Mixed variant of mucinous breast cancer seen in the Oncology Centre in Krakow: clinical characteristics and treatment results in patients treated 1975–2005

Abstract

Introduction. Mucinous breast carcinoma (MBC) accounts for approximately 2–3% of all breast cancer types. The purpose of this study is to present the clinico-pathological characteristics and treatment results in patients treated for mixed variant of MBC.

Material and methods. We analysed 50 patients with M-MBC treated between 1975 and 2005. The mean age was 64 years, and 86% patients presented with stage I or II breast cancer, involved lymph nodes were observed in 26%, and hormonal receptors positivity was found in 70% cases. All patients received surgical treatment: mastectomy (43 — 86%) or breast-conserving therapy (7 — 14%). The adiuvant treatment consisted of radiotherapy (24 — 48%), chemotherapy (13 — 26%).

Results. The 10-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 64%. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that an independent statistically significant prognostic factor was the microscopic status of axillary lymph nodes (pN). 10-year DFS according to pN was 81.1% for pN0 and 15.4% for pN+. During the follow-up 16 patients (32%) developed distant metastases.

Conclusions. M-MBC is characterised by the following: high ratio of lower stage disease, hormonal receptors positivity and relatively lower incidence of involved axillary lymph nodes.