Real-world Evaluation of Oral Vinorelbine in the Treatment of Metastatic Breast Cancer: An ESME-MBC Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Vinorelbine is indicated for use in the treatment of MBC as a single agent or in combination but there is little real world data on this molecule and even less on its oral form. We exploited the Unicancer Epidemiology Strategy Medical-Economics (ESME) metastatic breast cancer (MBC) database to investigate current patterns of use of oral vinorelbine (OV), as well as outcomes of patients receiving this drug. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively from women and men treated for MBC between 2008 and 2014 at one of 18 French Comprehensive Cancer Centres. The efficacy of OV was evaluated in terms of progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) and treatment duration. The population and patterns of OV usage were also described. RESULTS: A total of 1806 patients (11% of the ESME MBC database) were included in this analysis. OV was prescribed as monotherapy (46%) or in combination (29%), especially with capecitabine. mainly in later treatment lines. Median PFS was 3.3 months: 2.9 months for single agent, 3.6 months for combination therapy. Median OS was 40.9 months. CONCLUSION: Real-world data offer complementary results to the data from traditional clinical trials, but they concern a much larger population. In this ESME MBC cohort, OV was only prescribed to a small subset of MBC patients. OV was mainly given as single agent to patients with heavily pre-treated MBC; less commonly, it was co-administered with capecitabine or anti-HER2, in earlier lines of therapy. PFS was modest but in line with previous reports.

Características del cáncer de mama masculino en una población uruguaya / Characteristics of male breast cancer in a Uruguayan population / Características do câncer de mama masculino em uma população uruguaia

El cáncer de mama (CM) en el hombre (CMM) es una entidad poco frecuente. Si bien tiene algunas semejanzas con el CM femenino, es una patología con un perfil propio. El objetivo del estudio consiste en conocer las características del CMM y su manejo en nuestro medio. Materiales y métodos: estudio retrospectivo que incluyó pacientes diagnosticados de CMM en tres centros del Uruguay en un período de 15 años. Resultados: se incluyeron 12 pacientes; la mediana de edad fue 68 años; un tercio de ellos tenían antecedentes familiares (AF). Características clínico patológicas: todos los tumores fueron carcinomas ductales con grado histológico (GH) 2-3, » se hallaban en estadio (E) I, la mitad (6) en EII, 6 tuvieron metástasis axilares, 2/3 fueron receptores de estrógeno (RE) / receptores de progesterona (RP) +. Se definieron 3 subtipos biológicos: I) HER2- RE/RP+: 2/3 de los pacientes; II) HER2+: 1/6; y III) triple negativo: 1/6. Todos los pacientes con enfermedad localizada fueron sometidos a mastectomía y la mayoría recibió tratamiento con quimioterapia (QT). La totalidad de quienes presentaron enfermedad localizada RE/RP+ recibieron hormonoterapia adyuvante con buena adherencia y tolerancia. Dos de los once pacientes tratados con criterio radical recayeron en la evolución; el resto permanece en controles o tratamiento sin evidencia de recaída. Conclusión: presentamos una serie de pacientes con CMM, con un perfil similar al reportado en la literatura. La edad de presentación fue superior a la del CM femenino, y la mayoría fueron RE/RP +, HER 2-; sin embargo, en esta serie los pacientes se presentaron en estadio localizado y con tumores de alto grado en una proporción mayor a lo descrito en la literatura.

Breast cancer (BC) in men (MBC) is an uncommon clinical entity. Even though it shares some similarities with female BC, it has a distinctive profile. The objective of this study was to identify the characteristics of MBC and learn how it is managed in our setting. Materials and methods: retrospective study including patients diagnosed with MBC in three centers in Uruguay for a period of 15 years. Results: 12 patients were enrolled; the median age was 68 years; a third of whom had a family history (FH). Clinical and pathological characteristics: all of the tumors were ductal carcinomas of histological grade (HG) 2-3, 1/4 were stage (S) I, half (6) were SII, 6 had axillary metastases, 2/3 were estrogen receptor (ER) / progesterone receptor (PR) +. Three biological subtypes were defined: I) HER2- ER/PR+: 2/3 of patients; II) HER2+: 1/6; and III) triple-negative: 1/6. All patients with localized cancer underwent a mastectomy and most were treated with chemotherapy (CHT). All of those who presented with localized, ER/PR+ cancer received adjuvant hormone therapy, with good adherence and tolerance. Two of the eleven patients treated with radical surgery recurred during evolution; the rest remain in follow-up or treatment without evidence of recurrence. Conclusion: we presented a series of patients with MBC, with a profile similar to the one reported in the literature. Age at presentation was higher than that of female BC, and most were ER/PR +, HER 2-. However, patients in this series presented with breast cancer in the localized stage and high-grade tumors in a higher proportion than is described in the literature.

O câncer de mama (CM) em homens (CMM) é uma entidade clínica incomum. Embora tenha algumas semelhanças com o CM feminino, é uma patologia com o seu próprio perfil. O objetivo deste estudo foi conhecer as características do CMM e seu manejo no nosso meio. Materiais e métodos: estudo retrospectivo com pacientes com diagnóstico de CMM em três centros do Uruguai em um período de 15 anos. Resultados: foram incluídos 12 pacientes; a mediana da idade foi 68 anos; um terço deles tinha antecedentes familiares (AF). Características clínico-patológicas: todos os tumores foram carcinomas ductais de grau histológico (GH) 2-3, 1/4 estavam no estágio (E) I, a metade (6) no EII, 6 apresentaram metástases axilares, 2/3 foram receptores de estrogênio (RE) / receptores de progesterona (RP) +. Foram definidos 3 subtipos biológicos: I) HER2- RE/RP+: 2/3 dos pacientes; II) HER2+: 1/6; e III) triplo-negativo: 1/6. Todos os pacientes com doença localizada foram submetidos a mastectomia e a maioria receberam tratamento com quimioterapia (QT). A totalidade dos que apresentaram doença localizada RE/RP+ recebeu hormonioterapia adjuvante com boa adesão e tolerância. Dois dos onze pacientes tratados com critério radical recaíram na evolução; o resto permanece sob monitoramento ou tratamento sem evidência de recaída. Conclusão: apresentamos uma série de pacientes com CMM, com um perfil semelhante ao descrito na literatura. A idade de apresentação foi maior do que para o CM feminino, e a maioria foram RE/RP +, HER 2-; entretanto, os pacientes desta série apresentaram-se com estágio localizado e tumores de alto grau em uma proporção maior do que a descrita na literatura.

Endocrine therapy or chemotherapy as first-line therapy in hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: For hormone receptor-positive (HR+) human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2-) negative metastatic breast cancer (MBC), international guidelines recommend endocrine therapy as first-line treatment, except in case of 'visceral crisis'. In the latter case, chemotherapy is preferred. Few studies have compared these two strategies. We used the Epidemiological Strategy and Medical Economics (ESME) programme, UNICANCER, a large national observational database (NCT03275311), to address this question. METHODS: All patients who initiated treatment for a newly diagnosed HR+ HER2-negative MBC between January 2008 and December 2014 in any of the 18 French Comprehensive Cancer Centers participating to ESME were selected. Patients should be aromatase inhibitor (AI)-sensitive (no previous AI or relapse occurring more than 1 year after last adjuvant AI). Objectives of the study were evaluation of progression-free and overall survival (OS) according to the type of first-line treatment adjusted on main prognostic factors using a propensity score. RESULTS: Six thousand two hundred sixty-five patients were selected: 2733 (43.6%) received endocrine therapy alone, while 3532 (56.4%) received chemotherapy as first-line therapy. Among the latter, 2073 (58.7%) received maintenance endocrine therapy. Median OS was 60.78 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 57.16-64.09) and 49.64 months (95% CI, 47.31-51.64; p < 0.0001) for patients receiving endocrine therapy alone and chemotherapy ± maintenance endocrine therapy, respectively. However, this difference was not significant after adjusting on the propensity score (hazard ratio: 0.943, 95% CI 0.863-1.030, p = 0.19). CONCLUSION: In this large retrospective cohort of patients with AI-sensitive metastatic luminal BC, OS was similar, whether first-line treatment was chemotherapy or endocrine therapy. In agreement with international guidelines, endocrine therapy should be the first choice for first-line systemic treatment for MBC in the absence of visceral crisis.

18F-Fluorocholine PET/CT of Incidental Male Breast Cancer.

Breast cancer is approximately 100 times less common among men. Estrogen-related receptor α was detected in human prostate cancer tissue, and androgen receptors are expressed in both normal and malignant breast tissue. Thus, prostate cancer hormonal therapy may increase breast cancer risk. A 67-year-old man with prostate cancer history presented with rising prostate-specific antigen level. F-Fluorocholine PET/CT showed intense uptake in his right breast and moderate uptake in right axillary lymph node. Complementary F-FDG PET/CT demonstrated more intense tracer uptakes in both the right breast and axillary lymph node. Breast histological findings were invasive ductal cancer, with axillary lymph node invasion.

An unusual case of metastatic male breast cancer to the nasopharynx-review of literature.

Metastatic breast carcinoma has been described to the various areas in the head and neck region. However, these metastases are rarely found in nasopharynx. Herein we are presenting the first case of male breast carcinoma with the longest survival secondary to distant metastases in right maxillary sinus and extending to the nasopharynx with extensive skeletal & lung metastases. Here we present a case of 65-year-old male with past medical history of right breast carcinoma, presented clinically with symptoms of recurrent sinusitis. Physical examination revealed a mass in the nasopharynx, which subsequently proved to be hormonal receptor positive high-grade adenocarcinoma secondary to metastasis of primary breast cancer on biopsy. The patient received three cycles of palliative chemotherapy based on Doxorubicin with Paclitaxel weekly. In spite of that, he developed pulmonary, liver and bone metastases. Later, treatment regimen was changed to Gemcitabine, Paclitaxel and injectable Zolendronate with calcium and vitamin D supplementation. Still he didn't show any improvement and later, he developed febrile neutropenia. Then, he refused further chemotherapy and died after 12 months of receiving the best hospice care. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in terms of incidence and mortality; breast cancer deserves extensive studies and research in different aspects. Breast cancer metastasizing to nasopharynx would be the last diagnosis that comes to mind for a male patient presenting with clinical features suggestive of recurrent sinusitis infection. As recurrent sinusitis is a very common ailment affecting human kind and is mostly due to benign causes. Metastasis, although rare, should be included in the differential diagnosis of nasopharyngeal lesion since it may clinically mimic a benign neoplasm or primary carcinoma. Based on our clinical experience and review of literature, although it is a very rare possibility in a patient with sinusitis, still we advise not to overlook any symptoms suggestive of the etiology of recurrent sinusitis.

[Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the breast:report of 25 cases].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clinical features, management approach and treatment outcomes for adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the breast. METHODS: The clinicopathological data of 25 patients with breasts ACC treated in our hospital from years 1990 to 2012 were retrospectively reviewed and their prognosis was analyzed. RESULTS: The median age of these 25 patients was 53 years (ranged from 31 to 81 years). With the exception of one male case, all patients were female including 17 cases of postmenopausal women. The most frequent presenting symptom is breast lumps, most (48.0%) were in the upper outer quadrant and areola area of the breast. Core needle biopsy was performed in five patients. The specimen finding were adenoids in three and invasive carcinoma in two cases. Axillary lymph node dissection was performed in 23 patients. Only two patients had histologically positive lymph nodes (3 of 14 and 2 of 20). Expression of ER and PR in 14 cases was detected by immunohistochemistry, showing one PR-positive and three ER-positive cases. The median follow-up of the 25 cases was 118 months (ranged from 12 to 244 months). Two patients died of lung metastases at 3 and 10 years after the surgery, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Due to the complexity of the histology of ACC, adequate sampling of specimens is essential for accurate diagnosis. ACC of the breast is a rare disease with a relatively good prognosis. The low incidence of axillary lymph node metastasis suggests that axillary node dissection is not recommended as a routine procedure. Breast ACC are often with negative ER and PR expression, and the value of adjuvant therapy needs to be further investigated.

Walker 256/B malignant breast cancer cells disrupt osteoclast cytomorphometry and activity in rats: modulation by α-tocopherol acetate.

We examined the effects of vitamin E supplementation (VES) on osteoclast (OC) resorbing activity and cytomorphometry in Walker 256/B tumor osteolytic rats. Twenty-four aged male rats were randomized into 3 groups: 6 were sham operated; 9 were injected in the right hind limb with Walker 256/B cells (W256 group); and 9 were injected as above and supplemented with VE (45mg/kg BW) (W256VE group). Twenty days later, bone mass (BV/TV) and some microarchitectural parameters were assessed. Some histodynamic parameters, cellular and nuclear form factors (FFC and FFN), and nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio (N/C) of OC were measured for each group. W256 group exhibited osteolytic lesions in the operated femora. Walker 256/B induced trabecular perforation and decreased BV/TV associated with significant increases in OC numbering (N.Oc/B.Ar and Oc.N/B.Pm) and activity (ES/BS and Oc.S/BS). While FFN remain unchanged, the FFC and N/C ratio increased in the W256 group. W256VE showed less osteolytic lesions. Moreover, disruption of bone microarchitecture and OC activity in W256VE group decreased. VES reduced the malignant Walker 256/B-induced enhanced OC resorbing activity with cytoinhibition rate reaching 41%. The protective effect of VE may be due to its modulation of OC cytomorphometry and subsequently their activity.

[Primitive neuroendocrine cancer of the breast. Post-traumatic discovery of a man]. / Tumeur neuroendocrine primitive du sein. Découverte post-traumatique chez un homme.

We report a primitive neuroendocrine breast tumor (NET) in a male. This situation is uncommon by its mode of discovery. We have treated a 74-year-old man with a lesion in the left areola initially considered as an organized hematoma due to a severe trauma. The ablation was performed by direct access under local anesthesia. The analysis of the piece has showed a NET of the breast due to the positivity of the neuroendocrine, cytokeratin and hormone markers. No other NET lesion was found, excluding the secondary origin of the breast tumor. Complementary therapies associated mastectomy, lymphadenectomy, hormonotherapy. Male breast cancer is rare. NET are exceptional, only a dozen of male NET is reported. These tumors affect a specific population and have a better prognosis than infiltrating ductal carcinoma. In our case, no causal link can be demonstrated between trauma and tumor microenvironment necessary for the growth of quiescent cancer cells.

Male breast cancer: management and follow-up recommendations.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines for female breast cancer treatment and surveillance are well established, but similar guidelines on male breast cancers are less recognized. As an NCCN institution, our objective was to examine practice patterns and follow-up for male breast cancer compared to established guidelines for female patients. After Institutional Review Board approval, a prospective breast database from 1990 to 2009 was queried for male patients. Medical records were examined for clinico-pathological factors and follow-up. The 5-year survival rates with 95% confidence intervals were estimated using Kaplan-Meier method and Greenwood formula. Of the 19,084 patients in the database, 73 (0.4%) were male patients; 62 had complete data. One patient had bilateral synchronous breast cancer. The median age was 68.8 years (range 29-85 years). The mean/median invasive tumor size was 2.2/1.6 cm (range 0.0-10.0 cm). All cases had mastectomy (29 with axillary node dissection, 23 with sentinel lymph node biopsy only, 11 with sentinel node biopsy followed by completion axillary dissection). Lymph node involvement occurred in 25/63 (39.7%). Based on NCCN guidelines, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and radiation are indicated in 34 cases, 62 cases, and 14 cases, respectively. Only 20/34 (59%) received chemotherapy, 51/62 (82%) received hormonal therapy, and 10/14 (71%) received post-mastectomy radiation. Median follow-up was 26.2 months (range: 1.6-230.9 months). The 5-year survival estimates for node positive and negative diseases were 68.5% and 87.5%, respectively (p = 0.3). Despite the rarity of male breast cancer, treatment options based on current female breast tumors produce comparable results to female breast cancer. Increased awareness and a national registry for patients could help improve outcomes and tailor treatment recommendations to the male variant.

[Cutaneous manifestations of male breast cancer]. / Manifestations cutanées du cancer du sein chez l'homme.

OBJECTIVE: The appearance of skin symptoms in male breast is the main reason for consultation in our context. The aim of this study is to describe the various cutaneous manifestations of male breast cancer through a series of cases collected in a dermatology department. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted in the dermatology department at the CHU Ibn Rochd January 1988 to December 2009. All cases of male breast cancer initially diagnosed in dermatology were included. The various epidemiological, clinical, histological and therapeutic data were collected from medical records. RESULTS: Twenty cases were collected. The mean age was 61.25 years. Skin invasion by tumor was found in all patients, and it was the reason for consultation. It was a cutaneous involvement at the nipple and areola (17 cases) and at the periareolar skin (three cases). The clinical appearance of skin involvement was vegetative type in 12 cases, infiltrating with nipple retraction in five cases and nodule with skin change in three cases. The average period of consultation was 25 months. The axillary lymph nodes were noted in 11 patients and distant metastases in eight patients. The cutaneous metastases outside breast were noted in six patients. The histological types were: infiltrating ductal carcinoma in 15 cases (75%), papillary carcinoma in two cases (10%) and non-specific carcinoma in three cases (15%). The treatment was surgery in 14 patients and consisted of radical mastectomy with complete axillary nodal dissection according to Patey. Complementary therapies, chemotherapy or radiotherapy, were indicated in 14 patients. CONCLUSION: Our single-center study with dermatological recruitment illustrates the frequency and variety of skin disease in male breast cancer and demonstrates that they are still the main reason for consultation in our context. Better information for public and practitioners would allow earlier diagnosis and a more favourable prognosis.

The incidence of symptomatic thromboembolism in patients receiving adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer.

Thromboembolism is a well recognised complication of systemic chemotherapy and cancer. Its incidence is frequently not reported in clinical trials of adjuvant chemotherapy for early stage breast cancer. Our own experience suggested that thromboembolic complications were common and we undertook a retrospective review of consecutive patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy to determine the incidence and morbidity/mortality of this complication. A total of 280 consecutive patients were identified who had received adjuvant ECMF chemotherapy between January 2001 and February 2007. Thromboembolic events occurred in 21 patients (7.5%). Events were distributed across chemotherapy cycles, but were more common during CMF chemotherapy (18 cases vs 3 cases). Patients over the age of 60 years appeared to be at particular risk of thromboembolism with an event rate of 27% (15/56 patients). Thromboembolic events were associated with dose delays and cessation of chemotherapy in some patients. With a median follow up of 28 months there is no significant difference in the incidence of breast cancer recurrence (16.7% vs 14.3%, p=0.9) or overall survival (89.5% vs 89.9%, p=0.8) between patients who experienced a thromboembolic event during adjuvant chemotherapy and those who did not. Based on the incidence of thromboembolism in our unselected patient population we believe that further prospective studies are indicated seeking to identify those patients at increased risk of this important complication who might benefit from thromboprophylaxis.

Phase I dose escalation trial of docetaxel plus curcumin in patients with advanced and metastatic breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Since the improvement of chemotherapy with safe molecules is needed for a better efficacy without supplementary toxicity, we investigated the feasibility and tolerability of the combination of docetaxel and curcumin, a polyphenolic derivative extracted from Curcuma longa root. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were accrued in this open-label phase I trial. At the last dose level of curcumin, three dose-limiting toxicities were observed and two out of three patients at this dose level refused to continue treatment, leading us to define the maximal tolerated dose of curcumin at 8,000 mg/d. Eight patients out of 14 had measurable lesions according to RECIST criteria, with five PR and three SD. Some improvements as biological and clinical responses were observed in most patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer were eligible. Docetaxel (100 mg/m(2)) was administered as a 1 h i.v. infusion every 3 w on d 1 for six cycles. Curcumin was orally given from 500 mg/d for seven consecutive d by cycle (from d-4 to d+2) and escalated until a dose-limiting toxicity should occur. The primary endpoint of this study was to determine the maximal tolerated dose of the combination of dose-escalating curcumin and standard dose of docetaxel chemotherapy in advanced and metastatic breast cancer patients. Secondary objectives included toxicity, safety, vascular endothelial growth factor and tumor markers measurements and assessment of objective and clinical responses to the combination therapy. CONCLUSION: The recommended dose of curcumin is 6,000 mg/d for seven consecutive d every 3 w in combination with a standard dose of docetaxel. From the encouraging efficacy results, a comparative phase II trial of this regimen plus docetaxel versus docetaxel alone is ongoing in advanced and metastatic breast cancer patients.

Orbital metastasis associated with primary breast carcinoma in a man detected during peribulbar anesthesia for cataract surgery.

PURPOSE: A case of orbital infiltration by breast carcinoma in a male patient causing mild enophthalmos and subcutaneous mass detected accidentally during peribulbar anesthesia for cataract surgery is discussed. METHODS: The authors report a case of a 65-year-old man who came to the Ophthalmology Department for cataract surgery. During the presurgery peribulbar injection, a hard palpable mass located under the inferior left eyelid was noted, together with mild enophthalmos. A historical clinical screening revealed that 5 years previously the patient had undergone a right radical mastectomy to treat a ductal carcinoma of the breast. RESULTS: The patient underwent an incisional biopsy of the orbital mass that confirmed the clinical hypothesis of a metastasis. DISCUSSION: This case highlights the importance of the collection and screening of detailed clinical information on the patient before every ophthalmic operation including cataract surgery. The occurrence of progressive enophthalmos can represent an unusual symptom of orbital metastasis, commonly presenting with proptosis and diplopia.

[Clinical research advancement on male breast cancer].

Male breast cancer is a rare disease and the incidence has increased over the past 25 years. Current knowledge regarding its biology, natural history, and treatment strategies is mainly based on the research findings on female breast cancer. Genetic risk factors include BRCA2 mutations. Occupational risk factors include high temperature environments and exhaust fumes. Hormonal imbalances, such as gonadal dysfunction, obesity, and radiation exposure also contribute to the occurrence of male breast cancer. It may be indolent or progress slowly, or invade rapidly. Most cases are ductal tumors and 10% of the cases are ductal carcinoma in situ. The surgical operation is usually mastectomy with axillary clearance or sentinel node biopsy. Indications for radiotherapy, as well as the steps and methods, are similar to that for female breast cancer. Because 90% of the patients are estrogen receptor-positive, tamoxifen is a standard adjuvant therapy, but some individuals could also benefit from chemotherapy. In this article, the latest information on the epidemiology, biology, and treatment of male breast cancer is reviewed.

A prospective study of adjuvant CMF in males with node positive breast cancer: 20-year follow-up.

PURPOSE: To determine the long-term overall survival of male patients with stage II node positive breast cancer treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1974 and 1988, 31 male breast cancer patients were prospectively enrolled on study MB-82 in the National Cancer Institute. Following mastectomy, patients were treated with 12 cycles of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF) chemotherapy. RESULTS: Median patient age was 61 years (38-74 years). Twenty-one patients (68%) had 1-3 positive axillary lymph nodes while ten patients (32%) had four or more positive nodes. Estrogen receptor status was positive in 22 (71%), negative in 1 (3%), and unknown in 8 (26%) tumors. Progesterone receptor status was positive in 18 (58%), negative in 3 (10%), and unknown in 10 (32%) tumors. Median potential follow-up for all patients is 22.5 years with a median survival of 16.3 years. Twenty-one of 31 patients have died; one from a treatment-related complication, nine patients from recurrent breast cancer, five from other cancers, one from non-cancer related causes, and five from unknown causes. Ten patients remain alive at a median of 19.2 years. The overall survival probability at 10 years is 64.5% (95% CI: 46.9-78.9%), at 15 years is 51.6% (95% CI: 34.8-68%), and at 20 years is 42.4% (95% CI: 25.8-60.8%). CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, 20-year prospective data with adjuvant chemotherapy in male breast cancer has never been reported. Adjuvant chemotherapy may benefit male breast cancer patients with positive nodes.

[Clinical analysis of resectable breast cancer: a report of 6 263 cases].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: In Europe and America, breast cancer commonly occurs in women of middle and old age, the median age of patients is about 57 years old. Modified radical mastectomy has taken the place of traditional radical mastectomy, and is called standard radical mastectomy. Patients with breast cancer of early stage commonly receive breast conservative therapy. TNM stage (especially the lymph node status) affects the prognosis, and adjuvant therapy can improve the survival. In China, just a few clinical researches of large amounts of breast cancer patients have been reported. This study was to analyze clinical feature, surgical patterns, treatment outcome of resectable breast cancer, and explore prognostic factors and the effect of adjuvant therapy, for the sake of improving the levels of diagnosis and treatment. METHODS: Records of 6 263 patients with resectable breast cancer, admitted in our hospital from Jun. 1963 to Jun. 2003, were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the 6 263 patients, 98.8% were women. Breast cancer occurred most frequently in patients of 40-49 years old (41.0%), especially in patients of 45-49 years old (25.2%). Breast lump was the main clinical manifestation, and occurred in 96.2% of the patients. The 5-, and 10-year survival rates of all patients were 75.2%, and 40.4%. Of the patients in TNM stages 0-I,II, and III, the 5-year survival rates were 96.8%, 73.7%, and 46.4%, respectively the 10-year survival rates were 78.7%, 64.6%, and 33.5%, respectively. The 5-, and 10-year survival rates were higher in lymph node negative group than in lymph node positive group (80.3% vs. 55.6%, and 59.2% vs. 31.9%, P<0.01). There was no significant difference in survival rates of patients received radical mastectomy and modified radical mastectomy since 1980's (P>0.05). Of the 73 patients received breast conservative therapy, no local recurrence or metastasis occurred, with the maximal follow-up of 17 years. Of the patients in stage T2 -T4, the 5-, and 10-year survival rates were significantly higher in adjuvant chemotherapy group than in non-chemotherapy group (78.2% vs. 60.1%, and 48.9% vs. 30.7%, P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: According to our data, breast cancer most frequently occurred in patients of 45-49 years old. TNM stage (especially the axillary lymph node status)relates to prognosis of breast cancer. The prognosis was worse in the patients with positive lymph node than in the patients with negative Lymph node. The efficacy of modified radical mastectomy equals to that of radical mastectomy, breast conservative therapy can be applied to patients in early stage. Adjuvant chemotherapy and endocrine therapy can improve the survival of resectable breast cancer patients.

Tamoxifen-failed male breast cancer with a high level of circulating estrogen: report of a case.

We report herein the case of a 40-year-old man with grade II invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast (pT1, pN0, M0: stage I) in whom a recurrence developed shortly after completion of a 2-year course of tamoxifen and 5-fluorouracil therapy following a mastectomy. Although the metastatic tumor was estrogen receptor-positive, hormone therapy combined with chemotherapy had no significant effect on tumor growth, and the patient died from disseminated tumors 2 years 6 months after completion of the adjuvant therapy. It is noteworthy that the circulating estradiol level increased from 18.0 to 892.3 pg/ml during the period of tumor progression and dissemination. We interpret these findings as an indication of high aromatase activity in the metastatic tumors. We suggest that extending tamoxifen treatment to 5 years or longer be recommended for the standard adjuvant hormone therapy of male breast cancer to prevent the early recurrence of hormone-responsive disease.

Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast: analysis of eight Asian patients with special emphasis on two unusual cases presenting with inflammatory-type breast cancer.

Metaplastic carcinoma of the breast is a rare form of breast cancer and has an uncertain prognostic significance. Cases from Asian countries have never been reported in the English literature. Between 1983 and 1998, we encountered 8 cases in our institution. There were 7 women and one man with a median age of 52.5 (37-73) years. Pathologic diagnosis included three poorly-differentiated adenosquamous carcinomas, two adenocarcinomas with spindle cell metaplasia, two matrix-producing carcinomas and one carcinosarcoma. Estrogen receptor was positive in 2 (25%) patients. Local recurrence or distant metastasis developed in 3 patients within one year of initial treatment. With a mean follow-up of 81 months (range, 19-183 months), 5 patients were disease-free at the time of this report. Interestingly, two of our patients had presented with huge-sized inflammatory breast cancer and were refractory to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, but enjoyed an unexpected long disease-free survival after mastectomy. Although the clinical course of our patients appeared in general similar to that of the Western series, the two patients with inflammatory breast carcinoma ran a very unusual course, which may deserve further characterization.

[Cancer of the male breast]. / Il cancro della mammella maschile.

BACKGROUND: Male breast cancer is a rare type of neoplasm, being 1% of all breast tumors. An increasing relevance is given to genetic factors. Familiarity is present in 10% of cases reported in literature. Gynecomastia is frequently associated. Personal experience about this pathology is compared with the most recent data of the literature. METHODS: Nine cases of male breast cancer observed among 519 breast tumors operated between 1982 and 1997 are reported. Etiologic and prognostic aspects, surgical and complementary therapy of breast cancer in man are examined and the high rate of II-III stage patients, mostly ER+ and PR+ is underlined. Diagnosis is reached by ultrasonography and mammography, after an accurate clinical examination and confirmed by cytology after needle biopsy. The choice operation is total mastectomy with axillary lymphadenectomy according to Patey. RESULTS: According to our experience, 5 patients died for non neoplastic pathology, 1 patient lost at follow-up, 3 patients still alive after 66, 60 and 12 months respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Male breast cancer is similar to the female one, but characterized by a higher hormone receptors positivity. Our survival data have no statistic significance. It is still discussed if prognostic difference between men and women is present or not.