{Reference Type}: Journal Article
{Title}: A comprehensive overview of metaplastic breast cancer: Features and treatments.
{Author}: Yan Q;Deng Y;Zhang Q;
{Journal}: Cancer Sci
{Volume}: 115
{Issue}: 8
{Year}: 2024 Aug 12
{Factor}: 6.518
{DOI}: 10.1111/cas.16208
{Abstract}: 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.