Metaplastic Carcinoma

I was diagnosted with metaplastic cancer in September '11. This is a cancer  found in my right breast. It is not composed from breast tissue but had bone molecular structure found within the tumor.  Surgeon said,she would treat like other breast cancer but never suggested triple negative.  I found this out on my own and I was very angry no one said I needed chemo...I was led to believe lumpectomy and then radiation. Wrong, Wrong.  If I could find this on my own,no I have no excuses for doctors.  They sat on my reports and only when I read report from Mayo, it screamed triple negative.  My BRAC is negative, no mutations or irregularities. Tumor was 1.2cm, 5.3 tissue was removed along with 10 lymp nodes...this was not explained either.  Has anyone esle had any experience with this?

Pam,

Triple negative BC and metaplastic BC are terminologies based on different sets of parameters and are NOT mutually exclusive.

TNBC -- defined by absence/low hormone and Her2 receptor expression

Metaplastic -- a histological diagnosis -- that is, how the cells appear under light microscopy to the
pathologist

Claudin-low -- based on molecular profiling (many many markers).  Claudin-low and metaplastic BCs overlap in characteristics.

Metaplastic BCs tend to be negative for hormone and Her2 receptor expression (i.e. TN) but not always.

From my understanding, current BC therapy is based on receptor expression and staging information.  Different BC subtypes might indicate different rates of local and distant recurrence and in the most aggressive subtypes, higher degree of vigilance and need for second and third line therapy.

Here is a study from MDA:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21331622

Hope this helps.

Thanks to all of you for your responses.  I will review the sites you have indicated.  I do have a second opinion and will hpefully finishing my chemo today.  I will then have radiation.  I am currently at the Cancer Centers of America in Zion.  I appreciate the information that metaplastic and TNBC are not mutually exclusive as that is what I thought but it's good to know that thought was in the right direction.  I will be consulting with my oncologist today...again thanks so much!!!

Hi Pam,

I am not familiar with Metaplastic as others here are. However, I am just down the road (realtively!) near Champaign. I would suggest that you consider a trip over to Indianapolis to IU to see Dr. George Sledge, who is a TN expert! VERY worth the trip!

Deb