Imaging overview of metaplastic carcinomas of the breast: a large study of 71 cases.

Objective:: To review the clinical presentation, baseline imaging features, surgical management and final surgical pathology of metaplastic carcinoma of the breast.

Methods:: A total of 71 cases were identified over a 10-year period from two major UK breast cancer institutions. Imaging at diagnosis including mammography, ultrasound, MRI and CT scans and histological diagnosis were reviewed.

Biological effects of fulvestrant on estrogen receptor positive human breast cancer: short, medium and long-term effects based on sequential biopsies.

We report the first study of the biological effect of fulvestrant on ER positive clinical breast cancer using sequential biopsies through to progression. Thirty-two locally/systemically advanced breast cancers treated with first-line fulvestrant (250 mg/month) were biopsied at therapy initiation, 6 weeks, 6 months and progression and immunohistochemically-analyzed for Ki67, ER, EGFR and HER2 expression/signaling activity. This series showed good fulvestrant responses (duration of response [DoR] = 25.

Pilot randomised study of early intervention based on tumour markers in the follow-up of patients with primary breast cancer.

Background: This pilot study aimed to test the possibility of therapeutic benefit imparted by early intervention based on sequential tumour marker (TM) measurements during follow-up of primary breast cancer (PBC) patients.

Methods: Patients with oestrogen receptor positive PBC with no clinical and/or radiological evidence of metastases were recruited and followed-up 3-monthly with clinical assessment and TM (CA15.3 and CEA) measurements.

The effects of gefitinib in tamoxifen-resistant and hormone-insensitive breast cancer: a phase II study.

Estrogen receptor (ER)-positive acquired tamoxifen-resistant (TAM-R) MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines exhibit epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) expression/signaling and are growth-inhibited by gefitinib (IRESSA). We examined the effect of gefitinib on ER-positive TAM-R and ER-negative hormone-insensitive breast cancer in a Phase II study. Fifty-four patients with breast cancer [ER-positive/acquired TAM-R (n = 28); ER-negative (n = 26)] received oral gefitinib 500 mg/day.