Spontaneous regression of breast cancer with immune response: a case report

Abstract Background Spontaneous regression (SR) is a rare phenomenon in which a cancer disappears or remits without treatment. We report a case of breast cancer that showed spontaneous tumor regression in the surgical specimen after core needle biopsy. Case presentation A 59-year-old woman came to o...

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Main Authors: Masahiro Ohara, Yumiko Koi, Tatsunari Sasada, Keiko Kajitani, Seishi Mizuno, Ai Takata, Atsuko Okamoto, Ikuko Nagata, Mie Sumita, Kaita Imachi, Mayumi Watanabe, Yutaka Daimaru, Shingo Kawamura
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Japan Surgical Society 2021-01-01
Series:Surgical Case Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40792-020-01103-5
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author Masahiro Ohara
Yumiko Koi
Tatsunari Sasada
Keiko Kajitani
Seishi Mizuno
Ai Takata
Atsuko Okamoto
Ikuko Nagata
Mie Sumita
Kaita Imachi
Mayumi Watanabe
Yutaka Daimaru
Shingo Kawamura
author_facet Masahiro Ohara
Yumiko Koi
Tatsunari Sasada
Keiko Kajitani
Seishi Mizuno
Ai Takata
Atsuko Okamoto
Ikuko Nagata
Mie Sumita
Kaita Imachi
Mayumi Watanabe
Yutaka Daimaru
Shingo Kawamura
author_sort Masahiro Ohara
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Spontaneous regression (SR) is a rare phenomenon in which a cancer disappears or remits without treatment. We report a case of breast cancer that showed spontaneous tumor regression in the surgical specimen after core needle biopsy. Case presentation A 59-year-old woman came to our hospital complaining of a painful lump in the right breast. In the upper-outer quadrant of the right breast, a tumor with an unclear boundary, 30 mm in diameter, was palpable. In pathological findings from needle biopsy, the tumor was diagnosed as solid-type invasive ductal breast carcinoma. Partial coagulation necrosis was generated in estrogen receptor-negative, HER2-negative, and AE1/AE3-positive ductal carcinoma without infiltration of lymphocytes. Surgery for right breast cancer was then performed. Histological examination of the surgical specimen revealed the tumor was invasive ductal carcinoma with lymphocyte infiltration, coagulation necrosis, and fibrous tissue with hemosiderin. The tumor formed a solid nest, 3 mm in diameter, suggesting the possibility of SR. Conclusions Immune responses, infection, hormones, surgical stress, and ischemia have been reported as mechanisms of SR. The findings in this case strongly suggest that SR of breast cancer is associated with anti-tumor immune responses.
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spelling doaj-art-fe3a4f58a5e148649dacf4a3ea33efb02025-08-20T02:49:20ZengJapan Surgical SocietySurgical Case Reports2198-77932021-01-01711610.1186/s40792-020-01103-5Spontaneous regression of breast cancer with immune response: a case reportMasahiro Ohara0Yumiko Koi1Tatsunari Sasada2Keiko Kajitani3Seishi Mizuno4Ai Takata5Atsuko Okamoto6Ikuko Nagata7Mie Sumita8Kaita Imachi9Mayumi Watanabe10Yutaka Daimaru11Shingo Kawamura12Department of Breast Surgery, Hiroshima General HospitalDepartment of Breast Surgery, Hiroshima General HospitalDepartment of Breast Surgery, Hiroshima General HospitalDepartment of Breast Surgery, Hiroshima General HospitalSection of Pathological Research and Laboratory, Hiroshima General HospitalSection of Pathological Research and Laboratory, Hiroshima General HospitalSection of Pathological Research and Laboratory, Hiroshima General HospitalSection of Pathological Research and Laboratory, Hiroshima General HospitalSection of Pathological Research and Laboratory, Hiroshima General HospitalSection of Pathological Research and Laboratory, Hiroshima General HospitalSection of Pathological Research and Laboratory, Hiroshima General HospitalSection of Pathological Research and Laboratory, Hiroshima General HospitalSuzumine Imanaka ClinicAbstract Background Spontaneous regression (SR) is a rare phenomenon in which a cancer disappears or remits without treatment. We report a case of breast cancer that showed spontaneous tumor regression in the surgical specimen after core needle biopsy. Case presentation A 59-year-old woman came to our hospital complaining of a painful lump in the right breast. In the upper-outer quadrant of the right breast, a tumor with an unclear boundary, 30 mm in diameter, was palpable. In pathological findings from needle biopsy, the tumor was diagnosed as solid-type invasive ductal breast carcinoma. Partial coagulation necrosis was generated in estrogen receptor-negative, HER2-negative, and AE1/AE3-positive ductal carcinoma without infiltration of lymphocytes. Surgery for right breast cancer was then performed. Histological examination of the surgical specimen revealed the tumor was invasive ductal carcinoma with lymphocyte infiltration, coagulation necrosis, and fibrous tissue with hemosiderin. The tumor formed a solid nest, 3 mm in diameter, suggesting the possibility of SR. Conclusions Immune responses, infection, hormones, surgical stress, and ischemia have been reported as mechanisms of SR. The findings in this case strongly suggest that SR of breast cancer is associated with anti-tumor immune responses.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40792-020-01103-5Breast cancerSpontaneous regressionImmunogenic cell death
spellingShingle Masahiro Ohara
Yumiko Koi
Tatsunari Sasada
Keiko Kajitani
Seishi Mizuno
Ai Takata
Atsuko Okamoto
Ikuko Nagata
Mie Sumita
Kaita Imachi
Mayumi Watanabe
Yutaka Daimaru
Shingo Kawamura
Spontaneous regression of breast cancer with immune response: a case report
Surgical Case Reports
Breast cancer
Spontaneous regression
Immunogenic cell death
title Spontaneous regression of breast cancer with immune response: a case report
title_full Spontaneous regression of breast cancer with immune response: a case report
title_fullStr Spontaneous regression of breast cancer with immune response: a case report
title_full_unstemmed Spontaneous regression of breast cancer with immune response: a case report
title_short Spontaneous regression of breast cancer with immune response: a case report
title_sort spontaneous regression of breast cancer with immune response a case report
topic Breast cancer
Spontaneous regression
Immunogenic cell death
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40792-020-01103-5
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