Abstract

The neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast is a very rare tumor. In this paper we describe our experience in 10 cases of neuroendocrine carcinoma of the breast, and an integrated diagnostic-therapeutic proposal for this tumor. Since no positive association has been shown between neuroendocrine differentiation and tumor size, staging, grading, survival and therefore prognosis, we consider that surgical therapy for neuroendocrine tumors of the breast should be the same as that performed in common invasive histotypes. Due to the presence of specific cellular receptors in neuroendocrine tumors of the breast, somatostatin has been claimed as a useful tool both for diagnostic (Octreoscan) and therapy (for metastatic disease). As for therapy, synthetic analogs show advantages versus native somatostatin, because of a longer half-life, and data from literature report encouraging results obtained by using radiolabelled somatostatin analogs. One of these is 90 Y-Dotatoc; we have already used it in patients with neuroendocrine tumors of the lung. Our algorithm for neuroendocrine tumors of the breast includes diagnostic scintigraphy with Octreoscan and receptor-mediated radiolabelled therapy with 90 Y-Dotatoc in patients with confirmed scintigraphic expression of somatostatin receptors in tumoral tissue.