldwide. It appears at a high incidence and has a high malignancy, mortality, recurrence rate and poor prognosis. Caveolin-1 (Cav1) is the main component of caveolae and participates in various biological events. More and more experimental studies have shown that Cav1 plays a critical role in the progression of breast cancer including cell proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, invasion, migration and breast cancer metastasis. Besides, Cav1 has been found to be involved in chemotherapeutics and radiotherapy resistance, which are still the principal problems encountered in clinical breast cancer treatment. In addition, stromal Cav1 may be a potential indicator for breast cancer patients’ prognosis. In the current review, we cover the state-of-the-art study, development and progress on Cav1 and breast cancer, altogether describing the role of Cav1 in breast cancer progression and application in clinical treatment, in the hope of providing a basis for further research and promoting CAV1 gene as a potential target to diagnose and treat aggressive breast cancers.

Corrigendum to "Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Preoperative Staging and Work-Up of Patients Affected by Invasive Lobular Carcinoma or Invasive Ductolobular Carcinoma"

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2018/1569060.].