Hepatic complications of breast cancer

Abstract

Hepatic disease associated with breast cancer is common and can result from metastatic spread of the tumour to the liver, or can be caused by systemic treatment with chemotherapeutic or antiendocrine agents. Metastatic disease to the liver can present clinically and pathologically in various ways. Little is known as to why breast cancer can sometimes present as liver dominant disease or with liver involvement as a late event in the disease course. However, there are many postulations involving metastasis organotropism, which might offer future insight. The mainstay of treatment for hepatic metastases continues to be systemic therapy, but several locoregional adjunct therapies exist. Despite these therapies, liver metastasis from breast cancer is associated with a poor prognosis. Ongoing research of the mechanisms and tropism of liver metastasis from breast cancer will hopefully result in improved targeted therapies to reduce their incidence and improve outcomes when they arise.