Review
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World J Clin Cases. Dec 16, 2014; 2(12): 732-741
Published online Dec 16, 2014. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v2.i12.732
Adenoid cystic carcinoma of breast: Recent advances
Kosuke Miyai, Mary R Schwartz, Mukul K Divatia, Rose C Anton, Yong Wook Park, Alberto G Ayala, Jae Y Ro
Kosuke Miyai, Mary R Schwartz, Mukul K Divatia, Rose C Anton, Alberto G Ayala, Jae Y Ro, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Houston, TX 77030, United States
Kosuke Miyai, Department of Basic Pathology, National Defense Medical College, Saitama 359-0042, Japan
Yong Wook Park, Department of Pathology, Hanyang University, Guri Hospital, 153 Gyeongchun-ro, Guri, Gyeonggi-do 471-701, South Korea
Author contributions: All the authors contributed to this work.
Correspondence to: Jae Y Ro, MD, PhD, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Houston Methodist Hospital, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 6565 Fannin Street, Suite M227, Houston, TX 77030, United States. jaero@houstonmethodist.org
Telephone: +1-713-4412263 Fax: +1-713-7931603
Received: July 3, 2014
Revised: September 3, 2014
Accepted: September 18, 2014
Published online: December 16, 2014
Processing time: 168 Days and 13 Hours
Abstract

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast is a rare special subtype of breast cancer characterized by the presence of a dual cell population of luminal and basaloid cells arranged in specific growth patterns. Most breast cancers with triple-negative, basal-like breast features (i.e., tumors that are devoid of estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expression, and express basal cell markers) are generally high-grade tumors with an aggressive clinical course. Conversely, while ACCs also display a triple-negative, basal-like phenotype, they are usually low-grade and exhibit an indolent clinical behavior. Many discoveries regarding the molecular and genetic features of the ACC, including a specific chromosomal translocation t(6;9) that results in a MYB-NFIB fusion gene, have been made in recent years. This comprehensive review provides our experience with the ACC of the breast, as well as an overview of clinical, histopathological, and molecular genetic features.

Keywords: Adenoid cystic carcinoma; Breast; Triple-negative and basal-like phenotype; Histology; Molecular genetic features

Core tip: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast is a rare, special subtype of breast cancer characterized by the presence of luminal and basaloid cells arranged in specific growth patterns. Although ACCs display a triple-negative, basal-like phenotype, these tumors are usually low-grade and exhibit an indolent clinical behavior. Many discoveries regarding the molecular genetic features of the ACC, including a specific chromosomal translocation t(6;9) that results in a MYB-NFIB fusion gene, have been made in recent years. This review provides our experience with ACCs, as well as an overview of its clinical, histopathological, and molecular genetic features.