Receptor changes in metachronous breast tumorsour experience of 10 years

Introduction: Patients with primary breast cancer (PBC) are at 2 to 6 times higher risk for developing synchronous and metachronous breast cancer (MBC). The pathology and behavior of MBC still remains unclear. Methods: We reviewed the charts of 108 women with MBC at our hospital over the past 10 years. Profile patterns of the estrogen receptor (ER), the progesterone receptor (PR), and Her2/neu receptors were explored. Results: Of 33 patients with ER ⁺/PR ⁺ in the primary tumor, 23 (70%) retained the status in MBC. Forty-five (92%) of 49 patients with ER ^-/PR ^- in the primary tumor remained the same in MBC. Most Her2 ^- tumors (22/31, 71%) remained negative, but 50% (8/16) of Her2 ⁺ tumors became negative. Conclusions: Most MBC retained the ER/PR expression patterns irrespective of the treatment for the primary tumor, thus suggesting a common origin. Because MBCs tend to be triple negative and thus more aggressive, early detection and close surveillance techniques must be devised.