The role of histopathologic testing on apocrine carcinoma of the breast.

BACKGROUND: Apocrine carcinoma is a rare primary breast tumor characterized by the apocrine morphology. The purpose of this article is to report a review of cases with apocrine carcinoma and draw physicians' attention to the benefits of immunphenotypic techniques in cases with suspected apocrine morphology in diagnosing this uncommon breast tumor. METHODS: In this study, authors report a case series of 15 cases with apocrine carcinoma from totally 4123 breast cancer cases. Data collected between years 2008 and 2016 from Istanbul School of Medicine department of surgery archive by analyzing surgical approach to cases and immunphenotypic features of tumors according to the date of examining in our pathology department. RESULTS: In this study, Androgen, "gross cystic disease fluid protein-15" (GCDFP-15), estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR) and Her-2 neu receptor status supported evidence of apocrine carcinoma has been reviewed. As a result, HER-2 neu, GCDFP-15, androgen receptor positivity in general are useful in the diagnosis of apocrine carcinoma. In addition of these data our study revealed that GCDFP-15 positive patients are more prone to have local recurrence and distant metastases. CONCLUSIONS: We briefly describe and discuss the molecular features and new diagnostic biomarkers for this rare mammary malignancy. The importance of comprehensive profiling is highlighted due to synergistic and potentially antagonistic molecular events in the individual patients.