Case report: Characterization of the immunologic and molecular landscape in a unique presentation of invasive lobular carcinoma with concurrent uterine carcinosarcoma treated with immunotherapy

Front Immunol. 2024 Jul 15:15:1422342. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1422342. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC) is characterized by a relatively high risk for late recurrence and a unique metastatic pattern with an increased risk for metastasis to gynecologic organs and peritoneum. We present a unique case of recurrent ILC with metastasis to the abdominal peritoneum as well as the uterine myometrium and cervix. Treatment was complicated by the discovery of concomitant uterine carcinosarcoma. This patient was effectively treated with a combination of hormonal therapy for her metastatic ILC and a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy for uterine carcinosarcoma. Molecular evaluation revealed a characteristic CDH1 mutation within the ILC and a PI3KCA mutation within the uterine carcinosarcoma, both of which have been linked to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions. Examination of the tumor immune microenvironment revealed proportionally more cytotoxic NK cells. This robust immune infiltration may be an indicator of the response to immunotherapy observed in this tumor or a result of the metastatic breast cancer within the uterus. This report provides a characterization of the molecular and immunologic landscape in this case with metastatic ILC and uterine carcinosarcoma.

Keywords: NK cell (NKC); carcinosarcoma; epithelial to mesenchymal (EMT); immunotherapy; lobular breast cancer.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, CD / genetics
  • Antigens, CD / immunology
  • Breast Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms* / immunology
  • Breast Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Cadherins / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Lobular* / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Lobular* / immunology
  • Carcinoma, Lobular* / secondary
  • Carcinoma, Lobular* / therapy
  • Carcinosarcoma* / genetics
  • Carcinosarcoma* / immunology
  • Carcinosarcoma* / therapy
  • Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / genetics
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy* / methods
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology
  • Uterine Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Uterine Neoplasms* / immunology
  • Uterine Neoplasms* / pathology
  • Uterine Neoplasms* / therapy

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • CDH1 protein, human
  • Class I Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases
  • PIK3CA protein, human
  • Cadherins

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare that no financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.