Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare malignancy, representing less than 1% of all breast cancer cases. Despite the rising incidence, MBC research remains limited, with most data extrapolated from female breast cancer (FBC). This study evaluated the clinicopathological features, treatment strategies, and survival outcomes of MBC patients in Portugal over two decades.

A retrospective analysis of MBC cases from the Portuguese National Oncology registry (2001-2021) was conducted. Clinicopathological features, therapeutic strategies, and overall survival (OS) were assessed across three disease categories: localized, locally advanced, and metastatic. Hormone receptor status, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression, and Ki-67 index were recorded, and survival was estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods.

A total of 620 MBC cases were included with median age at diagnosis 68 years (interquartile range: 60-77). Localized disease accounted for 60.3% of the cases, locally advanced for 24.5%, and metastatic 15.2%. Most tumours were invasive carcinoma of no special type (86%), and hormone receptor-positive (estrogen receptor: 96.6%; progesterone receptor: 85.6%). HER2 -disease was noted in 11.6% of cases and triple-negative in 1.6%. Mastectomy was the primary surgical intervention while tamoxifen was the most widely used adjuvant endocrine therapy-exemestane therapy (A-ET). ET was the most prescribed first-line therapy. Median OS was 86 months for localized, 70 months for locally advanced, and 41 months for metastatic disease.

This study highlights the unique challenges of MBC, including late-stage diagnoses and reliance on FBC-derived protocols. Findings suggest an urgent need for male-specific clinical trials and molecular research to optimise treatment and outcome. In Portugal increased awareness and early detection initiatives will be important to advance MBC care.

Breast cancer is predominantly recognized as a condition affecting women, however, male breast cancer (MBC), despite its rarity, represents a significant and serious malignancy in men. Accounting for approximately 1% of all breast cancer cases, MBC is often diagnosed at a later stage compared to female breast cancer, primarily due to a lack of awareness and the absence of screening programs tailored for men. This delayed diagnosis typically results in poorer prognoses and more limited treatment options. Over the past decade, there has been a notable increase in research and awareness surrounding MBC. This surge is largely driven by the recognition of its unique epidemiological and biological characteristics, which are distinct from those of female breast cancer. However, due to its low incidence, many aspects of MBC, including its etiology, clinical presentation, and optimal treatment strategies, remain inadequately understood. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive review of MBC by examining its incidence, mortality rates, and epidemiological characteristics on a global scale. Additionally, it explores the economic burden associated with the disease, identifies key risk factors, and discusses current preventive measures. Finally, the paper will offer insights into future research directions and potential advancements in the diagnosis and treatment of MBC.

Background/Objectives: Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare malignancy with a globally rising incidence. Due to the paucity of specific evidence, therapeutic strategies are often extrapolated from female breast cancer guidelines. The quality of life (QoL) among MBC patients remains underexplored. Methods: This single-institution retrospective study analyzed male patients who underwent surgery for newly diagnosed breast cancer at our institution from 1998 to 2020. The primary aim was to assess QoL after surgical and medical treatments using a newly developed 12-item dedicated questionnaire. Clinicopathological features were recorded, and oncological and survival outcomes were evaluated, with a specific focus on identifying factors influencing QoL. Results: A total of 109 consecutive MBC patients who underwent surgery were included, with 96.3% undergoing total mastectomy. The median global QoL score was 28.5 out of 36, where scores above 24 indicated a low impact of BC treatments on QoL. Multivariate analyses identified adjuvant chemotherapy (p < 0.001) and postoperative complications (p < 0.001) as significant predictors of poorer QoL. Patients reported significantly lower scores on medical treatment-related items compared to surgery-related items (p < 0.001). The 10-year overall survival rate was 79.1%, with a 10-year BC-specific mortality of 3.5%. Advanced age, higher stage disease, and receiving adjuvant chemotherapy were independently associated with poorer overall survival. Conclusions: Despite elevated mastectomy rates, MBC patients self-reported high levels of satisfaction with their treatment outcomes. Medical therapies showed a more pronounced negative impact on QoL than surgery. These findings provide novel insights into the QoL of MBC patients, highlighting the need for future prospective studies and tailored treatments.

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare malignancy that has been under-investigated, with limited global epidemiological research dedicated to it. A comprehensive estimate of the global, regional, and national burden of MBC is valuable for policy planning. This study aims to evaluate the burden of MBC across 204 countries and territories.

MBC data were collected from the 2021 Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors (GBD) Study estimates spanning from 1990 to 2021. The global incidence, prevalence, deaths, and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) attributed to MBC, as well as corresponding age-standardized rates, were calculated. Temporal trends, projections of incidence and mortality to 2050, lifetime risk, and risk factors of MBC were also estimated according to regions and countries.

In 2021, there were 38,827 (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 24,650-47,846) new cases, 320,459 (95% UI, 220,533-384,317) prevalent cases, 13,274 (95% UI, 9074-16,240) deaths, and 380,917 (95% UI, 252,922-476,417) DALYs attributed to MBC worldwide, with the highest disease burden observed in the Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa region. From 1990 to 2021, the age-standardized incidence and mortality rates of MBC significantly increased, but they are projected to decrease over the next 30 years. High-middle Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile had the highest lifetime risk of developing MBC, while the low SDI quintile had the highest lifetime risk of dying from MBC. Dietary risk and alcohol use were identified as important risk factors for MBC deaths and DALYs globally.

The global burden of MBC significantly increased from 1990 to 2021, with notable geographic disparities. Efforts aimed at MBC prevention and control strategies should take into account the inequities in its global distribution.

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant numbers 82372996 and 82202913) and the Chongqing Natural Science Foundation (grant number CSTB2023NSCQ-MSX0480).

This study evaluated the clinicopathological characteristics, treatment trends, and overall survival (OS) in male breast cancer (BC) in Sao Paulo State of Brazil.

Men diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between January 2000 and June 2020 were identified from Fundação Oncocentro de Sao Paulo database encompasses data pertinent to 46 million residents of the Sao Paulo State of Brazil. Patients were described according to age, education level, clinical stage, treatment modalities, and medical practice. Categorical variables were described as percentages and frequencies. Demographic, treatment factors, and OS were associated using a Cox proportional hazard regression model while accounting for different lengths of participant follow-up. The Kaplan-Meier curves were used to display survival curves.

A total of 907 male BC patients were included. The age distribution at diagnosis was <51 years, 51-70 years, and >70 years in 21.5%, 51.5% and 27.0% of patients, respectively. The proportions of stages I, II, III, and IV were 19.5%, 36.6%, 31.5%, and 12.3%. For each stage I, II, III, and IV, 5- and 10-years OS were 87.9% and 77.8%, 79.9% and 58.9%, 51.6% and 24.5%, 20.0% and 5.6%, respectively. Patients who received postoperative radiotherapy experienced a significant improvement in OS (HR 0.67; 95% CI 0.53-0.84; p < 0.001). In the multivariable analysis adjusted for practice (public or private), education (low or medium/high), age, stage at diagnosis, and treatment modalities, the significant independent predictor for OS was stage at diagnosis.

Male BC tends to be diagnosed at a more advanced stage and older age at the time of diagnosis. Age and educational level did not influence survival outcomes. Stage at diagnosis and the use of postoperative radiotherapy were factors associated with improved OS.

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare entity which often arises in elderly people. Aim of this review is to evaluate the principal issues related to MBC in elderly, because the therapeutic management of disease is not only related to the biological behavior of the tumor, but also to the comorbidities and frailty of older population. A scoping literature review was performed on Pubmed and Cochrane Database using the following keywords: therapeutic management/ male/ breast cancer/ elderly patients. Papers published before 2000, not edited in English or French language, or not related to the main topic, were excluded. Only articles related to therapeutic issues in MBC and including more than 10 elderly (≥ 65 years) patients were selected for the qualitative outcome analysis.

36 papers regarding surgery, radiotherapy, systemic therapy, racial disparities and therapeutic management in retrospective series of MBC in elderly were examined in details. MBC has a different biological behavior and a poorer prognosis than female, especially in cases with positive nodes at diagnosis. Elderly MBC patients have often larger tumors in more advanced stages at the time of diagnosis compared with younger patients. In spite of the advanced tumors at presentation, older patients present often cancers with more favorable biological characteristics, but they receive less guideline-concordant curative treatments (as adequate lymph node staging or adjuvant radiation therapy) compared to women. Moreover, racial differences in treatment of older MBC were observed. Therapeutic management of MBC in elderly patients is a subject rarely addressed in literature. Our review highlighted differences in the treatment and in guidelines-concordance for elderly MBC patients. Adequate geriatric assessment and use of therapeutic schemes adapted to age and comorbidities can avoid under/overtreatment, contributing to a better standard of care in this frail population.

Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer type in Mexico, with male breast cancer accounting for only 1% of all breast cancer cases. A limited number of studies have described the clinical-pathological profiles of males with breast cancer in low- and middle-income countries. This study presents an analysis of patients with breast cancer seen at three different institutions in México.

A retrospective review of the medical records was performed to analyze the clinical and pathological characteristics of 49 men diagnosed with breast cancer and their overall survival.

The mean age at diagnosis was 64.65 years. A significant proportion of patients presented at diagnosis with stage IV disease (n = 11, 22.45%), had triple-negative subtype (n = 6, 12.24%), and nuclear grade III (n = 20, 40.8%). Primary endocrine resistance was observed in 10 patients (31.25%). Genetic analysis was performed on 24 patients (48.9%), revealing a germline BRCA pathogenic variant in 8.33%.

Our findings described the clinical and pathological profile of breast cancer in a male cohort in Mexico, with a significantly high proportion of advanced disease, triple-negative subtype, nuclear grade III, and endocrine resistance. Further comprehensive studies, including research into somatic mutations, are needed.

The role of human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) in male breast cancer (MBC) is poorly defined. A comprehensive description of HER2 status was conducted. A total of 6,015 MBC patients from 45 studies and 135 MBC patients with sequencing data were identified. HER2 positive rates and hazard ratios (HR) for overall survival (OS) were combined using Metaprop. The prevalence of HER2 + MBC was 10.0% (95% CI: 8.0-13.0%). Subgroup analyses showed that 7% (95% CI: 2.0-14.0%) had HER2 + protein overexpression. 10% of MBC patients had HER2 + overexpression and/or gene amplification. Asian MBC patients had the highest HER2 + incidence of 17% (95% CI: 12.0-22.0%). The prevalence of HER2 positive MBC fluctuated widely from 2001 to 2015 and then stabilized at 10%. HER2 positivity was significantly correlated with worse OS than negative ones (HR = 1.92, 1.47-2.51). The proportion of HER2 + MBC was inconsistent with the results for the intrinsic HER2-enriched subtype. Altered genes in HER2 + MBC, such as ERBB2, AGO2, RECQL4, and CLTC, were not detected in HER2-MBC. Genomic analysis revealed differences between the patients with HER2 + MBC and those with HER2 + FBC. The percentage of HER2 + MBC was slightly lower than that of women. Multiple approaches may be needed to jointly assess HER2 status in MBC.

Special histologic subtypes of breast cancer (BC) exhibit unique phenotypes and molecular profiles with diagnostic and therapeutic implications, often differing in behavior and clinical trajectory from common BC forms. Novel methodologies, such as artificial intelligence may improve classification. Genetic predisposition plays roles in a subset of cases. Uncommon BC presentations like male, inflammatory and pregnancy-related BC pose challenges. Emerging therapeutic strategies targeting genetic alterations or immune microenvironment are being explored.

The first reimbursed prescription for palbociclib (Palbo) in breast cancer patients in Romania was issued in July 2018. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy, safety, and adherence to Palbo in combination with aromatase inhibitor (AI) or fulvestrant in a real-world cohort of HR+/HER2- breast cancer patients from Romania.

A retrospective analysis of reimbursed Palbo prescriptions was conducted using data extracted from the electronic database of the Romanian Health Insurance House, Dolj County, for disease code 124 (breast cancer), covering the period from 2018 to 2023. The primary outcome assessed was time to treatment discontinuation (TTD), with secondary outcomes including overall survival (OS) and Palbo adherence (which was measured by medication possession ratio).

A total of 125 patients were identified, with a median age of 62 years (IQR, 53-70), and 98% were female. Two treatment combinations were observed: Palbo + Aromatase Inhibitor (AI) in 104 patients (83.2%) and Palbo + fulvestrant in 21 patients (16.8%). The median TTD for the entire cohort was 19 months (95%CI, 19.3-24.9 months). In patients treated with Palbo + AI, the median TTD was not available/reached [NA] (95%CI, 36.0-NA months). For those receiving Palbo+fulvestrant, the median TTD was 25.0 months (95%CI, 13.0-NR months). No significant differences in TTD were observed among the two treatment combinations (χ2 = 1.33, df = 1, log-rank p = 0.249). The 12- and 36-month TTD rates were higher for Palbl combined with AI than combined with fulvestrant: 77.8% [95%CI, 69.7-86.7%] vs. 71.8% [95%CI, 53.6-96.2%], and 56.3% [95%CI, 45.9-69%] vs. 49.7% [95%CI, 29.7-83.2%], respectively. The median OS was 38 months (95%CI, 25.5-50.9). When treatment involved Palbo + AI, the median OS was NA (95%CI, 54.8-NA) months. When treatment involved Palbo + fulvestrant, the median was 50.8 (95%CI, 34.1-NA) months. Related to OS, no significant differences were found between the two types of treatments (log-rank p = 0.638). The 24- and 36-month OS rates were higher for Palbo combined with AI than combined with fulvestrant: 76.9% [95%CI, 69.2-85.5%] vs. 81% [95%CI, 65.8-99.6%], and 67.9% [95%CI, 59.2-77.8%] vs. 65.3% [95%CI, 47.4-90.0%], respectively. The mean adherence in our study was 0.91 ± 0.1. We found no correlation between adherence to Palbo and OS (Spearman's rho = 0.04, p = 0.593).

While both AI and fulvestrant remain viable options, the lack of significant differences in survival between these combinations suggests that treatment choice can be tailored to individual patient needs.

Male breast cancer (MaBC) is an uncommon disease. It is generally assimilated to post-menopausal female breast cancer and treated accordingly. However, the real impact of radiation therapy, after both mastectomy and breast conservation, has yet to be established. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the clinical impact of radiation therapy in MBC patients to support the clinical decision-making process and to inform future research. We performed a systematic search of 'male', 'breast', 'cancer', 'radiotherapy' and corresponding synonyms on PubMed/MEDLINE and EMBASE databases. We included interventional studies reporting on radiation therapy effect on overall survival (OS) in MBC patients. Reviews, editorials, letters to the editor, conference abstracts and case reports, and studies with less than 20 MaBC patients or without data on OS were excluded. We extracted relevant characteristics and outcomes for each study, including the hazard ratio (HR) for OS, after adjustment for potential confounders. We calculated an overall adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) for OS for patients receiving radiation therapy compared to those who did not. A random effect model was used. The search strategy yielded 10,260 articles. After removal of duplicates (n = 8254), 2006 articles remained and underwent abstract screening. A total of 168 manuscripts was selected for full text screening. After full text screening, 22 articles were included in the qualitative systematic review. Among them, 14 were included in the quantitative synthesis, reporting on 80.219 MaBC patients. A statistically significant reduction in the risk of death was observed for patients receiving radiation therapy, with a pooled aHR = 0.73 (95 %CI: 0.66-0.81) for OS. Significant heterogeneity among reported aHR estimates was seen (I2=77 %). A significant clinical benefit on OS has been observed when including radiation therapy in the therapeutic algorithm of patients with MaBC. These findings, which are based on retrospective studies and tumour registry reports, deserve further investigation to identify MaBC patient subgroups who most benefit from radiation therapy.

To offer an extensive retrospective experience on the management of male breast cancer.

A multicenter retrospective observational cohort study was conducted, including male patients diagnosed with breast cancer (invasive or in situ) in 12 Italian breast units from January 1975 to December 2019. Patients aged 18 years or older were assessed for eligibility. Exclusion criteria were metastatic cancer at diagnosis, previous cancer(s), received neoadjuvant treatment, incomplete data on (neo) adjuvant treatment(s), and/or follow-up data. Data on radiological examinations, demographic characteristics, risk factors, histological features, receptor status, treatments, and follow-up were collected.

In a series of 671 male patients with breast cancer assessed for eligibility, 403 (28 in situ and 375 invasive neoplasms) were included in the study. All included patients underwent surgery. The median age at surgery was 63.8 years (IQR 56.1-72.1). In 68% of cases, patients underwent echography, and in 55.1%, a mammography. Most patients were ER and PR positive (63.8%), HER2 negative (80.4%), with high (≥ 20%) Ki67 values (61.3%), and luminal B subtype (51.1%). The 10-year overall survival was 73.6% (95% CI 67.0-79.1) for invasive breast cancer and 90% (95% CI 65.6-97.4) for in situ breast cancer. In patients with invasive breast cancer, at univariable analysis, having a G3 tumor (vs. G1), pT2/3/4 (vs. pT1), pN2/3 (vs. pN0), luminal B subtype with Ki67 ≥ 20% (vs. Luminal A), were significantly associated with a higher risk of death. In multivariable analyses, pT2/3/4 (vs. pT1) remained significantly associated with a higher risk of death (HR 3.14, 95% CI 1.83-5.39), and having a HER2 positive or a triple-negative subtype (vs. Luminal A) was also significantly associated with a higher risk of mortality (HR 4.76, 95% CI 1.26-18.1).

Male breast cancer is a rare disease, the better understanding of which is necessary for a more effective diagnostic and therapeutic approach.

Male breast cancer is a very rare disease and only accounts for around 1% of all breast cancers. The treatment strategies are based on those used for breast cancer in women. So far, there is a lack of randomized data to support specific treatment modalities in men. To our knowledge, a therapeutic approach with a combination of letrozole and abemaciclib has not yet been described for a male patient with metastatic breast cancer.

Here, we report a case of a male patient with advanced metastatic breast cancer treated with a combination of letrozole and abemaciclib. The therapy was well tolerated with no reported side effects. The follow-up CT showed regression of the primary tumor mass and the lymph nodes and soft tissue metastases.

In summary, this case report clearly shows the effectiveness of the therapeutic approach and should be discussed for the treatment of future patients.

Breast cancer commonly occurs in women, and male breast cancer makes up less than 1% of all cases of breast cancer. The limited prevalence of male breast cancer has led to decreased attention being paid to this condition, resulting in its diagnosis occurring at later ages and at more severe disease stages.

This study evaluates the demographic and clinicopathological characteristics of male patients diagnosed with breast cancer who visited the northern region of Iran from 1992 to 2023.

This descriptive study reviewed data from 58 cases of male breast cancer between 1992 and 2023. The study aimed to examine and describe the information connected to these patients. The data were analyzed with SPSS.22 set at P value less than 0.05.

The mean age of the patients examined was 62.10±13.40 years, while their mean BMI was 27.08±4.95. The study found no statistically significant correlation between BMI with stage and kinds of recurrence, including metastasis and local recurrence (P>0.05). The right and left breast involvement rates were equal (48.28%) in 28 cases, and 2 cases (3.40%) had bilateral involvement. The bone was the predominant site of metastasis, accounting for 69.23% of cases. The analysis revealed no significant correlation between stage and metastasis (P=1.000) or local recurrence (P=0.543). Most metastasis and all the local recurrence were observed in stages 3 and 4.

Male breast cancer mainly occurs in older age and is diagnosed in the advanced stages of the disease. Therefore, it is recommended to inform men and develop suitable screening programs, especially in high-risk families.

Chronic postoperative surgical pain (CPSP) is a frequent complication following breast surgery and poses a challenge in terms of treatment. We hypothesized that the incidence of CPSP would be reduced at 3 months post-breast surgery with the administration of S-ketamine compared to a placebo.

Participants were recruited and randomly assigned to either the S-ketamine group (S) or the control group (C). In group S, S-ketamine was administered as a 1.5 mg kg-1 bolus followed by 2 mg kg-1h-1 infusion, while in group C, a placebo of 0.9% saline was administered in the same volume and rate as S-ketamine. The primary outcome was the incidence of CPSP, measured using a 0-10 numeric rating scale (NRS), at 3 months postsurgery.

A total of 72 patients scheduled for mastectomy were enrolled (group S, n = 33; group C, n = 32). The incidence of CPSP at 3 months postsurgery was significantly lower in group S compared to group C (18.2% vs. 48.3%, P < .05). There was no statistical difference between the 2 groups in terms of the incidence of moderate to severe pain. NRS scores for postoperative pain at rest and during movement were significantly lower at 4 h and 24 h post-surgery (P < .05, respectively). Patients in Group S had lower Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scores at one week and 3 months post-surgery compared to Group C (P < .05, respectively).

S-ketamine infusion reduces the incidence of CPSP 3 months after breast surgery.

The Choosing Wisely® (CW) campaign recommended de-implementation of surgical management of axillary nodes in specified patients. This study aimed to assess trends in the application of CW guidelines for lymph node (LN) surgery in males with breast cancer.

The National Cancer Database was queried for males diagnosed with breast cancer from 2017 to 2020. Patients were categorized into two cohorts based on CW criteria. Cohort 1 included all T1-2, clinically node-negative patients who underwent breast-conserving therapy and with ≤ 2 positive nodes, and Cohort 2 included all T1-2, node-negative, hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative patients aged ≥ 70 years. In Cohort 1, patients who underwent sentinel LN biopsy (SLNB) alone were compared with axillary LN dissection (ALND) or no LN surgery, while in Cohort 2, patients who underwent LN surgery were compared with those with no LN surgery.

Of 617 patients who met the criteria for Cohort 1, 73.1% underwent SLNB alone compared with ALND (11.8%) or no LN surgery (15.1%). Those who received SLNB alone were younger (65 vs. 68 vs. 73 years; p < 0.001). The annual proportion of males who underwent SLNB alone remained stable from 2017 to 2020. Overall, 1565 patients met the criteria for Cohort 2, and 84.9% received LN surgery. LN surgery was omitted in older patients (81 vs. 77; p < 0.001). The proportion of elderly males with early-stage breast cancer who underwent LN surgery increased from 2017 to 2020.

This study demonstrates that CW recommendations are not being routinely applied to males. These findings reinforce the need for additional studies and subsequent recommendations for optimal application of axillary surgery de-implementation for males diagnosed with breast cancer.

Male breast cancer accounts for 1% of all breast cancers. Its low frequency leads to a lack of awareness, resulting in significant diagnostic delays. Additionally, this limits the available evidence, which primarily uses diagnostic-therapeutic algorithms based on women.

To analyze the prevalence, clinical presentation, anatomical and pathological characteristics, and prognosis of male breast cancer using one of the largest series available. Secondarily, to compare our data with studies conducted in women.

A multicenter, observational, descriptive, retrospective study was conducted in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain, from 1995 to 2022 including men with a pathological diagnosis of breast cancer.

A total of 148 patients were included, with a prevalence of 1%. The most common clinical presentation was a palpable retroareolar mass. Invasive ductal carcinoma was the most frequent type (88.89%), and luminal B was the predominant subtype (47.76%). Surgery was the most utilized treatment; mastectomy was performed in 90.34% and AL in 46.89%. At diagnosis, 52.46% had extramammary involvement. The recurrence rate was 24.1%, and the mortality attributed to the disease was 14.6%.

There is a high rate of metastatic involvement at diagnosis, a high percentage of mutilating surgeries, and a high number of recurrences compared to available studies on males. Additionally, a worse prognosis is observed compared to breast cancer in women, despite these tumors having a less aggressive molecular subtype. These findings highlight the importance of conducting studies focused on men to develop specific protocols.

The effectiveness of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) versus axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) in managing early-stage male breast cancer (MBC) patients with T1-2 tumors and limited lymph node metastasis, all receiving radiotherapy, remains uncertain. This study examines trends and survival outcomes for SLNB and ALND in the United States.

We conducted a retrospective analysis of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data from 2010 to 2020 for MBC patients with T1-2 tumors and 1-2 positive lymph nodes undergoing radiotherapy. Patients were classified by nodes removed (SLNB ≤5, ALND ≥10), comparing overall survival (OS) and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) between the groups before and after propensity score matching.

Of 299 MBC patients analyzed, SLNB usage increased from 18.8% in 2010 to 61.0% in 2020. Multivariable logistic regression highlighted significant associations of SLNB use with diagnosis year, race, surgery type, positive lymph node count, and metastasis size. No significant differences in 5-year OS (77.98% SLNB vs. 85.85% ALND, p = 0.337) or BCSS (91.54% SLNB vs. 94.97% ALND, p = 0.214) were observed. Propensity score matching (96 patients per group) confirmed similar 5-year OS (83.9% for SLNB vs. 82.0% for ALND, p = 0.925) and BCSS (90.1% for SLNB vs. 96.9% for ALND, p = 0.167).

SLNB and ALND provide comparable survival outcomes in early-stage MBC patients with limited lymph node metastasis undergoing radiotherapy. The increased utilization of SLNB supports its consideration to reduce surgical morbidity in selected MBC patients despite limited direct evidence.

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare condition, accounting for approximately 1 % of all breast cancer cases. Nevertheless, the paucity of MBC-specific research has impeded a thorough understanding of MBC. In this study, we aimed to delineate the epidemiological implications of MBC in Brazil and benchmarked it against female breast cancer (FBC). This retrospective study analyzed data from the DATASUS database (2017-2021), which assessed the incidence of breast cancer in both sexes. All statistical analyses were performed using descriptive statistics and inferential methods, with significance set at a 95 % confidence interval. We identified 4,326 (1.7 %) and 233,793 (94.2 %) patients with MBC and FBC, respectively, in Brazil. Despite the general population concentration in the Southeast, MBC cases were more prevalent in the Northeast (p < 0.0004). At breast cancer diagnosis, males were typically older (mean age 59.5 [±10.2] years) than females (mean age 55.7 7 [±9.8] years). MBC was more commonly diagnosed clinically compared with FBC, which was most commonly diagnosed via screening. Surgical diagnostics were twice as likely in males, who also more frequently presented with advanced disease stages (stages III and IV; 72.8 % vs. 59.3 %), leading to a higher rate of mastectomy. Treatment was initiated earlier in males than in females. Although MBC comprises a minority of breast cancer cases, it is more frequently diagnosed at an advanced stage compared with FBC and necessitates aggressive treatment. Our study also underscores the potential benefit of prompt initiation of therapy and need for tailored clinical approaches in patients with MBC.

The specific biology of the male breast remains relatively unexplored in spite of the increasing global prevalence of male breast cancer. Delineation of the microenvironment of the male breast is restricted by the low availability of human samples and a lack of characterisation of appropriate animal models. Unlike the mouse, the male ovine gland persists postnatally. We suggest that the male ovine mammary gland constitutes a promising adjunctive model for the male breast. In this study, we evaluate the male ovine mammary gland microenvironment, comparing intact and neutered males. Assessment of the glandular histo-anatomy highlights the resemblance of the male gland to that of neonatal female sheep and confirms the presence of rudimentary terminal duct lobular units. Irrespective of neutered status, cell proliferation in epithelial and stromal compartments is similarly low in males, and cell proliferation in epithelial cells and in the intralobular stroma is significantly lower than in pubertal female sheep. Between 42% and 72% of the luminal mammary epithelial cells in the male gland express the androgen receptor and expression is significantly reduced by neutering. Luminal epithelial cells within the intact and neutered male gland also express oestrogen receptor alpha, but minimal progesterone receptor expression is observed. The distribution of leukocytes within the ducts and stroma is similar to the mammary gland of female sheep and females of other species. Both macrophages and T lymphocytes are intercalated in the epithelial bilayer and are more abundant in the intralobular stroma than the interlobular stroma, suggesting that they may have a protective immunological function within the vestigial glandular tissue of the male sheep. Mast cells are also observed within the stroma. These cells cluster near the glandular tissue and are frequently located adjacent to blood vessels. The abundance of mast cells is significantly higher in intact males compared to neutered males, suggesting that hormone signalling may impact mast cell recruitment. In this study, we demonstrate the utility of the male ovine mammary gland as a model for furthering our knowledge of postnatal male mammary biology.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers and the leading cause of cancer death in women. Less than 1% of breast cancer cases are male breast cancers. Although there has been significant progress made in the management of breast cancer, due to its rarity among men, the question of whether men and women with breast cancer have the same treatment response and survival rate still needs to be answered. The primary goal of this study is to compare survival outcomes between male and female breast cancer patients.

This cohort study represents a retrospective and anonymized data analysis of 2162 breast cancer cases (19 males and 2143 females), registered over a period of 12 years, from 1 January 2010 to 31 December 2021, in the Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Diakoneo Diak Klinikum Schwäbisch Hall, Germany.

According to the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, the estimated overall 3-year survival rate was 91.1% for women and 88.9% for men. The log-rank test of equality of survival distributions indicated a statistically significant difference in survival times between the two groups (p = 0.009). In the subsequent age-matched Kaplan-Meier analysis, the p-value was below the significance threshold (p = 0.068).

Male breast cancer is a rare disease that may show some particularities in terms of survival compared to female breast cancer.

Tamoxifen (TAM) is recommended as the first-line strategy for men with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive early breast cancer who are candidates for adjuvant endocrine therapy in ASCO guideline. Our study aims to analyze the cost-effectiveness of receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy with TAM compared to no TAM, and to assess the cost-effectiveness of using TAM with high adherence over low adherence for ER-positive early male breast cancer in the USA.

Two Markov models comprising three mutually exclusive health states were constructed: (1) the first Markov model compared the cost-effectiveness of adding TAM with not using TAM (TAM versus Not-TAM); (2) the second model compared the cost-effectiveness of receiving TAM with high adherence and low adherence (High-adherence-TAM versus Low-adherence-TAM). The simulation time horizon for both models was the lifetime of patients. The efficacy and safety data of two models were elicited from the real-world studies. Model inputs were derived from the US website and published literature. The main outcomes of two models both included the total cost, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs).

In the first model, TAM yielded an ICER of $5707.29 per QALY compared to Not-TAM, which was substantially below the WTP threshold of $50,000.00 per QALY in the USA. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis results demonstrated a 100.00% probability of cost-effectiveness for this strategy. In the second model, High-adherence-TAM was dominated absolutely compared to Low-adherence-TAM. The High-adherence-TAM was cost-effective with a 99.70% probability over Low-adherence-TAM when WTP was set as $50,000.00/QALY. All of these parameters within their plausible ranges did not reversely change the results of our models.

Our study will offer valuable guidance for physicians or patients when making treatment decisions and provide an effective reference for decision-making to consider the appropriate allocation of funds to this special group.

The recommendations for annual mammography for male carriers with gynecomastia are controversial. This study investigated the potential link between gynecomastia and breast cancer in male carriers.

The database of a tertiary medical center was retrospectively searched for all male patients who underwent at least 1 digital mammography study from 2016 to 2023. Known carriers of a pathogenic variant in a high-risk breast-cancer gene were identified. Patients were stratified by carrier status, diagnosis of breast cancer, and diagnosis of gynecomastia. Data on demographics, hormone profile, and pathology results were compared.

The cohort included 446 men of whom 82 were known carriers. Gynecomastia was diagnosed by mammography in 251 patients: 239/364 noncarriers (66%) and 12/82 carriers (15%) (P < .0001). Breast cancer was found in 21/364 noncarriers (6%) and 6/82 carriers (7%) (P < .6), and in 10/251 patients with gynecomastia (4%) and 17/193 (9%) without gynecomastia (P < .05). Among patients without gynecomastia, the number of breast cancer cases was similar in carriers and noncarriers (P = .3). Among patients with gynecomastia, the rate of breast cancer was higher in carriers (P < .08). On logistic regression analysis, the effect of gynecomastia on carriers was significant (P = .02). The odds ratio for a breast cancer diagnosis was 5.8 in the presence of gynecomastia (95% CI, 1.1-31, P < .04) and 0.52 in the absence of gynecomastia (95% CI, 0.2-1.7, P < .3).

Gynecomastia may be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in carriers. Larger studies are needed to determine whether and when to screen male carriers.

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare disease. Although several large-scale studies have investigated MBC patients in other countries, the features of MBC patients in China have not been fully explored. This study aims to explore the features of Chinese MBC patients comprehensively.

We retrospectively collected data of MBC patients from 36 centers in China. Overall survival (OS) was evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test, and Cox regression analyses. Multivariate Cox analyses were used to identify independent prognostic factors of the patients.

In total, 1119 patients were included. The mean age at diagnosis was 60.9 years, and a significant extension over time was observed (P < 0.001). The majority of the patients (89.1 %) received mastectomy. Sentinel lymph node biopsy was performed in 7.8 % of the patients diagnosed in 2009 or earlier, and this percentage increased significantly to 38.8 % in 2020 or later (P < 0.001). The five-year OS rate for the population was 85.5 % [95 % confidence interval (CI), 82.8 %-88.4 %]. Multivariate Cox analysis identified taxane-based [T-based, hazard ratio (HR) = 0.32, 95 % CI, 0.13 to 0.78, P = 0.012] and anthracycline plus taxane-based (A + T-based, HR = 0.47, 95 % CI, 0.23 to 0.96, P = 0.037) regimens as independent protective factors for OS. However, the anthracycline-based regimen showed no significance in outcome (P = 0.175).

As the most extensive MBC study in China, we described the characteristics, treatment and prognosis of Chinese MBC population comprehensively. T-based and A + T-based regimens were protective factors for OS in these patients. More research is required for this population.

Breast malignancy in men is an exceedingly rare condition, representing a small fraction of all diagnosed breast cancer cases. The most common histological subtype is invasive ductal carcinoma, while the mucinous type is extremely rare. This pathology has a high mortality rate due to its poor prognosis and diagnosis in advanced stages, often initially overlooked with limited screening. Surprisingly, more men have died from breast cancer than from testicular cancer. This report details a case of invasive mucinous carcinoma in a 75-year-old male who presented with a five-week history of chronic non-productive cough and signs of pleural effusion. A breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a retroareolar breast tumor, and a second-look ultrasound confirmed the presence of a BI-RADS 4C solid nodule. Histopathological and immunohistochemical results were confirmed by ultrasound-guided tru-cut biopsy, identifying invasive mucinous carcinoma and luminal B (HER2+) subtype. Staging studies were negative for metastasis, and a modified radical mastectomy was performed, yielding favorable intraoperative findings. The incidental diagnosis in this patient highlights the necessity of comprehensive imaging in atypical presentations. Despite its rarity, awareness and early detection of mucinous carcinoma are essential for optimizing patient outcomes. This case also underscores the disparity in breast cancer outcomes between low gross domestic product (GDP) and high-GDP countries, emphasizing the need for improved access to diagnostic and therapeutic resources. Enhanced clinical awareness and early detection are crucial for improving outcomes in patients with rare histological subtypes, particularly in underserved regions.

Previous studies found that the long-term survival of male breast cancer patients differed from those of female patients, however, the conclusions were contradictory. We conducted the study to examine the sex disparity in breast cancer survival by carefully controlling demographic and clinical factors using data from the Shanghai Cancer Registry (SCR).

Every male breast cancer patient was matched with four female patients by the diagnosis year, age, stage, and histology. We used Kaplan-Meier survival estimates to calculate the cumulative observed overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) rates and log-rank tests to compare the survival rates by sex. We used Cox proportional-hazards regression models to assess the association between sex and risk of death.

A total of 50,958 patients with breast cancer (0.85% male) were registered in the SCR between 2002 and 2013. After matching, 434 male and 1,736 female patients were included in the study. With a median follow-up of 10 years, men with breast cancer showed worse OS (P<0.001) and CSS (P<0.001) than did women. The 5- and 10-year OS rates for male and female patients were 67.27% and 77.75%, and 45.95% and 62.60%, respectively; the 5- and 10-year CSS rates for male and female patients were 70.19% and 79.79%, and 50.57% and 67.20%, respectively. Compared with women, men had 65% increased risk of overall death [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.42-1.92] and 70% increased risk of cancer-specific death (95% CI: 1.44-2.00).

This study found male patients with breast cancer had poorer long-term survival than women in China.

Male breast cancer (MaBC) has limited data on genomic alterations. We aimed to comprehensively describe and compare MaBC's genomics with female breast cancer's (FBC) across subtypes.

Using genomic data from Foundation Medicine, we categorized 253 MaBC into estrogen receptor (ER)-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative (n = 210), ER-positive/HER2-positive (n = 22) and triple-negative (n = 20). One ER-negative/HER2-positive case was excluded due to n-of-1. The genomics of the final MaBC cohort (n = 252) were compared to a FBC cohort (n = 2708) stratified by molecular subtype, with adjusted p-values. In the overall MaBC and FBC cohorts, we compared mutational prevalence in cancer susceptibility genes (CSG) (ATM/BRCA1/BRCA2/CHEK2/PALB2).

Comparing ER-positive/HER2-negative cases, MaBc had increased alterations in GATA3 (26.2% vs. 15.9%, p = 0.005), BRCA2 (13.8% vs. 5.3%, p < 0.001), MDM2 (13.3% vs. 6.14%, p = 0.004) and CDK4 (7.1% vs. 1.8%, p < 0.001); and decreased frequency of TP53 (11.0% vs. 42.6%, p < 0.001) and ESR1 mutations (5.7% vs. 14.6%, p < 0.001). Comparing ER-positive/HER2-positive cases, MaBC had increased short variants in ERBB2 (22.7% vs. 0.6%, p = 0.002), GATA3 (36.3% vs. 6.2%, p = 0.004), and MDM2 (36.3% vs. 4.9%, p = 0.002); decreased frequency of TP53 alterations was seen in MaBC versus FBC (9.1% vs. 61.7%, p < 0.001). Within triple-negative cases, MaBC had decreased alterations in TP53 compared to FBC (25.0% vs. 84.4%, p < 0.001). MaBC had higher frequency of CSG variants than FBC (22.6% vs. 14.6%, p < 0.05), with increased BRCA mutations in MaBC (14.6% vs. 9.1%, p < 0.05).

Although MaBC and FBC share some common alterations, our study revealed several important differences relevant to tumor biology and implications for targeted therapies.

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare malignancy with a worse prognosis than female breast cancer (FBC). Current MBC treatment strategies are based on those for FBC. However, molecular differences between MBC and FBC with respect to prognosis and drug responses remain unclear.

After controlling for confounding factors with propensity score matching (PSM), differences between MBC and FBC were comprehensively analyzed using many types of data: survival, immune microenvironments, sex hormone responses, drug sensitivity, transcriptomes, genomes, epigenomes, and proteomes.

Overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were both worse for MBC than for FBC. Differentially expressed mRNAs were enriched in numerous cancer-related functions and pathways, with SPAG16 and STOX1 being as the most important prognosis-related mRNAs for MBC. Competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) and transcription factor (TF)-mRNA regulatory networks contain potential prognostic genes. Nine genes had higher mutation frequencies in MBC than in FBC. MBC shows a comparatively poor response to immunotherapy, with five proteins that promote breast cancer progression being highly expressed in MBC. MBC may be more responsive than FBC to estrogen. We detected six United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapeutic target genes as being differentially expressed between MBC and FBC.

The poor prognosis of MBC compared to FBC is due to numerous molecular differences and resulting drug responses.

Male breast cancer (BC) is a rare disease, few prospective studies have been undertaken compared to studies carried out in women. The condition is characterised by unfavorable prognosis when compared to that of females. The aim of the present work is to describe the anatomopathologic characteristics of males breast cancer at the level of the pathology department of the Hospital-University Center of Sidi Bel Abbes (ALGERIA).

A descriptive cross-sectional study on male breast cancers diagnosed in our pathology department between January 2010 and December 2020 was undertaken, the variables assessed were epidemiological, macroscopic, microscopic and immunohistochemical data.

A total of 25 breast male cancer were identified in this study, the mean age at the diagnosis time was 58.8± 3.5 years, and the age was ranging from 37 to 83. The mean tumor size was 3.58 ± 1.5 cm, with sizeranging from 1.8 to 9 cm. About 18 of patients had tumors located in the upper outer quadrant (UOQ). Histopathological examination revealed the predominance of invasive carcinoma of no special type in 22 patients, followed by lobular carcinoma in 2 patients. 18 patients presented with nodal involvement and 23 of patients had hormonal receptors expression, including oestrogen receptor (RO), and progesterone receptor (RP). Additionnaly, just one patient had positive overexpression of HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2).

Breast cancer in males in Algeria appears to be relatively rare and presents at an older age compared to females. Three out of four patients presented tumors in the UOQ and most were invasive carcinoma no special type. In the majority of male BC cases hormonal receptors and nodal involvement were present, while HER2 receptors were absent.

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare condition, and recent research has underscored notable distinctions between MBC and breast cancer in women. This study aimed to assess and contrast the long-term survival outcomes and disease patterns of MBC patients with those of their female counterparts.

We analyzed data from 113,845 patients diagnosed with breast cancer who had undergone curative surgery from the Korean Breast Cancer Registry (KBCR) between January 1990 and August 2014 in Seoul, Korea. The five-year overall survival was analyzed according to clinicopathological characteristics.

Among 113,845 patients with breast cancer, 473 MBC cases were included. The median duration of follow-up was 72 months. The median age at diagnosis was 60 and 48 years for MBC and female breast cancer, respectively. Most male patients (92.6%) underwent total mastectomy, while 50.4% of female patients underwent breast-conserving surgery. Among MBC, 63.2% received chemotherapy, and 83.9% of hormone receptor-positive male patients received endocrine therapy. In survival analysis, MBC demonstrated distinct 5-year overall survival patterns compared with female breast cancer, according to age at diagnosis. In women with breast cancer, the younger age group (≤40 years) demonstrated worse 5-year overall survival than did the older age group (>40 years) (91.3% vs 92.7%, p <0.05). While in MBC, the younger age group (≤40 years) demonstrated better 5-year overall survival than did the older age group (>40 years) (97.4% vs 86.4%, p <0.05).

In conclusion within this extensive cohort, we have revealed unique survival patterns in MBC that diverge from those observed in women with breast cancer. This study enhances our comprehension of MBC prognosis and can potentially shed light on unresolved questions, paving the way for future research in the realm of MBC.

Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare, but increasingly common disease, and lacks prospective studies. Collaborative efforts are needed to understand and address MBC, including its prognosis, in different countries.

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical, histopathological, and molecular-genetic characteristics, treatments, and survival outcomes of MBC diagnosed between 2007 and 2017 in the Czech Republic. Prognostic factors of overall survival (OS), recurrence-free interval (RFi), and breast cancer-specific mortality (BCSM) were analyzed and indirectly compared to international data.

We analyzed 256 patients with MBC (median age 66 years), including 12% with de novo metastatic (M1). Of 201 non-metastatic (M0) patients, 6% were <40 years old, 29% had stage I, 55% were cN0, and 54% underwent genetic testing. Overall, 97% of tumors had estrogen receptor expression ≥10%, 61% had high Ki67 index, 40% were high-grade (G3), and 68% were luminal B-like (HER2-negative). Systemic therapies included endocrine therapy (90%) and chemotherapy (53%). Few (5%) patients discontinued adjuvant endocrine therapy for reasons other than disease relapse or death. Patients treated with aromatase inhibitors alone had significantly shorter RFi (P < .001). OS, RFi, and BCSM were associated with disease stage, T stage, N stage, progesterone receptor expression, grade, and Ki67 index. Median OS reached 122 and 42 months in M0 and de novo M1 patients, respectively.

Due to the rarity of MBC, this study highlights important findings from real clinical practice. Although the number of patients with MBC with unfavorable features was higher in this Czech dataset than in international studies, the prognosis remains consistent with real-world evidence.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is commonly used in the surgical management of male breast cancer. Contrary to female breast cancer, limited data exist about its performance in male breast cancer. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the SLNB accuracy in male breast cancer.

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science and The Cochrane Library were searched from January 1995 to April 2023 for studies evaluating the SLNB identification rate and false-negative rate in male breast cancer with negative preoperative axillary evaluation and primary surgery. For SLNB false-negative rate, the gold standard was the histology of axillary lymph node dissection (ALDN). Methodological quality was assessed by using the QUADAS-2 tool. Pooled estimates of the SLNB identification rate and false-negative rate were calculated. Heterogeneity of the pooled studies was evaluated using I2 index.

A total of 12 retrospective studies were included. The 12 studies that reported the SLNB identification rate gathered a total of 164 patients; the 5 studies that reported the SLNB false-negative rate gathered a total of 50 patients with a systematic ALND. The pooled estimate of the SLNB identification rate was 99.0%. The SLNB false-negative rates were 0% in the 5 included studies and consequently so as the pooled estimate of the false-negative rate with no heterogeneity.

SLNB for male breast cancer, following negative preoperative axillary assessment and primary surgery, appears feasible, consistent, and effective. Our research supports conducting immediate SLNB histological evaluation to facilitate prompt ALND in case of positive results.

The number of men undergoing breast imaging has increased in recent years, according to some reports. Most male breast concerns are related to benign causes, most commonly gynecomastia. The range of abnormalities typically encountered in the male breast is less broad than that encountered in women, given that lobule formation rarely occurs in men. Other benign causes of male breast palpable abnormalities with characteristic imaging findings include lipomas, sebaceous or epidermal inclusion cysts, and intramammary lymph nodes. Male breast cancer (MBC) is rare, representing up to 1% of breast cancer cases, but some data indicate that its incidence is increasing. MBC demonstrates some clinical features that overlap with those of gynecomastia, including a propensity for the subareolar breast. Men with breast cancer tend to present at a later stage than do women. MBC typically has similar imaging features to those of female breast cancer, often characterized by an irregular mass that may have associated calcifications. Occasionally, however, MBC has a benign-appearing imaging phenotype, with an oval shape and circumscribed margins, and therefore most solid breast masses in men require tissue diagnosis. Histopathologic evaluation may alternatively reveal other benign breast masses found in men, including papillomas, myofibroblastomas, and hemangiomas. Radiologists must be familiar with the breadth of male breast abnormalities to meet the rising challenge of caring for these patients. ©RSNA, 2024 Supplemental material is available for this article.