How Do Long-Term Outcomes Differ Between Lobular Carcinoma and Breast Cancer of No Special Type?

In a large, propensity-matched, post hoc analysis, patients with invasive lobular carcinoma had higher risk for long-term recurrence and death than those with breast cancer of no special type.

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the second most common type of breast cancer after breast cancer of no special type (NST), accounting for 10% to 15% of all new cases. Although differences in morphology, biological features, and clinical characteristics between these two subtypes have long been known, treatment approaches remain similar. Research is focused on understanding how these differences could be leveraged into developing better therapies for ILC. A key question is whether long-term outcomes differ between ILC and NST. Clinical trials usually include only a minority of patients with ILC; thus, statistical power to draw conclusions regarding differences in outcomes is often lacking.

These investigators combined data from 12,482 pat…

Reviewing Author

William J. Gradishar, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardLilly; AstraZeneca; Gilead

Grant/Research SupportBreast Cancer Research Foundation

Editorial BoardsClinical Breast Cancer; Oncology; Annals of Surgery; Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesNational Comprehensive Cancer Network (Chair, Breast Cancer Panel); American Board of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology Board)