Male breast cancer survival data and clinicopathological characteristics: A single-centre experience.

Abstract

e18837 Background: Male breast cancer represents an uncommon entity accounting for less than 1% of all breast cancers. Although the understanding of biology, clinical presentation and management are evolving, a large knowledge gap still remains. Due to disease’s rarity, there is a significant paucity of data and most clinicians confront male cases by extrapolating from breast cancer in women. In this study we aim to report our institutional experience across a 17-year period about male breast cancer patients treated at the same centre. Methods: Clinical, histopathological, treatment and survival data of male breast cancer patients diagnosed between 2006 and 2022 at Second Department Medical Oncology in Saint Savvas Anticancer Hospital were identified and analyzed. Results: A total number of 24 male breast cancer patients were detected. The median age at diagnosis was 63 years. All participants had invasive ductal carcinoma. None of them presented with metastatic disease, while the majority had stage II disease (62,5%). All, except two cases, underwent mastectomy with either axillary or sentinel lymph node dissection. Regarding hormone receptors, 96% were ER positive and 25% were PR negative, while 79% were negative for HER-2 overexpression. As far as HER-2 low status is concerned, 42% (10 out of 24) were categorized as low expressors. From genetic point of view, data were available only for 9 cases, 2 of which were BRCA-2 mutant. Adjuvant chemotherapy (anthracycline and taxane based mainly) was administered in 75% (18 out of 24) of patients. At the time of last follow up (January 2023), only 5 participants presented disease progression, with metastatic lesions in bones, liver and lymph nodes. The median disease-free survival (DFS) was 48 months. In our cohort 5 deaths were recorded and the median overall survival (OS) was 58,5 months. Conclusions: Male breast cancer is a unique entity that remains understudied. Our institutional data provide a useful overview about this rare disease in Greece. Ongoing effort is required to conduct clinical trials or to include male patients in large, randomized cohorts in order to improve medical care.