A rare presentation of triple-negative apocrine breast carcinoma with metastases

Abstract

Apocrine breast carcinoma is a rare subtype of the invasive ductal carcinoma and accounts for as little as 0.3-1% of all breast cancers. It is usually positive for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) and negative for both estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor. Here we present an exceptionally rare case of apocrine breast carcinoma that is a triple receptor negative with metastases and to our knowledge this is the first published case. This is a significant finding because it implies that the tumor would not respond to the typical hormonal agents. This case highlights the need for studies to elucidate better treatment strategies for these types of patients.