Background: Metaplastic breast carcinoma (MBC) is a rare and aggressive subtype of breast cancer. In Vietnam, the clinical and pathological spectrum and outcomes of MBC remain poorly understood. Objective: We aimed to elucidate the clinicopathological features, treatment strategies, and outcomes of MBC in a Vietnamese cohort. Methods: This retrospective multicenter study included patients diagnosed with MBC across Ho Chi Minh City Oncology Hospital and Military Hospital 175 in Vietnam from January 2016 to December 2019. Data on demographic characteristics, tumor pathology, treatment modalities, and clinical outcomes were collected. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 25. Results: The study involved 43 patients, predominantly treated with surgery and adjuvant therapies (chemotherapy 76.7%, radiotherapy 55.8%). Most tumors were triple-negative and poorly differentiated, reflecting more aggressive disease. Larger tumor size (>5 cm) significantly correlated with poorer survival (hazard ratio 8.3, 95% CI: 2.6–26.8, P < 0.001). The overall progression or recurrence rate was 27.9%, with a median time to progression of 5.5 months. Adjuvant therapies were associated with improved survival rates, particularly in smaller tumors. Conclusion: MBC in Vietnam presents with aggressive characteristics and poor prognosis, with larger tumor sizes significantly impacting survival. Early and comprehensive treatment, including surgery and adjuvant therapies, is crucial. The study underscores the need for further research with larger cohorts to develop optimized treatment protocols for MBC in Vietnam.
Duc et al. (2025) studied this question.