The Complex Management of the Breast Angiosarcoma: A Retrospective Study

Oncology. 2023;101(4):234-239. doi: 10.1159/000525146. Epub 2022 Dec 20.

Abstract

Background/aim: Breast angiosarcoma is a rare and aggressive disease with a poor prognosis. Two subtypes have been identified: primary angiosarcoma (PBA) and secondary breast angiosarcoma (SBA). In this retrospective analysis, we describe and compare our institute experience with the data existing in the literature.

Materials and methods: We included in our analysis 29 patients who received a diagnosis of PBA or SBA between 2006 and 2019.

Results: All patients received surgery as frontline treatment, but only 6 patients underwent to adjuvant treatment. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was administered 2 patients. The preferred chemotherapeutic regimen was taxanes with or without gemcitabine and associated with anthracyclines. A lower median RFS and OS were reported in patients with PBA compared to those with SBA, but the difference observed was not statistically significant. Patients with PBA had a lower median age at the diagnosis (38 vs. 75).

Conclusion: In our analysis, we have shown a lower median RFS and OS in patients with PBA compared with those with SBA, and a significantly younger age at diagnosis in patients affected by PBA.

Keywords: Anthracyclines; Breast angiosarcoma; Endothelial markers; Soft tissue sarcoma.

MeSH terms

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Breast Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Breast Neoplasms* / surgery
  • Female
  • Hemangiosarcoma* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic

Supplementary concepts

  • Angiosarcoma of the breast