Malignant Mesenchymal Tumors of the Breast: Current Challenges and New Perspectives on Primary Sarcomas and Malignant Phyllodes Tumors

Mesenchymal tumors of the breast constitute a rare and heterogeneous group of neoplasms, representing only 0.5% to 1% of all breast tumors. Originating from mesenchymal tissues, these tumors include various histological subtypes. They are particularly aggressive, characterized by a high propensity f...

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Main Authors: Flavia De Lauretis, Alejandro Martin Sanchez, Cristina Accetta, Beatrice Carnassale, Sabatino D’Archi, Alba Di Leone, Antonio Franco, Federica Gagliardi, Stefano Magno, Elena Jane Mason, Francesca Moschella, Lorenzo Scardina, Marta Silenzi, Angela Bucaro, Chiara V. Pirrottina, Nicoletta D’Alessandris, Antonino Mulè, Angela Santoro, Fabio Marazzi, Valeria Masiello, Alessandra Fabi, Armando Orlandi, Antonella Palazzo, Ida Paris, Maria Pia Foschini, Riccardo Masetti, Gianluca Franceschini
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Life
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/4/673
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author Flavia De Lauretis
Alejandro Martin Sanchez
Cristina Accetta
Beatrice Carnassale
Sabatino D’Archi
Alba Di Leone
Antonio Franco
Federica Gagliardi
Stefano Magno
Elena Jane Mason
Francesca Moschella
Lorenzo Scardina
Marta Silenzi
Angela Bucaro
Chiara V. Pirrottina
Nicoletta D’Alessandris
Antonino Mulè
Angela Santoro
Fabio Marazzi
Valeria Masiello
Alessandra Fabi
Armando Orlandi
Antonella Palazzo
Ida Paris
Maria Pia Foschini
Riccardo Masetti
Gianluca Franceschini
author_facet Flavia De Lauretis
Alejandro Martin Sanchez
Cristina Accetta
Beatrice Carnassale
Sabatino D’Archi
Alba Di Leone
Antonio Franco
Federica Gagliardi
Stefano Magno
Elena Jane Mason
Francesca Moschella
Lorenzo Scardina
Marta Silenzi
Angela Bucaro
Chiara V. Pirrottina
Nicoletta D’Alessandris
Antonino Mulè
Angela Santoro
Fabio Marazzi
Valeria Masiello
Alessandra Fabi
Armando Orlandi
Antonella Palazzo
Ida Paris
Maria Pia Foschini
Riccardo Masetti
Gianluca Franceschini
author_sort Flavia De Lauretis
collection DOAJ
description Mesenchymal tumors of the breast constitute a rare and heterogeneous group of neoplasms, representing only 0.5% to 1% of all breast tumors. Originating from mesenchymal tissues, these tumors include various histological subtypes. They are particularly aggressive, characterized by a high propensity for local recurrence and an overall poor prognosis. The rarity of these cases has impeded the development of comprehensive clinical studies, leading to a lack of standardized diagnostic protocols and treatment guidelines. This review provides a thorough synthesis of current knowledge on breast mesenchymal tumors with a specific focus on malignant variants such as phyllodes tumors and breast sarcomas. It also addresses the diagnostic challenges faced by clinicians, evaluates current therapeutic strategies, and emphasizes the crucial role of surgical treatment. Additionally, it examines the evolving roles of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in enhancing patient outcomes.
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spelling doaj-art-81ad59525e2e4f2e909df2c053fc5d8b2025-08-20T02:28:24ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292025-04-0115467310.3390/life15040673Malignant Mesenchymal Tumors of the Breast: Current Challenges and New Perspectives on Primary Sarcomas and Malignant Phyllodes TumorsFlavia De Lauretis0Alejandro Martin Sanchez1Cristina Accetta2Beatrice Carnassale3Sabatino D’Archi4Alba Di Leone5Antonio Franco6Federica Gagliardi7Stefano Magno8Elena Jane Mason9Francesca Moschella10Lorenzo Scardina11Marta Silenzi12Angela Bucaro13Chiara V. Pirrottina14Nicoletta D’Alessandris15Antonino Mulè16Angela Santoro17Fabio Marazzi18Valeria Masiello19Alessandra Fabi20Armando Orlandi21Antonella Palazzo22Ida Paris23Maria Pia Foschini24Riccardo Masetti25Gianluca Franceschini26Multidisciplinary Breast Center, Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyMultidisciplinary Breast Center, Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyMultidisciplinary Breast Center, Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyMultidisciplinary Breast Center, Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyMultidisciplinary Breast Center, Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyMultidisciplinary Breast Center, Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyMultidisciplinary Breast Center, Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyMultidisciplinary Breast Center, Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyMultidisciplinary Breast Center, Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyBreast Surgery, Center for Women’s and Newborn Health, Isola Tiberina Hospital, Gemelli Isola, 00153 Rome, ItalyMultidisciplinary Breast Center, Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyMultidisciplinary Breast Center, Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyMultidisciplinary Breast Center, Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyMultidisciplinary Breast Center, Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyMultidisciplinary Breast Center, Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyUnità di Ginecopatologia e Patologia Mammaria, Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyUnità di Ginecopatologia e Patologia Mammaria, Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyUnità di Ginecopatologia e Patologia Mammaria, Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyDivision of Radiotherapy, Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyDivision of Radiotherapy, Dipartimento di Diagnostica per Immagini, Radioterapia Oncologica ed Ematologia, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyMultidisciplinary Breast Center, Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyDivision of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyDivision of Medical Oncology, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyMultidisciplinary Breast Center, Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyBreast Unit, Bellaria Hospital, AUSL Bologna, Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, ItalyMultidisciplinary Breast Center, Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyMultidisciplinary Breast Center, Dipartimento Scienze della Salute della Donna e del Bambino e di Sanità Pubblica, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, ItalyMesenchymal tumors of the breast constitute a rare and heterogeneous group of neoplasms, representing only 0.5% to 1% of all breast tumors. Originating from mesenchymal tissues, these tumors include various histological subtypes. They are particularly aggressive, characterized by a high propensity for local recurrence and an overall poor prognosis. The rarity of these cases has impeded the development of comprehensive clinical studies, leading to a lack of standardized diagnostic protocols and treatment guidelines. This review provides a thorough synthesis of current knowledge on breast mesenchymal tumors with a specific focus on malignant variants such as phyllodes tumors and breast sarcomas. It also addresses the diagnostic challenges faced by clinicians, evaluates current therapeutic strategies, and emphasizes the crucial role of surgical treatment. Additionally, it examines the evolving roles of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in enhancing patient outcomes.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/4/673mesenchymal tumorsbreast neoplasmsphyllodes tumorsbreast sarcomastherapeutic approachessurgical treatment
spellingShingle Flavia De Lauretis
Alejandro Martin Sanchez
Cristina Accetta
Beatrice Carnassale
Sabatino D’Archi
Alba Di Leone
Antonio Franco
Federica Gagliardi
Stefano Magno
Elena Jane Mason
Francesca Moschella
Lorenzo Scardina
Marta Silenzi
Angela Bucaro
Chiara V. Pirrottina
Nicoletta D’Alessandris
Antonino Mulè
Angela Santoro
Fabio Marazzi
Valeria Masiello
Alessandra Fabi
Armando Orlandi
Antonella Palazzo
Ida Paris
Maria Pia Foschini
Riccardo Masetti
Gianluca Franceschini
Malignant Mesenchymal Tumors of the Breast: Current Challenges and New Perspectives on Primary Sarcomas and Malignant Phyllodes Tumors
Life
mesenchymal tumors
breast neoplasms
phyllodes tumors
breast sarcomas
therapeutic approaches
surgical treatment
title Malignant Mesenchymal Tumors of the Breast: Current Challenges and New Perspectives on Primary Sarcomas and Malignant Phyllodes Tumors
title_full Malignant Mesenchymal Tumors of the Breast: Current Challenges and New Perspectives on Primary Sarcomas and Malignant Phyllodes Tumors
title_fullStr Malignant Mesenchymal Tumors of the Breast: Current Challenges and New Perspectives on Primary Sarcomas and Malignant Phyllodes Tumors
title_full_unstemmed Malignant Mesenchymal Tumors of the Breast: Current Challenges and New Perspectives on Primary Sarcomas and Malignant Phyllodes Tumors
title_short Malignant Mesenchymal Tumors of the Breast: Current Challenges and New Perspectives on Primary Sarcomas and Malignant Phyllodes Tumors
title_sort malignant mesenchymal tumors of the breast current challenges and new perspectives on primary sarcomas and malignant phyllodes tumors
topic mesenchymal tumors
breast neoplasms
phyllodes tumors
breast sarcomas
therapeutic approaches
surgical treatment
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/4/673
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