Breast cancer in a transgender man and hypofractionated radiotherapy: A case report and review of literature.

A 77-year-old transgender man (assigned female sex at birth, gender identity male, i.e. female-to-male) was referred for a palpable mass of the right chest wall. Biopsies revealed invasive lobular breast carcinoma. After discussion by a multidisciplinary tumour board meeting, the patient was treated with total mastectomy, adjuvant hypofractionated radiation therapy, and hormone therapy. At 1.5-year follow-up, there was no sign of recurrence or long-term radiation side effects. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of adjuvant hypofractionated radiation therapy in a transgender patient with breast cancer.

Omission of adjuvant radiotherapy in low-risk elderly males with breast cancer.

PURPOSE: Randomized clinical trials demonstrate that lumpectomy + hormone therapy (HT) without radiation therapy (RT) yields equivalent survival and acceptable local-regional outcomes in elderly women with early-stage, node-negative, hormone-receptor positive (HR +) breast cancer. Whether these data apply to men with the same inclusion criteria remains unknown. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was queried for male patients ≥ 65 years with pathologic T1-2N0 (≤ 3 cm) HR + breast cancer treated with breast-conserving surgery with negative margins from 2004 to 2019. Adjuvant treatment was classified as HT alone, RT alone, or HT + RT. Male patients were matched with female patients for OS comparison. Survival analysis was performed using Cox regression and Kaplan - Meier method. Inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) was applied to adjust for confounding. RESULTS: A total of 523 patients met the inclusion criteria, with 24.4% receiving HT, 16.3% receiving RT, and 59.2% receiving HT + RT. The median follow-up was 6.9 years (IQR: 5.0-9.4 years). IPTW-adjusted 5-yr OS rates in the HT, RT, and HT + RT cohorts were 84.0% (95% CI 77.1-91.5%), 81.1% (95% CI 71.1-92.5%), and 93.0% (95% CI 90.0-96.2%), respectively. On IPTW-adjusted MVA, relative to HT, receipt of HT + RT was associated with improvements in OS (HR: 0.641; p = 0.042). RT alone was not associated with improved OS (HR: 1.264; p = 0.420). CONCLUSION: Among men ≥ 65 years old with T1-2N0 HR + breast cancer, RT alone did not confer an OS benefit over HT alone. Combination of RT + HT demonstrated significant improvements in OS. De-escalation of treatment through omission of either RT or HT at this point should be done with caution.

The role of postoperative radiation therapy in stage I-III male breast cancer: A population-based study from the surveillance, epidemiology, and End Results database.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the role of postoperative radiation therapy in a large population-based cohort of patients with stage I-III male breast cancer (MaBC). METHODS: Patients with stage I-III breast cancer treated with surgery were selected from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer database from 2010 to 2015. Multivariate logistic regression identified the predictors of radiation therapy administration. Multivariate Cox regression model was used to evaluate the predictors of survival. RESULTS: We identified 1321 patients. Age, stage, positive regional nodes, surgical procedure, and HER2 status were strong predictors of radiation therapy administration. There was no difference between patients who received radiation therapy and those who did not (P = 0.46); however, after propensity score matching, it was associated with improved OS (P = 0.04). In the multivariate analysis of the unmatched cohort, the factors associated with better OS were administration of radiation therapy and chemotherapy. In the subset analysis of the unmatched cohort, postoperative radiation therapy was associated with improved OS in men undergoing breast-conserving surgery (BCS), with four or more node-positive or larger primary tumours (T3/T4). Furthermore, we found no benefit of radiation therapy, regardless of the type of axillary surgery in mastectomy (MS). In older MaBC patients with T1-2N1 who underwent MS, radiation therapy showed no significant effects, regardless of chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Postoperative radiation therapy could improve the survival of MaBC patients undergoing BCS, with four or more node-positive or larger primary tumours. Moreover, it should be carefully considered in patients undergoing MS and older T1-2N1 patients.

Optimizing utilization and indications for adjuvant radiation in male breast cancer.

Due to its rarity, there is a dearth of prospective data on optimal therapeutic strategies in male breast cancer (MBC). Treatment recommendations are mostly extrapolated from evidence in female breast cancer (FBC). Data show that MBC has unique clinical and biological characteristics distinct from FBC. Evidence from retrospective studies suggests that effective therapeutic interventions are often underutilized in MBC and this can compromise outcomes. Population based studies contribute significantly towards the understanding of rare cancers. Multiple studies have demonstrated that adjuvant radiation is associated with improved local control and survival in high risk subgroups of MBC. Multi-center consortia studies contribute significantly towards generating prospective data and optimizing diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in these rare cancers. Enhancing the implementation of treatment recommendations and minimizing disparities in access to care will lead to improved outcomes.

The use of adjuvant radiation therapy in male breast cancer and its impact on outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Male breast cancer (MBC) accounts for 1% of all breast cancers and there is a paucity of data on factors impacting the treatment strategies and outcomes. We sought to use a large national database to examine trends and predictors of the use of adjuvant radiation (Adj-RT), as well as any association with outcome. METHODS: We queried the National Cancer Database (NCDB) for patients with stages I-III MBC treated with surgery (breast conservation surgery-BCS or mastectomy-MS) within 180 days of diagnosis (years 2004-2015). Multivariable logistic regression identified predictors of adj-RT receipt. Multivariable Cox regression evaluated predictors of survival. Propensity matching for adj-RT was used to account for indication biases. RESULTS: We identified 6,217 patients meeting the eligibility criteria (1457 BCS vs. 4760 MS). The majority of patients were Caucasian (85%) and in an age range of 50-80 years (74%). Although adj-RT was omitted for 30% of BCS patients, the utilization was higher compared to MS (OR=26, p-value=0.001). The predictors of adj-RT use included African-American race, more advanced stage, higher grade, presence of lymphovascular invasion, and ER/Her-2 positivity for the entire cohort and increased age, urban location and higher income for BCS. Adj-RT was associated with lower mortality in the propensity matched model (overall HR for BCS=0.28, p-value<0.001; overall HR for MS=0.62, p-value=0.001). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that while adj-RT after BCS is associated with decreased mortality in MBC patients, adj-RT is omitted in up to a third of cases of MBC after BCS despite being standard of care.

Myxofibrosarcoma that Developed Rapidly in the Breast of an Elderly Man and Recurred Early after Surgery: A Case Report.

BACKGROUND: Myxofibrosarcoma is a rare disease occurring subcutaneously in the limbs. We report a case of a rapidly growing myxofibrosarcoma in the breast of an elderly man that recurred early after surgery. CASE PRESENTATION: A 73-year-old man presented with a breast mass. Physical findings showed a large tumor in the right breast, and malignancy was suspected on ultrasonography. Computed tomography (CT) revealed tumor invasion into the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor muscles. Positron emission tomography/CT showed no abnormality in other organs. Needle biopsy results excluded breast cancer but did not provide a definitive diagnosis. However, the tumor grew rapidly before further results were available, so emergency mastectomy was performed. The final pathological diagnosis was high-grade myxofibrosarcoma. Postoperative radiotherapy was started because of remnant tumor. The wound became worsened and swollen, and needle biopsy 10 days after the start of therapy indicated recurrence. Radical resection and thoracoplasty were performed. Postoperative pathological specimens showed no residual tumor. Radical radiation therapy was resumed. The patient has shown no recurrence after an year. CONCLUSIONS: It is important to consult a soft tissue oncologist for tumors in the breast and perform appropriate examination and treatment if soft tissue tumors cannot be ruled out.

Sarcoma neurogénico de la mama masculina. Presentación de un caso / Male breast neurogenic sarcoma. A case

RESUMEN El cáncer de mama en el sexo masculino es una entidad clínica poco frecuente, tiene una presentación unimodal a los 71 años de edad, generalmente se presenta de manera similar a la forma en que se presenta en el sexo femenino. Su causa es poco conocida. Los sarcomas son tumores de componentes mesenquimatoso que constituyen del 0,2-1 % de todos los tumores de mama, y menos del 5 % del total. El sarcoma neurogénico, a su vez, es un tumor extremadamente raro. Representa del 1-2 % aproximadamente, de los tumores de los nervios periféricos con transformación maligna. Debido a la rareza geográfica e histopatológica de este tipo y mucho más en pacientes masculinos se presentó este caso. Paciente masculino de 57 años de edad, con el diagnóstico de un sarcoma de la mama derecha. Se le realizó una mastectomía radical más quimioterapia y radioterapia adyuvante. Los estudios de inmunohistoquímicos permitieron llegar al diagnóstico de sarcoma neurogénico (AU).

ABSTRACT Breast cancer in men (BCM) is a rare clinical entity that has a unimodal presentation at the age of 71 years, and generally presents in a similar way it presents in the female sex. Its etiology remains almost unknown. Sarcomas are tumors of mesenchymal components representing from 0.2 to 1 % of all the breast tumors and less than 5 % of the total. The neurogenic sarcoma is also an extremely rare tumor. It represents around 1-2 % of the peripheral nerves tumors with malignant transformations. Due to location and histopathological rarity of this kind of tumors, much more in male patients, the authors presented the case of a male patient, aged 57 years, with the diagnosis of a left breast sarcoma. He undergone a radical mastectomy plus adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The immunohystochemical studies allowed arriving to the diagnosis of neurogenic sarcoma (AU).

Sarcoma neurogénico de la mama masculina. Presentación de un caso / Male breast neurogenic sarcoma. A case

RESUMEN El cáncer de mama en el sexo masculino es una entidad clínica poco frecuente, tiene una presentación unimodal a los 71 años de edad, generalmente se presenta de manera similar a la forma en que se presenta en el sexo femenino. Su causa es poco conocida. Los sarcomas son tumores de componentes mesenquimatoso que constituyen del 0,2-1 % de todos los tumores de mama, y menos del 5 % del total. El sarcoma neurogénico, a su vez, es un tumor extremadamente raro. Representa del 1-2 % aproximadamente, de los tumores de los nervios periféricos con transformación maligna. Debido a la rareza geográfica e histopatológica de este tipo y mucho más en pacientes masculinos se presentó este caso. Paciente masculino de 57 años de edad, con el diagnóstico de un sarcoma de la mama derecha. Se le realizó una mastectomía radical más quimioterapia y radioterapia adyuvante. Los estudios de inmunohistoquímicos permitieron llegar al diagnóstico de sarcoma neurogénico.

ABSTRACT Breast cancer in men (BCM) is a rare clinical entity that has a unimodal presentation at the age of 71 years, and generally presents in a similar way it presents in the female sex. Its etiology remains almost unknown. Sarcomas are tumors of mesenchymal components representing from 0.2 to 1 % of all the breast tumors and less than 5 % of the total. The neurogenic sarcoma is also an extremely rare tumor. It represents around 1-2 % of the peripheral nerves tumors with malignant transformations. Due to location and histopathological rarity of this kind of tumors, much more in male patients, the authors presented the case of a male patient, aged 57 years, with the diagnosis of a left breast sarcoma. He undergone a radical mastectomy plus adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The immunohystochemical studies allowed arriving to the diagnosis of neurogenic sarcoma.

A Case of Locally Advanced Breast Cancer in a 59-Year-Old Man Requiring a Modified Approach to Management.

BACKGROUND Male breast cancer is rare, accounting for approximately 1% of all malignancies in men. The lack of awareness of this rare cancer results in delayed diagnosis and its aggressive behavior can result in poor prognosis. This report is of a case of locally advanced, high-grade breast cancer in a 59-year-old man who was reluctant to undergo diagnostic procedures, and describes the approach to clinical management. CASE REPORT A 59-year-old man presented with a large left breast mass with enlarged axillary lymph nodes. The patient had ignored the mass and declined all diagnostic procedures. After modifying the diagnostic workup and involving a psychiatrist, the patient agreed to undergo a modified radical mastectomy. Histopathology showed a high-grade invasive ductal carcinoma with lymph node metastasis. The breast cancer was triple-positive for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), estrogen receptor (ER), and progesterone receptor (PR). Adjuvant treatment included herceptin, tamoxifen, and radiation therapy. CONCLUSIONS This case demonstrates the importance of raising public awareness of breast cancer in men, and to assess and overcome the factors leading to delay in accessing medical attention. In challenging cases, modifying the diagnostic workup and the treatment approach with the least deviation from the standard of care, including counseling may be required.

Quantification of Acute Skin Toxicities in Patients With Breast Cancer Undergoing Adjuvant Proton versus Photon Radiation Therapy: A Single Institutional Experience.

PURPOSE: Acute skin toxicity in the form of radiation dermatitis (RD) or skin hyperpigmentation (SH) is a common problem experienced by patients undergoing breast irradiation. Proton radiation has been thought to deliver higher doses to skin compared with photon radiation because of differences in the physical properties between photons and protons; however, limited literature exists directly comparing toxicity outcomes. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The highest recorded grades of acute RD and SH were analyzed in 86 patients undergoing adjuvant radiation therapy to the breast with or without regional lymph nodes after lumpectomy (breast-conserving surgery) or mastectomy with either proton pencil-beam scanning (n = 39) or photon (n = 47) radiation therapy within a single institution to analyze differences in severity of acute skin reactions. For 34 of 47 photon and 33 of 39 proton patients, a "skin" contour was retroactively created in our treatment planning systems, and multiple dosimetric parameters were calculated to quantify objective radiation doses received by skin. RESULTS: On χ2 analysis, the highest reported grade of RD was significantly higher in women undergoing proton radiation compared with photon radiation; grade ≥2 RD was present in 69.2% versus 29.8% of patients receiving proton and photon therapy, respectively (P = .002). Rates of grade 3 RD were 5.1% versus 4.3% for proton versus photon radiation, respectively (P = .848). Overall, there were no significant differences in rates of SH between modalities. There were no grade 4 to 5 toxicities in either cohort. CONCLUSIONS: In a comparison with patients receiving photon radiation, a significantly higher rate of grade ≥2 RD was observed in patients undergoing proton radiation, with very low rates of grade 3 toxicity in both groups. Rates of SH did not differ significantly between modalities. Women should be counseled regarding the possibility of increased grade 2 toxicities, although this might present a dosimetric advantage for physicians when treating patients in the postmastectomy setting or when skin was involved on presentation.

Pattern of care of adjuvant radiotherapy in male breast cancer patients in clinical practice: an observational study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Due to the rarity of male breast cancer (male BC), no consensus has been reached regarding the most appropriate curative treatment strategy. The objective of the present observational study was to identify patient and tumor characteristics and assess the role of radiotherapy (RT) in clinical practice. METHODS: Between 1998 and 2014, data of male BC patients treated at two breast centers were consecutively collected and retrospectively analyzed. Patients were stratified based on the addition of adjuvant RT. Data on overall survival (OS) and local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) were estimated with the Kaplan-Meier method and compared by the log-rank test. RESULTS: A consecutive cohort of 58 male BC patients was evaluated. Median follow-up was 56 months. Twenty-one patients (36.2%) received adjuvant RT. Overall, patients undergoing postoperative RT were characterized by more high-risk features. Patients receiving postoperative RT had significantly more frequently a high UICC stage (50 vs. 9.7% UICC III, p = 0.018) and positive lymph nodes as compared to patients undergoing surgery alone (65 vs. 34.4% pN+, p = 0.046). Accordingly, there was a higher proportion of patients receiving axillary lymph node dissection in the RT group (71.4 vs. 35.6%). Mastectomy was performed in 31/37 (86.1%) in the surgery group as compared to 14/21 (66.7%) in patients receiving postoperative RT. In addition, RT patients were more likely to receive endocrine therapy (78.9 vs. 39.3%, p = 0.016). Outcome was not significantly different between the groups (5-year LRFS: 89.8 vs. 80.0%, p = 0.471 and 5­year OS 88.4 vs. 88.9%, p = 0.819). CONCLUSION: The present observational study evaluated the pattern of care in male BC patients treated in clinical practice. Due to its rarity, randomized clinical trials are unlikely and male BC remains an entity with a poor evidence base. Nevertheless, RT remains a crucial component of the multidisciplinary treatment strategy in male BC.

Axillary lymph node metastasis as the first manifestation of male occult breast cancer: A Case Report.

RATIONAL: Occult breast cancer (OBC) is an extremely rare breast cancer and is defined by the presence of axillary metastasis without a primary tumor in the breasts or any abnormality on radiologic examination. PATIENT CONCERNS: This case report presents a 49-year-old man who was diagnosed with male OBC, which first manifested as an axillary lymph node metastasis followed by the emergence of infraclavicular lymph node metastasis. Neither the breast nor other organs had any abnormality. DIAGNOSIS: The pathological examination revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining results were positive for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and gross cystic disease fluid protein-15 (GCDFP-15); and negative for human epidermal receptor-2 (Her-2) 1+, cytokeratin (CK) 7, CK20, and thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1). INTERVENTIONS: The patient underwent left axillary lymph node dissection but not a mastectomy. After the operation, the patient subsequently underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and endocrinotherapy. OUTCOMES: Currently, he has been followed-up for >4 years without any signs of recurrence. LESSONS: Careful physical and imaging examinations combined with pathological analysis are essential in the diagnosis of male OBC. Early surgery remains the primary treatment.

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.

Should Adjuvant Radiation Therapy Be Systematically Proposed for Male Breast Cancer? A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: Guidelines for radiotherapy in male breast cancer (MBC) are lacking. Some extrapolate the results from female breast cancer trials, while others advocate systematic adjuvant irradiation. We evaluated clinical practices and outcomes with respect to radiation therapy in MBC treated with locoregional irradiation in the adjuvant setting using a systematic literature review. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included studies with data about adjuvant radiotherapy published between 1984 and 2017 and including at least 40 patients. RESULTS: We found 29 retrospective series, 10,065 men were diagnosed with breast cancer; 3-100% (mean=54%) received adjuvant radiotherapy. Tumor size and nodal involvement were the strongest prognostic factors. Approximatively half of all cases had nodal metastases. Radiation therapy improved locoregional control in six series, overall survival in three and distant metastasis-free survival in one. CONCLUSION: MBC is diagnosed at a highly advanced stage and may be linked with poorer outcomes. Adjuvant radiation therapy must, at least, be proposed to men with positive nodes. Despite the large number of cases gathered here, arguments for radiotherapy in other prognostic subgroups (especially in pN0) may exist but are not well supported.

Breast conservation for male breast cancer: Case report of intraoperative radiation.

Male breast cancer (MBC) comprises <1% of all breast cancers in the United States. MBC is typically treated with total mastectomy while the majority of female breast cancer is treated with breast conservation therapy combined with various forms of radiation. One method that has developed over the last two decades is the use of intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) as a type of accelerated partial breast irradiation to direct the treatment field to the tumor bed. Since overall prognosis and systemic therapy recommendations for MBC are similar to breast cancer in women, we describe the first case of MBC treated with BCS and IORT. Our patient is a 62-year-old male who was found to have a right breast 1.6 cm palpable mass at the 10:00 position 1 cm radially from the nipple. Core biopsy demonstrated invasive ductal carcinoma, moderately differentiated, estrogen and progesterone receptor positive, and Her 2 Negative. The patient had a strong desire for breast conservation, and needed to minimize daily radiation treatments due to his work schedule. After discussion among our multidisciplinary tumor board, we felt this patient to be suitable for BCS and IORT given his age, favorable tumor subtype, size, and clinically early stage breast cancer. A right axillary sentinel lymph node biopsy and central lumpectomy was performed. The INTRABEAM device (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Oberkochen, Germany) was utilized for radiation delivery. The patient had negative margins on his final pathology. The postoperative course was uneventful and at the 6 month follow-up visit there were no issues and he had an excellent cosmetic outcome. BCS and IORT is an option in appropriately selected male patients with favorable subtype early stage breast cancer.

Breast cancer in men

Breast cancer in males is a relatively rare entity. In the sub-region, several reports indicate a higher incidence rate compared to other regions in the world. For many years, management strategies were derived from evidence based protocols established for managing female breast cancer. There are however,differences in the epidemiology, presentation, molecular profiles and response to therapies including chemotherapy, hormonal and targeted therapies. Outcomes even though mirroring female breast cancer may actually exhibit differences dependent onstage, race, prognostic and economic variables. The lack of large randomized trials on this subject has resulted in ad hoc management practices across the globe. With new information from renewed interest in the subject, screening and diagnostic guidelines are being established for high-risk groups and we expect to see improvement in outcomes for patients with male breast cancer. This article attempts to bring to light a summary of the current interest, recommendations and controversies in the management of male breast cancer

Adjuvant hypofractionated radiation in carcinoma breast - Photon versus Electron: Comparison of treatment outcome.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer tissue is sensitive to hypofractionation. This is an analysis of patients treated with hypofractionated protocols since 2009, at our tertiary cancer center. METHODS: Details of breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant hypofractionated external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) from January 2009 to December 2014 were retrieved and analyzed. RESULTS: One thousand seven hundred and eighty patients received adjuvant EBRT during this period. Three hundred and eight were offered hypofractionated schedule. One hundred and eighty-eight had modified radical mastectomy (MRM) and 120 had breast conservation surgery (BCS). Dose was 40 Gy in 15 fractions to chest wall/breast, and tumor bed boost of 10 Gy in 5 fractions, where indicated, using three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DCRT). Electrons were used in 159 and photons in 149. Single en face electron field was used for chest wall in MRM patients, and tangential photon beams for the whole breast. Patients on follow-up were assessed for locoregional recurrence, chest wall, breast or ipsilateral upper limb edema, brachial neuralgia, local skeletal events, pulmonary and cardiac symptoms, and cosmetic results. Two developed chest wall recurrence, one each in electron and photon arms. No skeletal, cardiac, or pulmonary adverse events were recorded. About 13.6% had arm edema, which was staged according to the International Society of Lymphology lymphedema staging, as Stage I-7.8%, Stage II-3.9%, and Stage III-1.9%. Twenty-six treated with electrons had arm edema. Increased incidence of arm edema in MRM patients could be attributed to combined surgical and radiation morbidity. Five-year overall survival was 81.9%. CONCLUSION: Hypofractionation is an accepted cost-effective standard of care in adjuvant breast radiation. Single en face electron field is well tolerated, and 3DCRT planning ensures homogeneous chest wall coverage, respecting dose constraints to organs at risk.

Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy Is Associated With Improved Survival in Node-Positive Male Breast Cancer: A Population Analysis.

PURPOSE: Because of its rarity, there are no randomized trials investigating postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) in male breast cancer. This study retrospectively examines the impact of PMRT in male breast cancer patients in the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The SEER database 8.3.2 was queried for men ages 20+ with a diagnosis of localized or regional nonmetastatic invasive ductal/lobular carcinoma from 1998 to 2013. Included patients were treated by modified radical mastectomy (MRM), with or without adjuvant external beam radiation. Univariate and multivariate analyses evaluated predictors for PMRT use after MRM. Kaplan-Meier overall survival (OS) curves of the entire cohort and a case-matched cohort were calculated and compared by the log-rank test. Cox regression was used for multivariate survival analyses. RESULTS: A total of 1933 patients were included in the unmatched cohort. There was no difference in 5-year OS between those who received PMRT and those who did not (78% vs 77%, respectively, P=.371); however, in the case-matched analysis, PMRT was associated with improved OS at 5 years (83% vs 54%, P<.001). On subset analysis of the unmatched cohort, PMRT was associated with improved OS in men with 1 to 3 positive nodes (5-year OS 79% vs 72% P=.05) and those with 4+ positive nodes (5-year OS 73% vs 53% P<.001). On multivariate analysis of the unmatched cohort, independent predictors for improved OS were use of PMRT: HR=0.551 (0.412-0.737) and estrogen receptor-positive disease: HR=0.577 (0.339-0.983). Predictors for a survival detriment were higher grade 3/4: HR=1.825 (1.105-3.015), larger tumor T2: HR=1.783 (1.357-2.342), T3/T4: HR=2.683 (1.809-3.978), higher N-stage: N1 HR=1.574 (1.184-2.091), N2/N3: HR=2.328 (1.684-3.218), black race: HR=1.689 (1.222-2.336), and older age 81+: HR=4.164 (1.497-11.582). CONCLUSIONS: There may be a survival benefit with the addition of PMRT for male breast cancer with node-positive disease.