Morphological characteristics of recurrent breast cancer in patients with various menstrual function

Surgical specimens from 511 patients aged 35 to 80 years (median age 52,9 ± 9,6 years) with stage T2-4N0-2M0 infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma were examined. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy was administered to 380 patients. Radical mastectomy was performed in 74 % of cases and organ-preserving surgery in 26 % of cases. The presence of various types of structures in infiltrating component, degrees of fibrosis and inflammatory infiltration, receptor status and expression of Her2/neu oncoprotein were evaluated. Sixtyseven patients developed recurrence 3 to 66 months after surgery. Recurrences were observed much more frequently in patients with preserved menstrual function. Occurrence of various types of structures in infiltrating component of the tumor and receptor status of the tumor depended no upon neoadjuvant therapy. Pronounced inflammatory infiltration in primary tumor tissue was observed more frequently in patients with recurrence developed beyond the area of postoperative scar. The lowest level of estrogen receptor expression was observed in patients with recurrence located in the area of postoperative scar (48,2 ± 30,6 %).