This article is an open-access article which was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Xiang-Xin Zheng, Peng Yang, Chao Huang, Zhi-Feng Chen, Nan-Gan Xu, Ming-Ming Tian, Xiao-Chao Zhu, Xiao-Qing Guan, Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Jiangsu Province (Suqian) Hospital/The Suqian Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian 223800, Jiangsu Province, China
Sai Zhou, Department of Infection Management, Jiangsu Province (Suqian) Hospital/The Suqian Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, Suqian 223800, Jiangsu Province, China
Supported by: Special Research Project of The First People's Hospital of Suqian City, Jiangsu Province, No. KY202315.
Corresponding author: Xiao-Qing Guan, Professor, Chief Physician, Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Jiangsu Province (Suqian) Hospital/The Suqian Clinical College of Xuzhou Medical University, No. 120 Suzhi Road, Suqian 223800, Jiangsu Province, China. guan_dr@163.com
Received: May 6, 2026 Revised: June 11, 2026 Accepted: July 2, 2026 Published online: July 28, 2026
The bone, liver, lung, and central nervous system are the most common sites of distant metastasis in breast cancer. Gastrointestinal metastasis (GIM) represents a rare but distinctive metastatic subtype, characterized by a low incidence yet an extremely poor prognosis. Clinical data indicate an overall incidence of approximately 3%-8%, with autopsy detection rates reaching 15%-25%. Notably, invasive lobular carcinoma accounts for 70%-90% of GIM cases, highlighting a marked difference from invasive ductal carcinoma. GIM presents with insidious clinical manifestations and non-specific symptoms, and its endoscopic and imaging features are frequently indistinguishable from those of primary gastrointestinal tumors. The misdiagnosis rate at initial diagnosis exceeds 50%, often leading to inappropriate treatment and delayed optimal intervention. In recent years, with the widespread adoption of molecular pathological diagnostic techniques and the introduction of next-generation antibody-drug conjugates, the paradigm of precise diagnosis and treatment integrating targeted, endocrine, and immunotherapy has continued to evolve. GIM management has transitioned from traditional palliative chemotherapy to individualized comprehensive therapy guided by molecular subtyping, substantially improving both survival outcomes and quality of life in affected patients. Based on a systematic review of authoritative databases including PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library, as well as major international conference proceedings (SABCS, ESMO, ASCO, and CSCO) and the latest guidelines published over the past five years, this article systematically reviews the epidemiological characteristics, clinicopathological features, diagnostic approaches, systemic therapies, local interventions, and prognostic factors of GIM. We summarize key advances and existing challenges in this field, with the aim of providing evidence-based references to inform standardized clinical practice and guide future research directions.
Key Words: Breast cancer; Gastrointestinal metastasis; Invasive lobular carcinoma; Molecular typing; Antibodydrug conjugate; Precise diagnosis and treatment; Targeted therapy
Citation: Zheng XX, Zhou S, Yang P, Huang C, Chen ZF, Xu NG, Tian MM, Zhu XC, Guan XQ. Advances in diagnosis and treatment of gastrointestinal metastases from breast cancer. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2026; 34(7): 535-540
Bray F, Laversanne M, Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Soerjomataram I, Jemal A. Global cancer statistics 2022: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries.CA Cancer J Clin. 2024;74:229-263.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Thill M, Janni W, Albert US, Banys-Paluchowski M, Bartsch R, Bauerfeind I, Bjelic-Radisic V, Blohmer J, Budach W, Dall P, Ditsch N, Fallenberg EM, Fasching PA, Fehm T, Friedrich M, Gerber B, Gluz O, Harbeck N, Hartkopf A, Heil J, Hörner-Rieber J, Huober J, Kreipe HH, Krug D, Kühn T, Kümmel S, Loibl S, Lüftner D, Lux MP, Maass N, Mundhenke C, Reinisch M, Reimer T, Rhiem K, Rody A, Schmidt M, Schneeweiss A, Schütz F, Sinn HP, Solbach C, Solomayer EF, Stickeler E, Thomssen C, Untch M, van Mackelenbergh M, Witzel I, Wöckel A, Würstlein R, Müller V, Park-Simon TW. AGO Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients with Locally Advanced and Metastatic Breast Cancer: Update 2025.Breast Care (Basel). 2025;20:208-219.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Aktas A, Gurleyik MG, Akkus D, Ucur Z, Aker F. Invasive lobular breast carcinoma variants; clinicopathological features and patient outcomes.Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2025;212:347-359.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Peng J, Liu Y, Zhang Y, Yang H, Sun G, Zhu L, Zhao Y. Unmasking hidden metastasis: A case report of gastrointestinal metastasis detected a decade after breast cancer diagnosis.Medicine (Baltimore). 2025;104:e43893.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Karkeabadi N, Omranipour R, Nozheh A, Farazmand B, Esmaeilian S. Invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast with multifocal gastrointestinal, ovarian, and peritoneal metastases: a case report.J Med Case Rep. 2026;20:194.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Wehbe S, Firkins SA, Sweeney JR, Moore HCF, Rouphael C. Covert Breast Cancer Metastasis to the Gastrointestinal Tract: Is Extra Vigilance Needed?ACG Case Rep J. 2025;12:e01582.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Wang S, Li W, Li S, Liu X, Zhang L, Hao C, Meng W, Zhao W, Tong Z. Clinicopathological Features and Prognosis of Gastrointestinal Metastases From Breast Carcinoma: A Clinicopathological Study of 22 Patients.Int J Surg Pathol. 2023;31:1075-1084.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Pouptsis A, Cano Gimeno J, Martinez Rubio C, Bañuls Marrades M, Olivan Sasot P. Metastatic Occult Primary Lobular Breast Cancer: A Case Report.Cureus. 2024;16:e58586.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Sun TT, Liu FG. The analysis about the metastases to Gastrointestinal tract: a literature review, 2000-2023.Front Oncol. 2025;15:1552932.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Lyu Z, Fei J, Zhang L, Liu Y. Gastric metastasis arising from invasive ductal and mucinous carcinoma of the breast: a case report and literature review.Front Oncol. 2025;15:1576874.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Yoo KC, Kim DH, Park S, Yun H, Ryu DH, Lee J, Son SM. Gastric Metastasis Mimicking Early Gastric Cancer from Invasive Ductal Carcinoma of the Breast: Case Report and Literature Review.Medicina (Kaunas). 2024;60:980.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Zhu L, Li J, Yang L, Li T, Zhang P, Li P, Hong Y. Multiple gastrointestinal metastases in de novo invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast: A case report and literature review.SAGE Open Med Case Rep. 2026;14:2050313X261417159.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Katuwal B, Morin D, Kolachalam R. Gastrointestinal tract metastasis with subsequent intussusception and obstruction from an invasive lobular breast cancer: a case report.J Surg Case Rep. 2023;2023:rjac623.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Owaki T, Hashimoto S, Umezu H, Terai S. Delayed and Synchronous Recurrence of Breast Cancer Metastases in Multiple Organs.Intern Med. 2022;61:3355-3359.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Zengel B, Çavdar D, Özdemir Ö, Taşlı F, Karataş M, Şimşek C, Uslu A. Gastrointestinal Tract Metastases of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma of the Breast: An Immunohistochemical Survey Algorithm.Eur J Breast Health. 2022;18:375-380.
[PubMed] [DOI]
van Bekkum S, Menke-Pluijmers MBE, Westenend PJ. Gastric metastasis of breast cancer: A frequent mimicker of primary gastric cancer in breast cancer patients.JGH Open. 2022;6:804-808.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Sun L, Liu J, Guo M, Xu J, Wang D. First diagnosed invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast combined with gastric metastasis and bone metastasis: a case report and review of the literature.BMC Womens Health. 2023;23:133.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Namikawa T, Yokota K, Maeda H, Kitagawa H, Tamura M, Satake H, Sugimoto T, Kobayashi M, Hanazaki K, Seo S. Gastric and Bone Metastases Arising from Invasive Lobular Carcinoma With Ductal Carcinoma Occurring in one Breast Synchronously.Anticancer Res. 2023;43:3701-3707.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Wang BQ, Fang XG, Xiang BH, Wang XJ, Cao M, Zhuang CL, Liu ZC, Wang Z. Metastasizing to the colon from triple-negative breast cancer: A case report and review of literature.World J Gastrointest Oncol. 2025;17:103328.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Matteucci M, Barone G, Zampino L, Codecà C, Dinuzzi VP, Battista A, Rivolta U, Yen M, Galliano M, Bertoglio CL. Colonic metastasis from breast carcinoma: A case report and systematic review of a rare clinical scenario.Int J Colorectal Dis. 2026;41:61.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Alsobahi NA, Mohammed TA. Small bowel obstruction as first presentation of metastatic lobular breast cancer for pilgrim patient.Int J Surg Case Rep. 2024;120:109855.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Radhakrishnan L, Mukherjee R, Singh BK, Maheswari Y, Dharmashaktu Y, Krishna A, Seenu V. Isolated Ileocecal Metastasis from Lobular Carcinoma of the Breast: A Case Report.Eur J Breast Health. 2025;22:102-105.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Da Cunha T, Restrepo D, Abi-Saleh S, Dharan M. Breast cancer metastasizing to the upper gastrointestinal tract (the esophagus and the stomach): A comprehensive review of the literature.World J Gastrointest Oncol. 2023;15:1332-1341.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Shin D, Sun H, Mantri N, Patel H. Gastric Metastasis 5 Years after Primary Invasive Lobular Adenocarcinoma of the Breast.Case Rep Gastroenterol. 2023;17:221-227.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Martín-Quesada AI, Martín-Abreu C. Advances in the management of metastatic lobular breast cancer: Current evidence and emerging treatments.Semin Oncol. 2026;53:152466.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Kartotaroeno J, Bastid C, Puppa G. Gastric Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma Metastasis From Lobular Breast Cancer: A Diagnostic Pitfall.Cureus. 2024;16:e59919.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Faraz A, Kowalczyk S, Hendrixson M. Diffuse Gastrointestinal Metastasis From Breast Cancer: A Case Report and Literature Review.Cureus. 2024;16:e63608.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Watanabe Y, Horimoto Y, Takahashi Y, Murakami F, Yamada M, Yamazaki S, Ishido Y. A Gastric Metastatic Lesion That Resembled Early-Stage Gastric Cancer on Endoscopy during Treatment for Recurrent Breast Cancer: A Case Report.Case Rep Oncol. 2021;14:1719-1724.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Dilawar H, Ahmed A, Habib S, Iqbal J, Abdul Rehman T, Hadi I, Nisa N, Fatima S. Gastric Metastasis from Invasive Lobular Breast Cancer, Resembling Primary Gastric Cancer.J Nucl Med Technol. 2024;52:68-70.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Hirano K, Nomura K, Ochiai Y, Hayasaka J, Suzuki Y, Mitsunaga Y, Odagiri H, Masui A, Kikuchi D, Hoteya S. Metastatic Gastric Tumors: Clinical and Endoscopic Features.Cureus. 2024;16:e58678.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Gandhi C, Chavan R, Patel M, Solanki R, Prajapati M, Bhatt D, Rajput S. Combined endoscopic and laparoscopic anastomosis with lumen-apposing metal stent for treatment of obstructed gastrojejunal anastomotic malignancy.Endoscopy. 2024;56:E536-E537.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Wang HX, Yin YM, Hu XC. Expert consensus on BRCA1/2 gene testing and clinical application in Chinese breast cancer patients (2025 edition).China Oncol. 2025;35:710-734.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Turner NC, Im SA, Saura C, Juric D, Loibl S, Kalinsky K, Schmid P, Loi S, Sunpaweravong P, Musolino A, Li H, Zhang Q, Nowecki Z, Leung R, Thanopoulou E, Shankar N, Lei G, Stout TJ, Hutchinson KE, Schutzman JL, Song C, Jhaveri KL. Inavolisib-Based Therapy in PIK3CA-Mutated Advanced Breast Cancer.N Engl J Med. 2024;391:1584-1596.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Nicolazzo C, Barault L, Caponnetto S, De Renzi G, Belardinilli F, Bottillo I, Bargiacchi S, Macagno M, Grammatico P, Giannini G, Cortesi E, Di Nicolantonio F, Gazzaniga P. True conversions from RAS mutant to RAS wild-type in circulating tumor DNA from metastatic colorectal cancer patients as assessed by methylation and mutational signature.Cancer Lett. 2021;507:89-96.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Sasaki A, Masuda S, Yoshioka T, Saito A, Motomura Y. Therapeutic Effects of CDK4/6 Inhibitors in Gastric and Colonic Metastases From Breast Cancer: A Case Report.Cureus. 2024;16:e52765.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Cejalvo Andújar JM, Ayala de la Peña F, Margeli Vila M, Pascual J, Tolosa P, Pages C, Cuenca M, Guerrero Zotano Á. Optimizing therapeutic approaches for HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer: clinical perspectives on biomarkers and treatment strategies post-CDK4/6 inhibitor progression.Cancer Drug Resist. 2025;8:5.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Huppert LA, Mahtani R, Fisch S, Dempsey N, Premji S, Raimonde A, Jacob S, Quintal L, Melisko M, Chien J, Sandoval A, Carcas L, Ahluwalia M, Harpalani N, Hoppenworth J, Blaes A, Blum K, Kim MO, Idossa D, Rao R, Giridhar KV, Rugo HS. Multicenter retrospective cohort study of the sequential use of the antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) and sacituzumab govitecan (SG) in patients with HER2-low metastatic breast cancer (MBC).NPJ Breast Cancer. 2025;11:34.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Siena S, Chalabi M, Goodwin R, Osterlund P, Penault-Llorca F, Sartore-Bianchi A, Starling N, Stintzing S, Tabernero J. Diagnosis and treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive metastatic colorectal cancer: a systematic literature review.Cancer Treat Rev. 2026;144:103097.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Wu R, Chen X, Li T, Zhang Y, Ling X. Efficacy analysis of disitamab vedotin (RC-48) in the treatment of HER2-low metastatic breast cancer: a case report.Front Oncol. 2026;16:1652716.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Zhu L, Xing Y, Wang M. Triple-negative invasive lobular carcinoma presenting with synchronous gastric metastasis: A case report.Oncol Lett. 2025;30:496.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Ávila L, Branco T, Leandro H, Silva R, Mendes R, Coelho F. Ileocecal Valve Metastasis Inducing Cecal Volvulus in a Patient With Lobular Breast Cancer: A Rare Cause of Bowel Obstruction.Cureus. 2024;16:e73345.
[PubMed] [DOI]
Bolzacchini E, Nigro O, Inversini D, Giordano M, Maconi G. Intestinal metastasis from breast cancer: Presentation, treatment and survival from a systematic literature review.World J Clin Oncol. 2021;12:382-392.
[PubMed] [DOI]