Cytotoxic-mediated spontaneous regression of inflammatory cutaneous metastases of breast carcinoma. 2020

Carlo Tomasini
IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico San Matteo, Department of Medical-Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, Dermatologic Clinic, University of Pavia School of Medicine, Pavia, Italy.

Spontaneous regression (SR) of cancer is a rare but well-documented biological phenomenon, which is even rarer in the context of metastatic breast carcinoma. Different mechanisms of SR are still under debate, including immune-mediated response. We herein report a case of the SR of intralymphatic cutaneous metastases of a breast carcinoma with spontaneously-induced T-cell-mediated cytotoxic response. An 86-year-old female was diagnosed with locally advanced right breast carcinoma and axillary lymph node metastases, without distant metastases The patient refused any therapy. Six months afterwards, she developed multiple, asymptomatic purpura-like plaques with prominent teleangectasias on her right chest wall, continuous to the previous surgical scar and on her ipsilateral abdomen. Skin biopsy showed aggregates of atypical cells admixed with erythrocyte thrombi within dilated dermal lymphatic vessels. SR of the cutaneous lesions occurred within 6 months and persisted at the 15 months follow-up in the absence of therapy, whilst no signs of internal relapse were observed. Immunohistochemically, the estrogen-negative, CK7-positive, C-erb B2-positive intralymphatic metastases were associated with extensive infiltration of CD8-positive cytototoxic T lymphocytes. Factors that may have precluded the implantation of intralymphatic metastases leading to SR are discussed, with local immune surveillance being one major hypothesis.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007111 Immunity, Cellular Manifestations of the immune response which are mediated by antigen-sensitized T-lymphocytes via lymphokines or direct cytotoxicity. This takes place in the absence of circulating antibody or where antibody plays a subordinate role. Cell-Mediated Immunity,Cellular Immune Response,Cell Mediated Immunity,Cell-Mediated Immunities,Cellular Immune Responses,Cellular Immunities,Cellular Immunity,Immune Response, Cellular,Immune Responses, Cellular,Immunities, Cell-Mediated,Immunities, Cellular,Immunity, Cell-Mediated,Response, Cellular Immune
D007150 Immunohistochemistry Histochemical localization of immunoreactive substances using labeled antibodies as reagents. Immunocytochemistry,Immunogold Techniques,Immunogold-Silver Techniques,Immunohistocytochemistry,Immunolabeling Techniques,Immunogold Technics,Immunogold-Silver Technics,Immunolabeling Technics,Immunogold Silver Technics,Immunogold Silver Techniques,Immunogold Technic,Immunogold Technique,Immunogold-Silver Technic,Immunogold-Silver Technique,Immunolabeling Technic,Immunolabeling Technique,Technic, Immunogold,Technic, Immunogold-Silver,Technic, Immunolabeling,Technics, Immunogold,Technics, Immunogold-Silver,Technics, Immunolabeling,Technique, Immunogold,Technique, Immunogold-Silver,Technique, Immunolabeling,Techniques, Immunogold,Techniques, Immunogold-Silver,Techniques, Immunolabeling
D007249 Inflammation A pathological process characterized by injury or destruction of tissues caused by a variety of cytologic and chemical reactions. It is usually manifested by typical signs of pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function. Innate Inflammatory Response,Inflammations,Inflammatory Response, Innate,Innate Inflammatory Responses
D008207 Lymphatic Metastasis Transfer of a neoplasm from its primary site to lymph nodes or to distant parts of the body by way of the lymphatic system. Lymph Node Metastasis,Lymph Node Metastases,Lymphatic Metastases,Metastasis, Lymph Node
D012075 Remission, Spontaneous A spontaneous diminution or abatement of a disease over time, without formal treatment. Spontaneous Healing,Spontaneous Regression,Spontaneous Remission,Healing, Spontaneous,Regression, Spontaneous,Spontaneous Healings,Spontaneous Regressions
D001943 Breast Neoplasms Tumors or cancer of the human BREAST. Breast Cancer,Breast Tumors,Cancer of Breast,Breast Carcinoma,Cancer of the Breast,Human Mammary Carcinoma,Malignant Neoplasm of Breast,Malignant Tumor of Breast,Mammary Cancer,Mammary Carcinoma, Human,Mammary Neoplasm, Human,Mammary Neoplasms, Human,Neoplasms, Breast,Tumors, Breast,Breast Carcinomas,Breast Malignant Neoplasm,Breast Malignant Neoplasms,Breast Malignant Tumor,Breast Malignant Tumors,Breast Neoplasm,Breast Tumor,Cancer, Breast,Cancer, Mammary,Cancers, Mammary,Carcinoma, Breast,Carcinoma, Human Mammary,Carcinomas, Breast,Carcinomas, Human Mammary,Human Mammary Carcinomas,Human Mammary Neoplasm,Human Mammary Neoplasms,Mammary Cancers,Mammary Carcinomas, Human,Neoplasm, Breast,Neoplasm, Human Mammary,Neoplasms, Human Mammary,Tumor, Breast
D005260 Female Females
D005500 Follow-Up Studies Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease. Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000369 Aged, 80 and over Persons 80 years of age and older. Oldest Old

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