A case of primary neuroendocrine breast carcinoma that responded to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy

Abstract

Primary neuroendocrine breast carcinoma (NEBC) is a very rare type of breast cancer. Two characteristic biomarkers, namely, CgA and Syn, should be immunohistochemically detected to diagnose NEBC. In this study, a 43-year-old woman with a large mass of 8.3 cm × 2.9 cm in her right breast was reported. The patient was pathologically diagnosed with NEBC after specific markers, including CgA and Syn, as well as few differential markers, such as CK7, ER, PR, C-erbB-2, NSE, and E-cadherin, were immunohistochemically detected. The patient showed a remarkable response to four cycles of neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (partial response based on RECIST criteria) and sequentially underwent modified radical mastectomy. Moreover, the diagnosis and treatment of NEBC based on this case and available related literature were discussed.

Keywords

neuroendocrine carcinoma / neo-adjuvant therapy / breast

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