[Male breast cancer in Morocco: Epidemiology and prognostic factors. A report of 140 cases]. / Cancer du sein chez l'homme au Maroc : épidémiologie et facteurs pronostiques. À propos de 140 cas.

OBJECTIVES: Male breast cancer is rare; it constitutes 0.2-1.5 % of all malignant tumors in men and 1 % of all breast cancers. METHODS: The goal of this retrospective study is to analyze the epidemiologic, clinic, therapeutic and evolutive profiles of this disease in 140 cases collected at the National Institute of Oncology and military hospital in Rabat, Morocco, between the years 1998 and 2007. RESULTS: The mean age was 61 years. A high incidence of overweight was found. The most frequent clinical presentation was a firm subareolar lump in 83 % of cases. The most common pathological type was an infiltrating ductal carcinoma (93 %). Hormone receptors were positive in 86 % of cases. Eighty-five percent of patients underwent simple mastectomy and axillary dissection, 68 % chest wall irradiation after surgery, 54 % received chemotherapy and 82 % hormonal therapy. Median follow-up was 91.1 months. The estimated 5-year and 10-year overall survival was respectively 68 % and 74 %. CONCLUSION: The management of male and female breast carcinoma is the same, as well as their prognosis at equal stages. Future research for better understanding of this disease are needed to improve the management and prognosis of male patients.

Embolization biomaterial reinforced with nanotechnology for an in-situ release of anti-angiogenic agent in the treatment of hyper-vascularized tumors and arteriovenous malformations.

A polymer based material was developed to act as an embolic agent and drug reservoir for the treatment of arteriovenous malformations (AVM) and hyper vascularized solid tumors. The aim was to combine the blocking of blood supply to the target region and the inhibition of the embolization-stimulated angiogenesis. The material is composed of an ethanolic solution of a linear acrylate based copolymer and acrylate calibrated microparticles containing nanospheres loaded with sunitinib, an anti-angiogenic agent. The precipitation of the linear copolymer in aqueous environment after injection through microcatheter results in the formation of an in-situ embolization gel whereas the microparticles serve to increase the cohesive properties of the embolization agent and to form a reservoir from which the sunitinib-loaded nanospheres are released post-embolization. The swollen state of the microparticles in contact with aqueous medium results in the release of the nanospheres out of microparticles macromolecular structure. After the synthesis, the formulation and the characterization of the different components of the material, anti-angiogenic activity was evaluated in vitro using endothelial cells and in vivo using corneal neovascularization model in rabbit. The efficiency of the arterial embolization was tested in vivo in a sheep model. Results proved the feasibility of this new system for vascular embolization in association with an in situ delivery of anti-angiogenic drug. This combination is a promising strategy for the management of arteriovenous malformations and solid tumors.