Open Access

Efficacy of lapatinib monotherapy on occult breast cancer presenting with cutaneous metastases: A case report

  • Authors:
    • Eiichiro Noguchi
    • Takako Kamio
    • Hidenori Kamio
    • Hiroko Miura
    • Masako  Tamaki
    • Masako Nishizawa
    • Kei Aoyama
    • Tetsuya Oochi
    • Shingo Kameoka
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: October 9, 2014     https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2014.2594
  • Pages: 2448-2452
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Abstract

The case of a 72-year-old female who identified a lymph node enlargement in the left axilla is reported in the present study. A lymph node biopsy revealed a metastatic adenocarcinoma of the axillary lymph node. Following various assessments, the patient was diagnosed with occult breast cancer and lymph node metastases, for which treatment was initiated. Trastuzumab monotherapy was administered as the patient was elderly, positive for the hepatitis B virus and exhibited the following immunostaining/immunohistochemical analysis results: Estrogen receptor (ER) negative (-), progesterone receptor (PgR) negative (-) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) positive (3+). Breast ultrasonography was performed 10 months after the initial trastuzumab administration and the left axillary lymph node enlargement had reduced in size and severity. However, a skin rash (erythema) was observed encompassing the left breast and extending into the axilla. As determined by the result of a skin biopsy of this area, the patient was diagnosed with occult breast cancer with cutaneous metastases. The immunohistochemical analysis results obtained from the skin biopsy were similar to those obtained from the lymph nodes: ER (-), PgR (-) and HER2 (3+). Therefore, the patient was switched from trastuzumab to lapatinib monotherapy. The erythema completely disappeared after two months of treatment. At present (34 months following lapatinib monotherapy initiation) no new lesions or severe side‑effects have been observed.
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December-2014
Volume 8 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1792-1074
Online ISSN:1792-1082

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Spandidos Publications style
Noguchi E, Kamio T, Kamio H, Miura H, Tamaki M, Nishizawa M, Aoyama K, Oochi T and Kameoka S: Efficacy of lapatinib monotherapy on occult breast cancer presenting with cutaneous metastases: A case report. Oncol Lett 8: 2448-2452, 2014
APA
Noguchi, E., Kamio, T., Kamio, H., Miura, H., Tamaki, M., Nishizawa, M. ... Kameoka, S. (2014). Efficacy of lapatinib monotherapy on occult breast cancer presenting with cutaneous metastases: A case report. Oncology Letters, 8, 2448-2452. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2014.2594
MLA
Noguchi, E., Kamio, T., Kamio, H., Miura, H., Tamaki, M., Nishizawa, M., Aoyama, K., Oochi, T., Kameoka, S."Efficacy of lapatinib monotherapy on occult breast cancer presenting with cutaneous metastases: A case report". Oncology Letters 8.6 (2014): 2448-2452.
Chicago
Noguchi, E., Kamio, T., Kamio, H., Miura, H., Tamaki, M., Nishizawa, M., Aoyama, K., Oochi, T., Kameoka, S."Efficacy of lapatinib monotherapy on occult breast cancer presenting with cutaneous metastases: A case report". Oncology Letters 8, no. 6 (2014): 2448-2452. https://doi.org/10.3892/ol.2014.2594