Current progress in the treatment of metaplastic breast carcinoma

Abstract

Metaplastic breast cancer (MBC) is a rare type of breast carcinoma, characterized by various combinations of mesenchymal, adenocarcinoma and other epithelial components. MBC often manifests as a large mass, with low axillary lymph node involvement and poor prognosis. Knowledge and treatment patterns about MBC demographics, presentation and tumor characteristics are very limited. In clinical practice, MBC is usually treated based on the guidelines developed for infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC). The ideal treatment paradigm for MBC is unknown due to its low incidence and pathological variability, so potential predictors of treatment efficacy need to be explored. This review summarizes the current models and strategies for MBC according to the published literature.