Adjuvant radiation therapy and survival for adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast

Solid-basaloid variant of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast unresponsive to neoadjuvant chemotherapy: Case report

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a rare triple-negative breast cancer, accounting for only 0.1 % of all primary breast carcinomas. At variance with the classic variant, the solid-basaloid variant of ACC (SB-ACC) is clinically more aggressive and has different molecular features. There is, currently, no consensus regarding the treatment of SB-ACC of the breast, especially the use of neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

CASE PRESENTATION

Here, we present a rare case of SB-ACC in an elderly female patient, with no history of breast carcinoma, who presented with a 4.5 cm central round mass invading the nipple. Given the locally advanced triple negative breast cancer and the invasion of the nipple-areolar complex, the patient has received neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by surgical treatment. On histopathological examination, the diagnosis of SB-ACC, non-responsive to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, with absence of rearrangement of the MYB gene was retained. The patient received adjuvant radiation therapy and was ambulatory followed without recurrence at the 12-month follow-up.

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

This case provided direct evidence that SB-ACC of the breast wasn't responsive to neoadjuvant chemotherapy but cannot allow for definitive conclusions on chemotherapy recommendations. For this reason, more data must be published to investigate the real value of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in SB-ACC.

Optimal surgical procedure for treating early-stage adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast

To explore the superiority of breast conservation surgery (BCS) to mastectomy in treating early-stage adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast (BACC). Patients with surgically treated stage I/II BACC were enrolled between 2000 and 2019 in the SEER database; they were divided into the BCS and mastectomy groups. Overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were compared between the two groups, and Cox hazard regression models were used to determine the independent predictors. Of the 583 patients in the study, 386 were included in the BCS group. The 10-year OS rates for the BCS and mastectomy groups were 78% (95% CI: 74-82%) and 76% (95% CI: 70-82%), respectively, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.968). The 10-year DSS rates for the BCS and mastectomy groups were 95% (95% CI: 93-97%) and 89% (95% CI: 85-93%), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.002). Pathological examination of regional lymph nodes and adjuvant treatment were not associated with improved OS or DSS, but age, disease grade, and lymph node metastasis were independent prognostic factors. For stage I/II BACC, BCS can achieve more satisfactory 10-year OS and DSS than mastectomy.

Breast adenoid cystic carcinoma: An uncommon neoplasm- Case report

INTRODUCTION

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a neoplasm that is commonly of salivary gland origin. It could infrequently arise from other tissues such as breast in which case it behaves favorably despite belonging to triple-negative breast cancer subgroup.

CASE PRESENTATION

We report a case of a 49-year-old female patient, who presented with right breast pain and upon work-up, was diagnosed with early-stage adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast. She underwent breast conservation successfully and was advised to get evaluated for adjuvant radiotherapy. The work has been reported in line with the SCARE criteria (Agha et al., 2020).

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Breast adenoid cystic carcinoma (BACC) is a rare distinct salivary gland-like carcinoma of the breast with similar morphological features to those seen in salivary gland adenoid cystic carcinoma. Surgical resection is the standard mode of treatment in BACC. The role of adjuvant chemotherapy has not proven beneficial in the management of BACC, owing to the similar survival rates seen in patients with and without chemotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Localized breast adenoid cystic carcinoma (BACC) is an indolent disease having optimal response to surgical resection alone and thus can omit adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy when completely excised. Our case is unique as BACC is a rare clinical variant of breast cancer with a very low incidence rate.

Prognosis stratification and postoperative radiation therapy utilization in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast

PURPOSE

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast (ACCB) is a rare malignancy with a favorable prognosis. Little information exists regarding the impact of postoperative radiation therapy (RT) on survival outcome in patients with ACCB. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical significance of postoperative RT in ACCB.

METHODS

Data of patients with ACCB were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database (2000-2019). Univariate and multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors. In addition, a nomogram model was constructed and internally validated for discrimination and calibration. The value of postoperative RT was respectively accessed in each risk subgroup according to nomogram-deduced individualized score.

RESULTS

A total of 689 eligible patients were included in the analysis. Partial mastectomy was associated with an increased risk of death compared with partial mastectomy plus postoperative RT (P = 0.020), but total mastectomy with or without postoperative RT was comparable (P = 0.624). Then, in-depth analysis was performed for patients receiving breast-conserving therapy (n = 485, the training set vs. the testing set = 340 vs. 145). Age at diagnosis, histological grade, and T stage were identified as prognostic factors for overall survival (OS) (All P < 0.05). A nomogram was constructed to provide predictive accuracy toward individual OS rates of ACCB and to divide patients into different risk subgroups. Notably, compared with non-RT, postoperative RT significantly improved OS in the high-risk subgroup (P = 0.006 for the training set, and P = 0.013 for the overall population) but not in the low-risk subgroup (P = 0.807 for the training set, and P = 0.293 for the overall population), suggesting that these patients may be able to exempt from postoperative RT.

CONCLUSION

A robust and effective nomogram was developed to predict prognosis and assist in treatment decisions in patients with ACCB undergoing partial mastectomy.

Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Breast May Be Exempt from Adjuvant Chemotherapy

Consistent standards regarding whether postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy is required in the treatment of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast (ACCB) are currently lacking. Using clinical data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database (1988−2015), and the National Cancer Center of China (2004−2020), we retrospectively analyzed patients with ACCB who received radical treatment. A total of 661 patients were eligible. The median age at diagnosis was 61 years; 99.5% of patients were initially diagnosed with stage I and II breast cancer, and 76.7% had triple-negative breast cancer. Only 12.4% of patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Multivariate analysis showed that patients with lymph node metastasis and non-radiotherapy had worse overall survival (OS) (p < 0.05). Patients with lymph node metastasis, stage IIB and III, histological grade ≥ 2, and non-radiotherapy had worse breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) (p < 0.05). Adjuvant chemotherapy did not improve the OS or BCSS. Patients treated with adjuvant chemotherapy also had no better survival outcomes after propensity score matching. External data verification confirmed that chemotherapy did not improve disease-free survival or OS. Adjuvant chemotherapy cannot improve the clinical outcomes of ACCB, even in subgroups with a high risk of recurrence and metastasis.

Evaluation of Adjuvant Treatments for Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Breast: A Population-Based, Propensity Score Matched Cohort Study from the SEER Database

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is an extremely rare type of breast cancer. The role of adjuvant treatments for ACC remains controversial. Patients with a histology-confirmed diagnosis of ACC of the breast were identified based on the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results) database. Propensity score matching (PSM) was performed to balance the baseline characteristics. The Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression models were performed to determine the impact of the adjuvant chemotherapy (CT) and radiotherapy (RT) associated with breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) and overall survival (OS). A total of 1036 patients with ACC of the breast were included. After a median follow-up of 11.3 years, the 10-year OS and BCSS rate was 76.2% and 92.6%, respectively. After PSM, adjuvant CT converted into neither OS (Log-rank p = 1.000) nor BCSS (Log-rank p = 0.900) benefits in patients with ACC of the breast. Adjuvant RT also did not improve OS (Log-rank p = 0.060) and BCSS (Log-rank p = 0.400). According to the univariate stratified analysis, adjuvant RT was favorable for OS in patients who underwent breast-conserving surgery (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.45, 0.99, p = 0.042). From the multivariate analysis, histology grade and nodal status were independent prognostic factors for both OS and BCSS. In conclusion, ACC of the breast presented a favorable prognosis. Adjuvant treatment, especially adjuvant CT, might not be essential for patients with this disease.

Breast adenoid cystic carcinoma: a report of seven cases and literature review

Background

Primary adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of breast is rarely seen clinically. It is a special subtype of triple-negative breast cancer characterized by low expression of Ki-67, low malignant potential, slow progression and favorable prognosis. To date, treatment for this disease is controversial and no consensus is reached. We analyzed clinical manifestations and pathological characteristics of seven primary breast ACC cases and reported in combination with literature review to promote understanding, diagnosis and treatment of this disease.

Case presentation

We collected seven breast ACC cases pathologically diagnosed and treated in Department of breast surgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University from January 2015 to December 2018. We organized and summarized the clinical, imaging, pathological and prognostic information and performed statistical analysis. The median age was 60 years (ranging from 54 to 64 years). Tumors of all patients were detected by immunohistochemistry. Molecular types were mostly triple negative (4/7), and Ki-67 expression was low (5/7). Lymph node metastases were absent in all patients received axillary lymph node surgery. Median follow-up time was 39 months (ranging from 25 to 68 months). There was no occurrence of relapse, distant metastasis or death.

Conclusion

Breast ACC is accompanied with favorable diagnosis, which is different from typical triple-negative breast cancer. Accurate diagnosis of ACC is particularly important.

Male Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma of the Breast

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast, a rare malignancy that makes up less than 0.1% of all breast malignancies, is much rarer in males than in females. Due to the rarity of this disease, an optimal treatment strategy for male breast ACC has not been established, and therapy for male patients is currently based on guidelines for female patients. According to previous reported cases, some authors believe that male breast ACC may have higher invasive potential than female breast ACC and the prognoses in male patients may be worse than those in female patients. Therefore, a more proactive diagnosis and treatment regimen may be required. However, the clinical feature of our case is inconsistent with this view. Herein we report the case of a 24-year-old male without any antecedent medical or family history who presented with a slow-growing lump on his left chest wall for 5 years. The patient initially underwent lumpectomy, and the mass was pathologically diagnosed as breast ACC. Systemic examination was performed, and no evidence of distant metastasis was found. Then, he received modified radical mastectomy and ipsilateral axillary lymph node dissection. The mastectomy pathological examination revealed that no cancerous tissue was detected around the primary tumor bed, and all 22 axillary lymph nodes were negative. The patient did not receive postoperative chemotherapy, radiotherapy or endocrine therapy and remained well after 28 months of follow-up. In this study, we review the literature and summarize the clinical manifestations, imaging and histopathological characteristics, treatments and outcomes of male breast ACC. We share our experience in the hopes that this evidence will aid in the development of better therapeutics.

Treatment of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast: Is postoperative radiation getting its due credit?

Introduction

The role of postoperative radiation (PR) in treating mammary ACC is poorly defined. This study evaluated the impact of PR on survival outcomes for mammary ACC and the extent of utilization.

Methods

Patients who underwent surgery for mammary ACC from 2005 to 2015 in SEER database were analyzed. KM analyses of OS and DSS were done for PR versus no PR. Cox hazard regression models were used to determine predictors of OS and DSS.

Results

Of the 488 patients, 244 underwent PR. The PR group was younger, but other variables were similar between the 2 groups. OS was better for PR (p = 0.029). 10-year DSS was better for PR group by an absolute value of 6 % but did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.537). Age, radiation, nodal metastasis, and grade III/IV were independent predictors of OS while grade III/IV and AJCC stage III/IV independently predicted DSS.

Conclusion

PR improves OS for mammary ACC, but this study did not show increased utilization. Radiation should be considered after surgery for mammary ACC, particularly for patients with independent predictors of OS.

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The role of postoperative radiation (PR) in the management of mammary adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is still poorly defined.

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Postoperative radiation improves OS for mammary ACC.

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Despite previous studies demonstrating benefits of PR, this study did not show increased use of the treatment modality.

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PR should be considered for mammary ACC, particularly for patients with negative independent predictors of OS.

Triple-negative breast cancer: A run-through of features, classification and current therapies

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer in women worldwide. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by the lack of expression of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. It is the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer and accounts for 12-20% of all breast cancer cases. TNBC is associated with younger age of onset, greater metastatic potential, higher incidence of relapse, and lower overall survival rates. Based on molecular phenotype, TNBC has been classified into six subtypes (BL1, BL2, M, MES, LAR, and IM). TNBC treatment is challenging due to its heterogeneity, highly invasive nature, and relatively poor therapeutics response. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are conventional strategies for the treatment of TNBC. Recent research in TNBC and mechanistic understanding of disease pathogenesis using cutting-edge technologies has led to the unfolding of new lines of therapies that have been incorporated into clinical practice. Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and immune checkpoint inhibitors have made their way to the current TNBC treatment paradigm. This review focuses on the classification, features, and treatment progress in TNBC. Histological subtypes connected to recurrence, molecular classification of TNBC, targeted therapy for early and advanced TNBC, and advances in non-coding RNA in therapy are the key highlights in this review.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast with distant metastasis to the liver and spleen: a case report

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast is a rare malignancy, accounting for 0.1–1% of breast cancers. Histologically breast ACC is similar to ACC’s found in salivary tissue and is a triple-negative breast cancer with an uncharacteristically favorable prognosis and low incidence of metastasis. Most cases present as a painful, palpable mass; however, asymptomatic cases found on screening mammograms have also been noted. Core needle biopsy or excisional biopsy is necessary for definitive diagnosis of breast ACC. Immunohistochemistry of these cancers can differentiate breast ACC from masses with similar histology, such as invasive cribriform carcinoma and collagenous spherulosis. There is no well-established treatment guideline for ACC; however, it has been noted that reoccurrence and metastasis are noted more in cases of local resection than mastectomy.

Concurrent breast adenoid cystic carcinoma and primary squamous cell carcinoma: report of a rare case with single institutional case reviews

Background

Adenoid cystic carcinoma and primary squamous cell carcinoma are both rare breast neoplasms, which possess drastically different morphological and molecular features as well as distinguishing clinical behaviors and prognosis.

Case presentation

In this report, we described a rare case in which concurrent adenoid cystic carcinoma and keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma were diagnosed in contralateral breasts in an 85 year-old female patient. The patient had a history of adenoid cystic carcinoma diagnosed 11 years ago, which was treated by partial mastectomy followed by whole breast radiation. The recurrent carcinoma on the same side of the breast was small in size but appeared to involve an intraductal papilloma. Also, a newly occurred large cystic mass was identified on the contralateral breast, which histologically presented as a keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma with no glandular differentiation. No in situ or invasive carcinoma was identified in the overlying skin of the lesion, and no malignancy in a second site was found by PET-CT. Therefore, this lesion was mostly likely a primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast.

Conclusion

The concurrence of two such rare neoplasms was likely an incidental finding or was therapy-related. However, more mechanistic studies are needed in order to understand whether predisposing genetic alterations exist in this rare case. Besides, cases of both breast adenoid cystic carcinoma and carcinoma with predominant squamous differentiation diagnosed in our institution were reviewed, which help to better characterize their clinicopathological features.

Triple negative breast cancer: special histological types and emerging therapeutic methods

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a complex and malignant breast cancer subtype that lacks expression of the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), thereby making therapeutic targeting difficult. TNBC is generally considered to have high malignancy and poor prognosis. However, patients diagnosed with certain rare histomorphologic subtypes of TNBC have better prognosis than those diagnosed with typical triple negative breast cancer. In addition, with the discovery and development of novel treatment targets such as the androgen receptor (AR), PI3K/AKT/mTOR and AMPK signaling pathways, as well as emerging immunotherapies, the therapeutic options for TNBC are increasing. In this paper, we review the literature on various histological types of TNBC and focus on newly developed therapeutic strategies that target and potentially affect molecular pathways or emerging oncogenes, thus providing a basis for future tailored therapies focused on the mutational aspects of TNBC.

MYB-activated models for testing therapeutic agents in adenoid cystic carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

There are no effective systemic therapies for adenoid cystic cancer (ACC) and lack of tumor lines and mouse models have hindered drug development.We aim to develop MYB-activated models for testing new therapeutic agents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We studied new ACC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models and generated a matched cell line from one patient. In addition, we generated a genetically-engineered MYB-NFIB mouse model (GEMM) that was crossed with Ink4a^+/-/Arf^+/- mice to study tumor spectrum and obtain tumor lines. Using human and murine ACC-like tumor lines, we analyzed MYB expression by RNA-Seq and immunoblot and tested efficacy of new MYB inhibitors.

RESULTS

We detected MYB-NFIB transcripts in both UFH1 and UFH2 PDX and observed tumor inhibition by MYB depletion using shRNA in vivo. We observed rapid loss of MYB expression when we cultured UFH1 in vitro, but were able to generate a UFH2 tumor cell line that retained MYB expression for 6 months. RNA-Seq expression detected an ACC-like mRNA signature in PDX samples and we confirmed an identical KMT2A/MLL variant in UFH2 PDX, matched cell line, and primary biopsy. Although the predominant phenotype of the MYB-NFIB GEMM was B-cell leukemia, we also generated a MYB-activated ACC-like mammary tumor cell line. We observed tumor inhibition using a novel MYB peptidomimetic in both human and murine tumor models.

CONCLUSIONS

We generated and studied new murine and human MYB-activated tumor samples and detected growth inhibition with MYB peptidomimetics. These data provide tools to define treatment strategies for patients with advanced MYB-activated ACC.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast - Discordant size on imaging and pathology: A case report and review of literature

Introduction

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is an uncommon tumour of the breast. It is known for its rare lymph node involvement and distant metastasis. A triple-negative breast cancer that has a favorable prognosis compared to other triple negative ductal carcinomas, it accounts for approximately 0.1-1% of all breast cancers.

Presentation of case

We report a case of a 69-year-old female with a palpable left breast mass who underwent multiple imaging modalities with significant size variance between the studies. Breast conserving therapy (BCT) was performed with axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) followed by radiation therapy (RT). Pathological examination confirmed the tumour as ACC.

Discussion

ACC, known as an persistent if low-grade malignant tumour of salivary gland, is considered to have low-malignant potential in the breast. It is a very rare subtype and from this scant data, there is minimal mention about size discrepancy between imaging modalities such as ultrasound and MRI.No consistent MRI features have been demonstrated, with the exception of T2 hyperintensity in larger lesions and T2 iso-intensity in smaller lesions. Ultrasound demonstrates primarily a hypoechoic or heterogenous mass with minimum vascularity, consistent with our radiographic findings.

Conclusion

ACC is a rare entity in breast cancer pathology. Its size can be highly variable as measured by various radiographic modalities, and final Pathology from the surgical specimen is, as always, required for an accurate tumoral diameter. With that caveat, careful utilization of pre-operative imaging modalities is critical in pre-surgical planning to choose the appropriate surgery.

The Clinicopathological Features and Survival Outcomes of Different Histological Subtypes in Triple-negative Breast Cancer

Purpose: To determine the clinicopathological features and survival outcomes of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) according to different histological subtypes.

Methods: Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database, we included TNBC cases in 2010-2013. The effect of histological subtype on breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results: A total of 19,900 patients were identified. Infiltrating ductal carcinoma not otherwise specified accounted for 91.6% of patients, followed by metaplastic carcinoma (2.7%), medullary carcinoma (1.4%), mixed lobular-ductal carcinoma (1.4%), lobular carcinoma (1.3%), apocrine carcinoma (1.0%), and adenoid cystic carcinoma (0.6%). Medullary carcinoma was more frequently poorly/undifferentiated. Significantly more lobular carcinoma, mixed lobular-ductal carcinoma, and metaplastic carcinoma patients had larger tumors. Adenoid cystic carcinoma, metaplastic carcinoma, medullary carcinoma, and apocrine carcinoma were more frequently node-negative. Lobular carcinoma (16.0%) and mixed lobular-ductal carcinoma (10.4%) more frequently had distant stage at initial diagnosis. Histologic subtype was an independent prognostic factor of BCSS and OS. Compared with infiltrating ductal carcinoma, medullary carcinoma and apocrine carcinoma had better BCSS and OS, while mixed lobular-ductal carcinoma and metaplastic carcinoma had worse survival. Adenoid cystic carcinoma survival was not significantly different from that of infiltrating ductal carcinoma.

Conclusions: TNBC histological subtypes have different clinicopathological characteristics and survival outcomes. Medullary carcinoma and apocrine adenocarcinoma have excellent prognosis; mixed lobular-ductal carcinoma and metaplastic carcinoma are the most aggressive subtypes.