Comparison of DNA content, S-phase fraction, and survival between medullary and ductal carcinoma of the breast.

Medullary carcinoma (MC) of the breast has been regarded as a subtype of breast carcinoma with a relatively favorable prognosis despite its high nuclear grade and high mitotic index. High nuclear grade and high mitotic index have been correlated with DNA aneuploidy and high S-phase fraction (SPF) by flow cytometry. Generally in breast cancer, these histologic and DNA content features predict a less favorable prognosis. To address this paradox, all cases of MC of the breast (20 of 1,365 carcinomas [1.5%]) diagnosed between 1968 and 1982 were compared to age- and stage-matched cases of infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) diagnosed during the same time period. All of the MC and 80% of the IDC had one or more DNA aneuploid stem lines. Average total SPF was 8.1% for MC and 4.8% for IDC. DNA analysis was performed from paraffin blocks (average CV: 4.5% DNA diploid; 4.1% DNA aneuploid), and subjected to computer modeled analysis. Statistically significant differences between presence or absence of DNA aneuploidy (P = .035) and total SPF (P = .029) were demonstrated between the two groups. Thirteen of 20 patients (65%) with MC (average followup 130 months) were alive at the end of the study period compared to 12 of 20 patients (60%) with IDC (average follow-up 160 months). The difference in crude survival was not statistically significant (P = .867). However, there was a tendency toward early death in MC and late death in IDC. Within the TNM stage-matched patients, no significant difference was demonstrated for tumor size or nodal status when these variables were examined separately. In conclusion, statistically significant differences in DNA content and proliferative fraction exist between medullary carcinoma of the breast and ductal carcinoma. The biologic and clinical differences demonstrated in this analysis warrant careful consideration before including cases of medullary carcinoma in studies evaluating newer prognostic variables in breast cancer.