[Spindle-cell carcinoma of the breast]

A case of spindle-cell carcinoma of the mammary gland in a young woman is described. The histology of the tumor was rather peculiar and characterized by the presence of two components: epithelial, consisting of polygonal polymorph cells with a trend to squamous-cell differentiation, and sarcoma-like, consisting of spindle-shaped cells. Transitional forms between cells of both components were found. At the ultrastructural level, cells of the epithelial and sarcoma-like components showed signs of their appurtenance to the squamous epithelium: crude bundles of tonofilaments in the cytoplasm combined with well-developed desmosomes between cells. The clinical course of the disease was characterized by a rapid progression, positive Abelev's test for alpha-phetoprotein, the lack of the tumor sensitivity to a broad spectrum of chemotherapy drugs.