Prognostic Markers of Microinvasive Breast Carcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Microinvasive breast carcinoma is an infiltrating carcinoma that measures ≤1 mm. The prognostic factors associated with this disease have not been extensively investigated. In this study, we aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the prognostic factors of microinvasive breast carcinoma. From 618 screened records, 5 were selected. The meta-analyses found a significant association between lymph node status and prognosis. No significant prognostic impacts were found for the following factors: estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, HER2 status, multifocality or grade of microinvasion, or patient’s age. Therefore, the data obtained demonstrate that lymph node status is a main prognostic factor of microinvasive breast carcinoma. ABSTRACT: (1) Background: The prognostic factors of microinvasive (≤1 mm) breast carcinoma are not completely clear. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify these factors. (2) Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology was followed. Two databases were interrogated, PubMed and Embase, and papers in English were included to address this question. The selected studies were those that reported on female patients affected by microinvasive carcinoma, and on prognostic factors with a hazard ratio (HR) for disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). (3) Results: In total, 618 records were identified. After removing duplicates (166), identification, and screening (336 by title and abstract alone, 116 by full text and eventual supplementary material), 5 papers were selected. Seven different meta-analyses were conducted in this study, all referring to DFS, analyzing the following prognostic factors: estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, HER2 status, multifocality and grade of microinvasion, patient’s age, and lymph node status. Only lymph node status was associated with prognosis and DFS (total number of cases: 1528; Z = 1.94; p = 0.05). The other factors examined did not significantly affect prognosis (p > 0.05). (4) Conclusions: Positive lymph node status significantly worsens prognosis in patients with microinvasive breast carcinoma.