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Updated: Jul 10, 2026
Building Up a High-throughput Screening Platform to Assess the Heterogeneity of HER2 Gene Amplification in Breast Cancers
Published on: December 5, 2017
[Invasive lobular carcinoma: Clinicopathologic and biological insights]
Lounes Djerroudi1, Rigleta Brahimaj2, Ahmad El Sabeh-Ayoun2
1Pôle médecine diagnostique et théranostique, service de pathologie, institut Curie, institut des cancers des femmes, 26, rue d'ULM, 75005 Paris, France; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York City, États-Unis.
Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), a distinct breast cancer subtype, is characterized by E-cadherin loss and unique metastatic patterns. This review synthesizes current knowledge to guide diagnosis and targeted therapies.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pathology
- Genetics
Background:
- Invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC) is the second most common breast cancer subtype, distinct from invasive carcinoma of no special type.
- ILC is defined by E-cadherin loss (CDH1 gene inactivation), leading to discohesive tumor cells and characteristic growth patterns.
- ILC exhibits unique metastatic patterns, frequently affecting the peritoneum, meninges, ovaries, and gastrointestinal tract.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize the current diagnostic, biological, and therapeutic landscape of ILC.
- To highlight the need for improved diagnostic reproducibility and standardization in ILC pathology.
- To discuss the potential for ILC-directed targeted therapies based on recent biological findings.
Main Methods:
- Literature review synthesizing current diagnostic criteria for ILC.
- Analysis of biological features specific to ILC.
- Overview of emerging therapeutic strategies for ILC.
- Discussion of recommendations for diagnostic standardization, including immunohistochemistry use.
Main Results:
- ILC possesses distinct clinicopathologic and biological features compared to other breast cancers.
- Diagnostic reproducibility for ILC remains a challenge, necessitating standardized practices.
- Recent research has identified lobular-specific biological features that support targeted therapy development.
- The European Lobular Breast Cancer Consortium advocates for standardized diagnostic practices in 2024.
Conclusions:
- ILC requires specific diagnostic and therapeutic approaches due to its unique biology.
- Standardization of diagnostic practices, including immunohistochemistry, is crucial for improving ILC patient care.
- Further research into ILC's biological features holds promise for developing effective targeted therapies.
