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Comment
. 2019 May 17:18:1176935119850155.
doi: 10.1177/1176935119850155. eCollection 2019.

A Molecular and Morphological Deep-Dive Into Metaplastic Breast Cancers

Amy E McCart Reed  1 , Sunil R Lakhani  1   2
Affiliations
Comment

A Molecular and Morphological Deep-Dive Into Metaplastic Breast Cancers

Amy E McCart Reed et al. Cancer Inform. .

Abstract

Metaplastic breast cancers (MBC) are relatively rare but account for significant global breast cancer mortality. Typically presenting without oestrogen and progesterone receptors or HER2 expression, these triple negative breast cancers are the archetypal 'stem cell-like' tumours that show a variety of metaplastic elements, including squamous, spindle, and chondroid. Given the vast heterogeneity in MBC by definition, large cohort studies are needed to draw conclusions. Together with our consortium colleagues, a cohort of 347 MBC was established, and a detailed morphological assessment made in an effort to understand the clinical relevance of the current diagnostic guidelines. Biomarker expression was investigated, and whole exome sequencing was performed. Herein, we provide an overview and contextualisation of the study.

Keywords: NF1; breast cancer; genomics; metaplastic; molecular pathology.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests:The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Comment on

  • Phenotypic and molecular dissection of metaplastic breast cancer and the prognostic implications.
    McCart Reed AE, Kalaw E, Nones K, Bettington M, Lim M, Bennett J, Johnstone K, Kutasovic JR, Saunus JM, Kazakoff S, Xu Q, Wood S, Holmes O, Leonard C, Reid LE, Black D, Niland C, Ferguson K, Gresshoff I, Raghavendra A, Harvey K, Cooper C, Liu C, Kalinowski L, Reid AS, Davidson M, Pearson JV, Pathmanathan N, Tse G, Papadimos D, Pathmanathan R, Harris G, Yamaguchi R, Tan PH, Fox SB, O'Toole SA, Simpson PT, Waddell N, Lakhani SR. McCart Reed AE, et al. J Pathol. 2019 Feb;247(2):214-227. doi: 10.1002/path.5184. Epub 2018 Dec 20. J Pathol. 2019. PMID: 30350370

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