%0 Journal Article
%T A comprehensive overview of metaplastic breast cancer: Features and treatments.
%A Yan Q
%A Deng Y
%A Zhang Q
%J Cancer Sci
%V 115
%N 8
%D 2024 Aug 12
%M 38735837
%F 6.518
%R 10.1111/cas.16208
%X Metaplastic breast cancer is a rare, aggressive, and chemotherapy-resistant subtype of breast cancers, accounting for less than 1% of invasive breast cancers, characterized by adenocarcinoma with spindle cells, squamous epithelium, and/or mesenchymal tissue differentiation. The majority of metaplastic breast cancers exhibit the characteristics of triple-negative breast cancer and have unfavorable prognoses with a lower survival rate. This subtype often displays gene alterations in the PI3K/AKT pathway, Wnt/β-catenin pathway, and cell cycle dysregulation and demonstrates epithelial-mesenchymal transition, immune response changes, TP53 mutation, EGFR amplification, and so on. Currently, the optimal treatment of metaplastic breast cancer remains uncertain. This article provides a comprehensive review on the clinical features, molecular characteristics, invasion and metastasis patterns, and prognosis of metaplastic breast cancer, as well as recent advancements in treatment strategies.