Breast Cancer In Men Research Articles

Breast Cancer in Men: An Overview of General Features and Molecular Pathology

Breast Cancer in Men: An Overview of General Features and Molecular Pathology

CN42 Is breast cancer in men ignored? An awareness study

CN42 Is breast cancer in men ignored? An awareness study

Male breast cancer: a lesser-known battle

Breast cancer in men is a rare and understudied disease. Until recently, prospective studies and clinical trials on breast cancer treatments often excluded men. Treatment recommendations were generally extrapolated from the results of clinical trials that included only women. Significant efforts have been made to better understand the biological characteristics, the most effective treatments, and the outcomes of breast cancer in men, as well as to identify clinically relevant differences of this disease. This article reviews the current data on the epidemiology, pathological and clinical characteristics, as well as the treatment of breast cancer in men.

Survival Prognostic Factors of Male Breast Cancer Using Appropriate Survival Analysis for Small Sample Size: Three Center Experience

Introduction: Breast cancer in men is a rare disease that has been increasing in recent decades. Identifying factors influencing the survival rate of these patients is particularly important considering the small sample size. The aim of this study was to present the results of the conventional Cox- LASSO method and compare it with the newer refined generalized log-rank (RGLR) method for analyzing survival data with a small sample size. Methods: Available information related to men with breast cancer referred to 3 treatment centers in the country (Iran) between 2012 and 2020 were reviewed. Cox-LASSO and RGLR models were fitted on the data. The analyzes were done using R.4.1.2 software and the significance level of 0.05 was considered. Results: About 60% of the conflicts are reported on the left side. About 53% of men have been diagnosed at a low stage. The tumor size of 75% of the patients was between 2 and 4.3. Most patients have received modified radical mastectomy (MRM) treatment and adjuvant radiotherapy. 80% of patients had received chemotherapy and most had received anthracycline-taxane base. According to Akaike's criterion, RGLR model (AIC=289.32) was better than Cox-LASSO (AIC=314.76) model. Results of RGLR model indicated that, age (p-value= 0.038, HR >50 vs <50 = 6.75, 95% CI: 2.70–17.30), left laterality (p-value = 0.019, HR left vs right = 3.45, 95% CI: 1.48–8.02), larger tumor size (p-value=0.033, HR T2 vs T1 = 3.70, 95% CI: 2.92–6.68; HR T3 vs T1 = 4.34, 95% CI: 3.17–5.95), higher tumor grades (p-value<0.001, HR grade 2 or 3 vs grade1 = 8.67, 95% CI: 5.10–14.71), are influential factors decreasing male breast cancer patient’s survival. Conclusion: Although the results of the two existing models in the field of small sample size survival analysis (Cox-LASSO and RGLR) are close to each other, the RGLR model has performed better than the Cox-LASSO. With smaller AIC and SE of parameter estimation, RGLR model was choose compared to Cox-LASSO model.

Abstract PO5-16-08: Breast cancer in men: 15 years of experience in an oncology reference center in northern Mexico

Abstract Background Breast cancer in men accounts for about 1% of all breast cancers. Classic risk factors include increasing age, a family history of cancer, and mutations in predisposing genes. The alteration of the estrogen-androgen ratio has been as involved in the genesis of this cancer due to its increased risk in conditions such as liver dysfunction, obesity, marijuana use, thyroid disease, Klinefelter’s syndrome, hormonal therapies, orchitis, cryptorchidism, and testicular damage. Purpose Hereby we aim to update the analysis of the published demographic, clinical and treatment-related characteristics of this disease in our center including the last 15 years, as well as newly identified relevant variables that will serve as the basis for awareness and screening programmes for our population. Methods We performed a retrospective observational analysis of the medical records of men diagnosed with breast cancer that were treated in “Centro Universitario Contra el Cáncer” between January 2007 and December 2022. A total of seventeen cases of male breast cancer were included in the analysis. The variables included are age at diagnosis, body mass index, comorbidities, cigarette and alcohol use, method of diagnosis, histological type/grade, clinical stage, estrogen, progesterone, and human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) receptor status, and treatment received. We also looked at the dates of symptom onset, diagnosis, and treatment to determine the intervals between these events. SPSS v25 software was used for data analysis. The Shapiro-Wilk test was employed to determine the normality of the variables. Variables with a normal distribution were described with median and interquartile range for the 25th and 75th percentiles. Categorical variables were expressed as absolute numbers and percentages. Results Although we found some similarities between the characteristics of our population and those reported in the American and European series, there were many significant differences. Mean age at diagnosis was 62.9 (±11.7) years, 5.5 years earlier than the reported age of 68.4 years. In terms of risk factors, our population was twice as likely to report a family history of cancer as the American series (41% vs. 15-20%). Overweight and obesity together accounted for 76.5% followed by alcohol consumption in 70.6% and cigarette smoking in 47.1% of patients. Diabetes mellitus and systemic arterial hypertension were present in 70% of our population. These entities are known to alter the estrogen-androgen ratio. The initial symptom in 88.2% of patients was a retroareolar tumor. The mean time from symptom onset to cancer diagnosis was 14.4 months. Estrogen and/or progesterone receptor status was positive in 82.3%. HER2 overexpression was not found. 17.6% of the cancers were classified as triple negative in contrast to the 0.3% reported in other series. Regarding treatment, 88.3% underwent upfront surgery, of which 76% were modified radical mastectomies. Axillary node dissection was performed in 86.6% of the cases and sentinel node biopsy in the rest. Seventy-six percent of patients received chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the adjuvant setting. Tamoxifen was the most common drug of choice (87.5%) in the patients considered as candidates for hormonal therapy Conclusions This study updates the results previously reported from our center with additional information that enabled new important conclusions to be drawn about our population. These findings provide the basis for a better understanding of this disease, which is necessary to establish public policies and recommendations to reduce the negative impact of this type of cancer. Table. Demographic and Clinical Characteristics of the Patients Citation Format: Fernando Peña, Javier A. Martínez-Moyano, Francisco Alvarado-Villarreal, Carlos Salazar-Mejía, David Hernández-Barajas, Oscar Vidal-Gutiérrez. Breast cancer in men: 15 years of experience in an oncology reference center in northern Mexico [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO5-16-08.

Abstract PO1-25-11: Deciphering biological differences between normal breast tissues in men and women using single cell sequencing and in vitro modeling

Abstract Breast cancer in men is relatively rare but outcome from the disease is worse than in women. Although 87% breast cancers in men are Estrogen Receptor-positive (ER+), anti-estrogen therapy is less efficacious in men compared to women with similar breast cancer subtype. Recent genomic analysis of breast tumors in men and women have identified overlapping as well as unique genomic aberrations in breast tumors of men. It is unclear whether genomic aberrations enriched in breast cancers of men uniquely affect the biology and thus alter response to antiestrogen therapy. This lack of knowledge is mainly due to scarcity of model systems. To overcome this limitation, we collected ultrasound guided breast biopsies of healthy men and characterized breast epithelial cells grown from these biopsies. Biopsies were also subjected to single nuclei sequencing. Single nuclei breast atlas of men is currently being superimposed on single nuclei breast atlas generated from breast biopsies of healthy women to determine whether distinct cell types exist in men and to distinguish ductal and lobular breast epithelial cells. Breast epithelial cells of men expressed higher levels of ER compared to similarly propagated breast epithelial cells of women. Expression of ER in a subpopulation of cultured breast epithelial cells was confirmed by immunofluorescence. Among the pioneer factors that determine genome wide binding pattern of ER, TBX3 is expressed at a higher level but FOXA1 is expressed at a lower level in breast epithelial cells of men compared to women. Comparative RNA-seq analysis of breast epithelial cells of men and women revealed elevated non-genomic ER signaling in men compared to women, which could be responsible for limited response of breast tumors of men to anti-estrogen therapy. Additional pathways uniquely upregulated in breast epithelial cells of men include non-canonical Wnt, HIF1A, JUN, NF-kB, TGFb, and FOXO1 signaling. Expectedly, breast epithelial cells of men expressed 15 Y chromosome associated genes including the epigenetic regulators KDM5D and UTY, which have recently been shown to be responsible for sex-specific differences in outcome from other cancer types and loss of Y chromosome could be driver event in certain cancer types. We have created immortalized and transformed variants of breast epithelial cells of men to further aid in mechanistic investigation and drug discovery. Furthermore, our tissue bank currently has breast biopsies of ~30 healthy men to be used as controls for breast cancer studies in men. To our knowledge, this is the first model system to study breast cancer in men starting with breast tissues of healthy men. Citation Format: Poornima Bhat-Nakshatri, Benjamin Fischer, Aditi Khatpe, Adedeji Adebayo, Hongyu Gao, Yunlong Liu, Michele Cote, Harikrishna Nakshatri. Deciphering biological differences between normal breast tissues in men and women using single cell sequencing and in vitro modeling [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO1-25-11.

Breast cancer in men – histopathology and biomarkers

Breast cancer in men accounts for around 1% of all cases of the disease. The study aimed to identify histopathological parameters and selected biomarkers in men with breast cancer. Retrospective study of archival material from 53 men diagnosed with breast cancer at the department of pathology, Haukeland University Hospital, in the period 1996-2020. The prevalence of the oestrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PGR) and Human Epidermal Growth Factor (HER2) biomarkers was examined. Median age at time of diagnosis was 72 years. Median tumour diameter was 24mm. Forty-nine tumours were classified histologically as invasive carcinoma of no special type (NST), 29 tumours were histologic grade 2 and 18 were grade 3. Fifty-two tumours were ER positive, 39 were PGR positive and four were HER2 positive. Twenty-five patients had lymph node metastases. Our findings indicate that men with breast cancer are diagnosed at an older age than women, and that men have a more advanced stage than women at the time of diagnosis. The histopathology and expression of biomarkers of breast cancer differ between men and women.

Abstract 4138: Evaluation of breast triple-negative 4T1-derived tumor metastatic development in gender-different mouse

Abstract Background and Objective: Breast cancer in men is a rare and less-studied case, with therapeutic strategies predominantly relying on clinical treatment protocols established for women. To support the clinical treatment concept, Dr. Martin-Martinez's lab observed no differences in the time of orthotopic breast mammary fat pad tumor development, necrosis, or color change of tumor tissue between male and female mice. However, the clinical treatment readout, especially tumor metastasis, is different in men and women, and current models for breast cancer are inadequate due to the absence of metastases. It is necessary to evaluate the development of breast cancer 4T1-derived tumor metastasis in male and female mice. Method and Result: 4T1-Luc breast cancer cells were implanted in male and female Balb/c mice via various routes, including inguinal fat pad injection, tail vein injection, caudal artery injection, portal vein injection, and Intratibial Injection. Illuminance images showed no significant differences in tumor metastatic development between genders for inguinal fat pad, tail vein, and intratibial injections. However, following caudal artery injection, early-stage metastasis differed; male mice developed femoral head metastasis, while female mice developed lung metastasis. In the late stage, male mice displayed lung and femoral bone metastasis, while female mice primarily showed lung metastasis with barely bone metastasis. Conclusion: While both male and female mice showed similar primary breast tumor development, mouse gender affected tumor metastasis differently, particularly when tumor cells went through the caudal artery. Male mice presented earlier femoral head metastasis and less lung metastasis than female mice. Based on this work, sex hormones would affect both hormone-related and nonhormone-related tumor metastasis. To elucidate whether this phenomenon is caused by estrogen or androgen or to test if a drug has any beneficial effects, HD Biosciences provides established tumor metastatic cell-delivering platforms and over 1000 cancer cell lines for target validation and drug efficacy study. Citation Format: Chunhong Shao, Melanie He, Luke Tsung-Huang Tsai. Evaluation of breast triple-negative 4T1-derived tumor metastatic development in gender-different mouse [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 4138.

Descripción de un caso: carcinoma apocrino triple negativo de mama en el varón

Breast cancer in men is rare, accounting for less than 1% of all male cancers. It shares similarities with breast cancer in women, but also important differences. It occurs between 60 and 70 years with a peak age of 67 years. Invasive ductal carcinoma is the one that prevails in men, clinically it is detected as a painless unilateral nodule. Unlike women, where screening studies are carried out, men are usually diagnosed later, because they seek medical attention late due to the low incidence of cancer in male patients and the absence of early signs and symptoms. The diagnosis is usually clinical, but mammography can currently be used to differentiate between benign and malignant breast diseases. This article presents a clinical case of a man diagnosed with locally advanced triple-negative apocrine carcinoma of the breast.

Feasibility of targeted therapies in the adjuvant setting of early breast cancer in men: real-world data from a population-based registry

BackgroundFollowing the positive iDFS and OS results of the phase III clinical trials monarchE, NATALEE and OlympiA, new oral anticancer agents (the CDK4/6 inhibitors abemaciclib, ribociclib as well as the PARP inhibitor olaparib) have recently been introduced into the treatment of high-risk early breast cancer (eBC). However, only few male patients were included in these trials (0.4%, 0.6% and 0.3%, respectively). The objective of this real-world analysis was to determine the proportion of male patients with eBC fulfilling the clinical high-risk criteria of above-mentioned trials.Patients and methodsWe conducted a data inquiry and analysis with the Cancer Registry of Baden-Württemberg of men with breast cancer diagnosed between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2021. Men with eBC were identified and the number of patients at clinical high-risk according to the inclusion criteria of monarchE, NATALEE and OlympiA was assessed.ResultsOf 397 men with eBC, 354 (89.1%) had a HR + /Her2− and 4 (1.0%) a triple-negative subtype. 84 patients (21.2%) met the clinical high-risk criteria according to the monarchE, 189 (47.6%) those according to the NATALEE and 50 (12.6%) those according to the OlympiA trial.ConclusionIn a large real-world sample, more men with eBC are at clinical high risk according to the inclusion criteria of monarchE, NATALEE and OlympiA than would be expected in women. This is most likely due to more advanced stages at initial diagnosis in men. To evaluate whether CDK4/6 and PARP inhibitors improve prognosis also in men should be the topic of future real- world analyses.

Survival Analysis of Male Patients with Brain Metastases at Initial Breast Cancer Diagnosis over the Last Decade.

Breast cancer in men represents approximately 1% of all breast cancer diagnoses. Among all patients with breast cancer, approximately 30% will develop brain metastases. Over the past decade, there have been multiple advances in the treatment of metastatic breast cancer; however, long-term outcomes of this presentation in male patients are lacking. We evaluated male patients with de novo stage IV breast cancer using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database from 2010 to 2019. Overall survival (OS) was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and differences between groups were compared using log rank tests. In total, 22 male patients with brain metastases at initial breast cancer diagnosis were included. Patients with HR-positive/HER2-negative tumors had the longest OS (median 13 months). Factors associated with shorter overall survival were advanced age, unmarried marital status, lower household income, and grade III disease, among others. Brain metastases remains an unmet medical need for patients with breast cancer; the development of new drugs may provide an improvement in overall survival for male patients in the future.

Cutaneous Metastasis Revealing Breast Cancer: A Case Report

Cutaneous metastases are phenomena typically more frequently observed in advanced stages of the disease. However, some cancers can remain clinically silent until the discovery of a cutaneous metastasis, often complicating the diagnosis of the primary tumor, especially if it's a rare tumor like breast cancer in men. It is in this context that we report a case of localized cutaneous metastasis on the scalp, without the presence of other associated clinical signs. Investigations revealed a metastatic breast carcinoma requiring extensive surgical intervention, complemented by adjuvant treatments.

Health education for the detection of breast cancer in men

Introduction: Male breast cancer is an overlooked disease due to its association with females. However, over the past 10 years, there have been a total of 7,031 cases of breast cancer in men. Objective: Collect epidemiological data on breast cancer in men in Brazil, in order to raise awareness among the population and highlight the need for screening measures for early detection in primary care. Method: The study is an exploratory, cross-sectional descriptive study, using data collected in the DATASUS TABNET application between the years 2013 and 2023. Results: The results revealed that the Southeast region presented the highest number of cases (3,007), with the 65-69 age group most affected. This highlights the lack of screening and early diagnosis, as the majority of cases are diagnosed in advanced stages. An increase in diagnoses of the disease has been observed since 2018, with an increasing pattern in the last 5 years. However, there were discrepancies between the DATASUS data and the information found in the literature regarding the treatment. Conclusion: Therefore, the male public must be included in awareness campaigns, enabling the reduction of mortality and underreporting rates of the disease, allowing for early diagnosis and a better prognosis.

Modeling Breast Cancer in Men

Background: In 2023, 2,800 men are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States, and while it affects a smaller patient population, breast cancer in men has a 19% higher mortality rate. Even though 87% of male breast cancers are estrogen receptor positive (ER+), breast cancer in men is resistant to anti-estrogen therapies. In this study we set out to characterize the difference between male and female breast epithelial cells to elucidate potential treatment pathways.
 Project Methods: We compared male and female epithelial cell lines from ultrasound guided breast biopsies of healthy men and women from the Susan G. Komen Tissue Bank that were processed using a culturing method developed in the lab. RNA-Seq of breast epithelial cells was done to identify unique signaling networks and genes in men, and RT-qPCR was used to determine the expression of ER signaling associated genes including ESR1, TBX3, FOXA1, GATA3 and APOBEC3B. Immunofluorescence for ERα was done to characterize differential expression and localization between men and women.
 Result: RNA-Seq identified an upregulation of ESR1 which correlates with increased ER+ male breast cancer, along with upregulation of non-genomic ER signaling pathway, including SRC activation, which may affect treatment response. Male cells also showed high levels KDM5D which is implicated in immune system evasion in esophageal cancer and colon adenocarcinoma. RT-qPCR displayed a two-fold increase in ESR1 and increases in TBX3 and APOBEC3B. Immunofluorescence identified ERα and localization to the cell membrane in men.
 Conclusion: This first characterization and modeling of men’s breast epithelial cells provides the basis for determining the mechanism behind the lack of efficacy of anti-estrogen therapeutics. With further investigation of the increased non-genomic ER signaling in men, specifically the SRC pathway, we hope this will provide a pathway to treat male breast cancer through potential combination therapies.

A critical review on: Comprehending breast cancer in men with reference to female

A critical review on: Comprehending breast cancer in men with reference to female

Breast cancer in men: a case of study

This work describes the case of a male patient with breast cancer, with histopathological report of malignant phyllodes tumor. Clinical case: 65-year-old man with clinical data in the right pectoral region, with pain in the right mammary gland, presence of a palpable, painful mass, with gradual increase in volume, movable, with a stony sensation, sudden weight loss in six months, approximately 15 kg, intolerance to oral intake, excretions unchanged. Evaluation by second level of care with report of mammography bi-rads 5 (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System), suggestive of malignancy. Consulted by general surgery, oncologic surgery and medical oncology, fine needle biopsy was taken, histopathological report of high-grade sarcoma with necrosis, malignant phyllodes tumor, candidate for neoadjuvant therapy.

Clinical Management of Male Breast Cancer with A Single Metachronous Cutaneous Metastasis: A Case Report and Review

Any cancer can spread to the skin, a phenomenon typically more common in advanced stages of the disease. However, some tumors can remain clinically silent until the discovery of a cutaneous metastasis, often complicating the diagnosis of the primary tumor, especially if it's a rare tumor like breast cancer in men. It is in this context that we report a case of localized cutaneous metastasis on the scalp, without the presence of other associated clinical signs. Investigations revealed a metastatic breast carcinoma requiring extensive surgical intervention, complemented by adjuvant treatments.

A Case of Male Breast Cancer and a Literature Review

Background: Breast cancer in men, similar to that in women, originates in the mammary gland epithelium (ducts), and although less common than in women, its incidence has increased in recent decades, accompanied by significant advances in understanding the disease as a distinct entity. It shares important similarities with its female counterpart, with significant progress in diagnosis and treatment. Case presentation: In this report, we describe the clinical and imagenological characteristics of a 64-year-old man with metastatic adenocarcinoma to the skin. The patient presented with an ulcerative lesion on the right hemithorax, along the mid-clavicular line and anterior axillary line at the fifth intercostal space. The lesion had a soft, necrotic appearance, was prone to bleeding, and was referred by the patient as "resulting from trauma" a year ago, with progressive expansion and deepening, despite antibiotic use and cleansing of the wound. It invaded the surrounding skin, which appeared desquamated, erythematous with neovascularization, friable to the touch prone to bleeding with difficulty to achieve hemostasis, and multiple brownish nodular satellite lesions, with no other associated symptoms. A thoracic CT scan performed in the emergency department revealed a bilateral pleural effusion, predominantly on the right side, occupying 50% of the right lung space, along with an osteolytic lesion at the level of the manubrium of the sternum. A follow-up thoracic CT scan showed a pleural effusion occupying 80% of the right lung space, with a minor pneumothorax. The placement of an endopleural chest tube on the right side resulted in the extraction of 1800 ml of serosanguineous fluid, and pleural fluid culture did not reveal microorganisms or tumor cells, making the diagnosis of pulmonary adenocarcinoma less likely. A biopsy of the surrounding tissue yielded an invasive, poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical staining was positive for estrogen and progesterone receptors, CK19, and negative for CK7, CK20, leading to the primary diagnosis of breast cancer based on clinical presentation and lesion location. Conclusions: Breast cancer in men, while sharing similarities with its female counterpart, presents its own unique characteristics. The identification of these factors and education about the significance of this condition, along with the discovery of specific biomarkers and targeted therapies, have the potential to significantly improve the prognosis of male patients in the future.

Challenging Stereotypes: Cases of Breast Cancer in Men

Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumor in women, internationally, and the leading cause of death from cancer. However, breast cancer in men is an uncommon pathology, corresponding to less than 1% of neoplasms in men. The lifetime risk of breast cancer in a man is approximately 1:1000, compared to 1:8 for a woman. Currently, an increase in timely diagnosis has been demonstrated thanks to the programs that are carried out for the early detection of breast cancer worldwide. Although, unfortunately, early diagnosis is still difficult due to the lack of information that a large part of the population has regarding self-examination, not only in our country, but also around the world, and in the case of breast cancer in men, being such an uncommon condition, its diagnosis is more difficult. The incidence of breast cancer is increasing in the developing world, due to longer life expectancy, increased urbanization and the adoption of Western lifestyles. Among the risk factors that have been seen to increase the risk of breast cancer in men, with scientifically proven evidence, are mainly hormonal disorders, family history and mutations of certain genes that predispose to the disease. The hormonal disorders mentioned above refer to an increase in circulating estrogen levels and a deficiency in the synthesis or action of testosterone. These alterations can be caused by disorders at the level of testicular testosterone synthesis, such as: orchitis, orchiectomy, undescended testicle, congenital inguinal hernia and others. Patients who voluntarily consume exogenous estrogens as part of the treatment of prostate cancer or transsexuals should also be taken into account. Another risk factor that has been found to be implicated in the presentation of this type of neoplasia are medications; many frequently used medications are testosterone antagonists. Alcohol is also implicated, since it decreases testosterone synthesis and the number of testicular receptors for gonadotropin. A higher prevalence has also been seen in patients with obesity, in whom there is a double risk, because as they have a higher peripheral aromatization of androgens, they synthesize a greater amount of circulating estrogens. Approximately 20% of men with breast cancer have a first-line family history, which indicates a two to three times higher risk of developing the disease at some point in their lives and that this risk doubles exponentially with the number of affected family members. Currently there are many programs and organizations that promote the fight against breast cancer, such as the World Health Organization, where there are comprehensive national cancer control programs that are integrated with non-communicable diseases and other related problems. Comprehensive cancer control encompasses prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment, rehabilitation and palliative care. Raising awareness of the general public about the problem of breast cancer and control mechanisms, as well as promoting appropriate policies and programs, are key strategies for population-based breast cancer control. Based on what has been mentioned above, the work will be carried out in order to have a better approach to breast cancer in men, due to the little information we have about it, as well as to raise awareness among the general population about the risk factors, prognostic factors, timely diagnosis and treatment of patients with this type of pathology.

A Single Centric Quantitative Assessment of Male Breast Cancer Knowledge, Perception, and Awareness: Breaking the Stigma in Indian Population.

Most people throughout the world are still uninformed of the problem of breast cancer in men. Despite increasing awareness programs targeting women, most people are unaware that breast cancer can also affect men. Our purpose is to assess the knowledge, perception, and awareness of male breast cancer among the adult male population. A descriptive cross-sectional survey included 128 male employees who agreed to participate in our study. We distributed pre-validated questionnaires to participants and gathered data following the one-on-one interview. The mean age of the participants was 37.71 years with a standard deviation of 7.65. About 55.5% of the participants were unaware that changes in the nipple position could be a sign of breast cancer. Majority of the participants, i.e., 60.9% believe positive family history will not increase the risk of breast cancer and 93% of participants have no idea about self-breast examination to detect lumps. On the other hand, 33.6% of participants stated that diagnosis and treatment of male breast cancer is embarrassing. Majority of the participants have no idea about the screening methods, 59.4% of participants have not heard about mammography, which is considered a modality of choice for early detection of breast cancer. The male university staff were lacking in knowledge and awareness about male breast cancer. In Indian community, because of shyness, they feel very embarrassed when it comes to openly discussing breast cancer. Because of this, it needs to receive more attention and to educate the male population about male breast cancer.