Molecular and Biological Features of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma: Toward New Treatment Strategies

Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the second most common type of invasive breast cancer, following invasive breast cancer of no special type (IBC-NST). Due to the absence of cell adhesion factors, ILC is characterized by reduced cell adhesion and a linear or single-cell growth pattern. As a result, previous studies have frequently reported that ILC tends to spread more extensively than preoperative imaging evaluations suggest, often presents with multicentric lesions, and exhibits distinct recurrence and metastasis patterns compared with conventional invasive breast cancer.

We conducted a comprehensive literature search in PubMed, and performed a full-text screening for articles that met the inclusion criteria. Key information from each eligible study, including study design, population characteristics, primary outcomes, and conclusions were extracted.

Recent translational research has identified several genes and molecular pathways associated with ILC progression and metastasis, with particular focus on the role of cancer-associated fibroblasts and the tumor microenvironment, including tumor-infiltrating immune cells.

While no specific treatment strategy for ILC has been established, its clinical, molecular, and morphological characteristics differ from those of IBC-NST, highlighting the need to develop targeted treatment approaches for ILC. This review examined the clinical, molecular, and morphological characteristics of ILC from a clinical perspective, incorporating recent findings from translational research.