The relationship of multifocality and tumor burden with various tumor characteristics and survival in early breast cancer

Neoplasma. 2012;59(5):566-73. doi: 10.4149/neo_2012_073.

Abstract

The presence of multifocality and the aggregate tumor size were retrospectively analysed in a database of 1071 operated breast cancers. Around a quarter of all these cancers involved multiple foci, while a tenth of the total demonstrated more than one invasive focus. Although the multifocal cancers were smaller and more often screen-detected than the unifocal cancers, their aggregate tumor size was larger, and they more frequently displayed casting-type calcifications in the mammogram and HER2 positivity. Lobular histology favoured larger tumor burden. The invasive multifocal cancers were more commonly lymph node-positive than the other tumors. In a subgroup of 584 patients with a median follow-up time of 5 years, the larger size of the invasive tumor, the presence of LVI or lymph node involvement, HER2 positivity and triple negativity were associated with a poorer RFS and OS, while the outcome of screen-detected tumors was superior to that of non-screen-detected or interval cancers. A large tumor size, lymph node positivity and HER2 positive or triple negative phenotypes were independent determinants of a poorer survival rate.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Breast Neoplasms / mortality*
  • Breast Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / mortality*
  • Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / pathology*
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / mortality*
  • Carcinoma, Lobular / pathology*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Mammography
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Prospective Studies
  • Receptor, ErbB-2
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate
  • Tumor Burden

Substances

  • Receptor, ErbB-2