CancerVolume 77, Issue 1 p. 113-120 Original ArticleFree Access Infiltrating lobular carcinoma of the breast: Clinicopathologic analysis of 975 cases with reference to data on conservative therapy and metastatic patterns Xavier Sastre-Garau M.D., Corresponding Author Xavier Sastre-Garau M.D. Department of Pathology, Institut Curie, Paris, FranceLaboratoire de Pathologie, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75231 Paris Cedex, France===Search for more papers by this authorMichel Jouve M.D., Michel Jouve M.D. Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Curie, Paris, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorBernard Asselain M.D., Bernard Asselain M.D. Department of Biostatistics, Institut Curie, Paris, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorAnne Vincent-Salomon M.D., Anne Vincent-Salomon M.D. Department of Pathology, Institut Curie, Paris, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorPhilippe Beuzeboc M.D., Philippe Beuzeboc M.D. Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Curie, Paris, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorThierry Dorval M.D., Thierry Dorval M.D. Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Curie, Paris, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorJean-Claude Durand M.D., Jean-Claude Durand M.D. Department of Surgery, Institut Curie, Paris, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorAlain Fourquet M.D., Alain Fourquet M.D. Department of Radiotherapy, Institut Curie, Paris, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorPierre Pouillart M.D., Pierre Pouillart M.D. Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Curie, Paris, FranceSearch for more papers by this author Xavier Sastre-Garau M.D., Corresponding Author Xavier Sastre-Garau M.D. Department of Pathology, Institut Curie, Paris, FranceLaboratoire de Pathologie, Institut Curie, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75231 Paris Cedex, France===Search for more papers by this authorMichel Jouve M.D., Michel Jouve M.D. Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Curie, Paris, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorBernard Asselain M.D., Bernard Asselain M.D. Department of Biostatistics, Institut Curie, Paris, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorAnne Vincent-Salomon M.D., Anne Vincent-Salomon M.D. Department of Pathology, Institut Curie, Paris, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorPhilippe Beuzeboc M.D., Philippe Beuzeboc M.D. Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Curie, Paris, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorThierry Dorval M.D., Thierry Dorval M.D. Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Curie, Paris, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorJean-Claude Durand M.D., Jean-Claude Durand M.D. Department of Surgery, Institut Curie, Paris, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorAlain Fourquet M.D., Alain Fourquet M.D. Department of Radiotherapy, Institut Curie, Paris, FranceSearch for more papers by this authorPierre Pouillart M.D., Pierre Pouillart M.D. Department of Medical Oncology, Institut Curie, Paris, FranceSearch for more papers by this author First published: 1 January 1996 https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0142(19960101)77:1<113::AID-CNCR19>3.0.CO;2-8Citations: 288AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Abstract BACKGROUND The clinicopathologic features of infiltrating lobular carcinoma (ILC), which represents 5% to 15% of all breast cancers, are still controversial. In particular, the high frequency of multicentric lesions has led to questioning of the effectiveness of conservative treatment for this type of cancer. By studying a large number of cases, we aimed to compare the clinicopathological features of ILC with those of nonlobular infiltrating carcinoma (NLIC) and to assess the advisability of conservative therapy in the management of ILC. METHODS The population analyzed included 726 cases of ILC, 249 cases of mixed ILC/invasive ductal carcinoma (ILC/IDC), and 10,061 cases of NLIC. The age of patients, TNM status, estrogen- and progesterone-receptor status (ER, PR), and histologic grades of the 3 groups were compared. The follow-up was carried out on a subgroup of 5846 cases. RESULTS At diagnosis, ILC tumors were found to be larger on average and were detected in patients older than those with NLIC, but the degree of lymph node involvement was lower in patients with ILC than in NLIC. In ILC, tumors are more frequently grade I and ER-positive than in NLIC. Multicentric lesions were not significantly more frequent in ILC than in NLIC. The overall survival, locoregional control, disease free interval, and metastatic spread rates were not different among the three groups neither by univariate nor multivariate analysis, but the pattern of metastatic dissemination was different. In 480 cases of ILC considered for conservation therapy, the local recurrence and overall survival rates were similar to those observed for IDC. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis specifies the clinicopathological features of ILC and confirms that conservation therapy may be an appropriate treatment for this type of cancer. Cancer 1996;77:113-20. References 1 Foote FW, Stewart FW. 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Citing Literature Volume77, Issue11 January 1996Pages 113-120 ReferencesRelatedInformation