Exploring the One Health Paradigm in Male Breast Cancer.

How cancer patterns in humans compare to those of other species remains largely unknown and there is an even bigger knowledge gap for rare cancers like male breast cancer. One Health is a convergence of human and animal healthcare that encourages cross-pollination of medical research uniting human and veterinary medicine. Recognising that breast cancer occurs spontaneously in other male species (e.g. primates, canines, felines), and knowing that no laboratory models exist for male breast cancer, which limits our ability to perform functional studies, we explored the feasibility of applying One Health to breast cancer in men by conducting a narrative review of the topic. Spontaneous development of breast cancer was reported in captive male primates and in companion canines and felines. Some parallels in tumour biology of human male breast cancer with canines and primates were found. The age distribution, pattern of biomarker expression and metastasis were similar, with mammary tumours typically detected after two-thirds of average lifespan. However, instances of triple negative and inflammatory breast cancer, which are rarely observed in human male breast cancer, were found in canines and histological classification was inconsistent between species. These disparities need redressing to enable full exploration of the One Health paradigm in rare cancers.

Brystkreft hos menn ­ histopatologi og biomarkører.

Background: 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. Material and method: 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. Results: Median age at time of diagnosis was 72 years. Median tumour diameter was 24 mm. 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. Interpretation: 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.

Adjuvant chemotherapy and survival in males aged 70 years or older with breast cancer: a population-based retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Male breast cancer constitutes a minority of breast cancer diagnoses, yet its incidence has been on the rise in recent decades. However, elderly male breast cancer patients have been inadequately represented in clinical trials, posing challenges in treatment decisions. This study seeks to clarify the efficacy of chemotherapy in this demographic and identify the population most likely to benefit from such intervention. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, encompassing a total of 1900 male breast cancer patients aged 70 years or older. Among them, 1652 were categorized in the no-chemotherapy group, while 248 were in the chemotherapy group. A multifactorial logistic regression model was employed to investigate the determinants influencing the administration of chemotherapy in elderly male breast cancer patients. Additionally, the multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model was applied to identify factors associated with outcomes, with overall survival (OS) as the primary endpoint. RESULTS: Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that grade, tumor size, and nodal status were robust predictors for elderly male breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. Furthermore, the multivariate analysis demonstrated that chemotherapy conferred benefits compared to the no-chemotherapy group (HR = 0.822, 95% CI: 0.682-0.991, p = 0.040). Stratified analyses indicated that individuals with N+, poorly/undifferentiated grade, and stage II/III disease could derive benefits from chemotherapy. Upon further investigation of progesterone receptor (PR) positive patients, it was found that only stage III patients experienced significant benefits from chemotherapy (HR = 0.571, 95% CI: 0.372-0.875, p = 0.010). Conversely, in PR negative patients, both stage II (HR = 0.201, 95% CI: 0.051-0.792, p = 0.022) and stage III patients (HR = 0.242, 95% CI: 0.060-0.972, p = 0.046) derived benefits from chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Adjuvant chemotherapy may benefit certain elderly male breast cancer patients, specifically those with positive lymph node status, poorly/undifferentiated grade, and PR-positive in stage III, as well as PR-negative expression in stage II/III. Given favorable physical tolerance, it is advisable not to hastily dismiss chemotherapy for these elderly male breast cancer patients.

Pleomorphic/solid lobular carcinoma of male breast with PALB2 germline mutation: case report and literature review.

Male breast cancer (MBC) accounts for approximately 1% of all breast cancers and among these infiltrating lobular carcinomas (ILC) represents only 1-2% of all MBC cases. Pleomorphic invasive lobular carcinoma (PILC) is an aggressive variant of ILC with only eight cases reported until now in males. Up to 10% of MBC cases have a germline pathogenic variant in a predisposing gene such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Mutations in PALB2 (partner and localizer of BRCA2) have been reported in men with breast cancer, with a frequency that ranges from 0.8 to 6.4%, but it has never been reported in male ILC. Here, we report a rare and interesting case of an invasive pleomorphic/solid lobular carcinoma, which carries a pathogenic variant in PALB2 gene, and a family history of breast cancer without other well defined risk factors for developing this type of neoplasia. In addition, we review the current literature.

Outcomes of the patients with metastatic male breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: The goal of this research is to investigate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of men with metastatic breast cancer (mMBC). METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the data of 28 patients was conducted. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were used to assess overall survival (OS) and prognostic variables. RESULTS: At the time of diagnosis, the median age was 57 years (range 26-86). The most prevalent pathological subtype was invasive ductal carcinoma (92.6%). HER2 positivity was 21.6% in patients, with estrogen and progesterone receptor positivity at 96.4% and 71.4%, respectively. Bone-75%, lung-39.3%, brain-21.4%, and adrenal gland-10.7% were the most prevalent metastatic sites. Trastuzumab-based chemotherapy was given to six patients. During the study period, 14 patients (or half) died. All patients had a median OS of 42.6 months (range: 21.6-63.7). The OS rates after 1, 3, and 5 years were 95.7%, 54.2%, and 36.6%, respectively. The number of metastatic locations (P = 0.045), brain metastasis (P = 0.033), and a history of regular alcohol intake (P = 0.008) were all shown to be statistically significant factors affecting OS in univariate analysis. However, multivariate analysis did not support the findings. In addition, we discovered that trastuzumab-based therapy and de-novo metastatic disease had no effect on OS for mMBC. CONCLUSIONS: The data on mMBC is restricted because of its rarity. The prognosis of mMBC was shown to be poor in this investigation. Despite the small number of patients, we discovered that in univariate analysis, having brain metastases, the number of metastatic locations, and a history of alcohol intake may be prognostic factors.

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.

Clinicopathological analysis of 38 male patients diagnosed with breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Male breast cancer (MBC) accounts for one percent of all breast cancers. Due to the lack of awareness and routine screening programs, most patients present with systemic disease at the time of diagnosis with low overall survival. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the prognostic factors of male breast cancer and its correlation with established prognostic parameters and patient outcomes. METHODS: Thirty-eight male breast cancer patients are identified from the MKA Breast Cancer Clinic database, and their corresponding clinical and pathological characteristics are obtained. Cut-off values of 1% and 10% are applied to further classify ER and PR results. RESULTS: Older men are more likely to develop MBC than younger men and are more likely to have spread to axillary lymph nodes. Invasive ductal carcinoma is a more common histologic type in MBC. All the tested patients have ER and PR positivity. Distant metastasis developed in 17/38 (44.7%) patients. Bone metastasis is seen commonly in metastatic MBC. CONCLUSIONS: According to our cohort, MBC is seen in older males, presents in later stages, and shows hormone receptor positivity and a tendency to bone involvement. MBC is a heterogenous but distinct biological entity requiring a specific clinical and pathological approach.

Whole-Genome Sequencing Analysis of Male Breast Cancer Unveils Novel Structural Events and Potential Therapeutic Targets.

The molecular characterization of male breast cancer (MaBC) has received limited attention in research, mostly because of its low incidence rate, accounting for only 0.5% to 1% of all reported cases of breast cancer each year. Managing MaBC presents significant challenges, with most treatment protocols being adapted from those developed for female breast cancer. Utilizing whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and state-of-the-art analyses, the genomic features of 10 MaBC cases (n = 10) were delineated and correlated with clinical and histopathologic characteristics. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization, an additional cohort of 18 patients was interrogated to supplement WGS findings. The genomic landscape of MaBC uncovered significant genetic alterations that could influence diagnosis and treatment. We found common somatic mutations in key driver genes, such as FAT1, GATA3, SMARCA4, and ARID2. Our study also mapped out structural variants that impact cancer-associated genes, such as ARID1A, ESR1, GATA3, NTRK1, and NF1. Using a WGS-based classifier, homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) was identified in 2 cases, both presenting with deleterious variants in BRCA2. Noteworthy was the observation of FGFR1 amplification in 21% of cases. Altogether, we identified at least 1 potential therapeutic target in 8 of the 10 cases, including high tumor mutational burden, FGFR1 amplification, and HRD. Our study is the first WGS characterization of MaBC, which uncovered potentially relevant variants, including structural events in cancer genes, HRD signatures, and germline pathogenic mutations. Our results demonstrate unique genetic markers and potential treatment targets in MaBC, thereby underlining the necessity of tailoring treatment strategies for this understudied patient population. These WGS-based findings add to the growing knowledge of MaBC genomics and highlight the need to expand research on this type of cancer.

Stakeholders' experiences and perceptions of male breast cancer:A qualitative evidence synthesis.

BACKGROUND: The experiences, physical and mental health and needs of women with breast cancer have been studied in some detail, but there is a lack of discussion of the experiences of stakeholder groups such as men with breast cancer, partners and carers and healthcare professionals. The aim of this study was to explore and understand the experiences and perceptions of male breast cancer stakeholders from diagnosis through to survivorship. METHODS: We conducted a thematic review of qualitative studies included in a large published scoping review on male breast cancer (reported under the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews extension). To be included in a qualitative evidence review, studies had to use qualitative methods for data collection and analysis to capture the perspectives of men with breast cancer, partners or caregivers, and healthcare workers. Key characteristics and findings were extracted and a conceptual coding framework was summarized using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Out of a total of 310 studies in the research literature (published research articles and gray literature), 15 studies met the inclusion criteria. These studies reported on the experiences of men with breast cancer, partners or caregivers, and healthcare workers, with participant numbers ranging from 2 to 31. A total of 17 descriptive themes (study outcomes) were identified. From these, four high-level analytic themes emerged: (1) Predicament; (2) Emotion; (3) Support; (4) Coping. CONCLUSIONS: The gender stigma that exists at the patient, healthcare system, and family-society levels largely influences the experiences of the male breast cancer stakeholder population. To address gender inequalities in breast cancer care, healthcare organizations and society at large should remain equally attentive to the needs of male and female breast cancer patients. These needs include reducing healthcare and social stigma, providing gender-specific information and emotional support, and access to support groups.

Experiences and perceptions of men following breast cancer diagnosis: a mixed method systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Men with breast cancer experience unique physical and emotional challenges. However, a thorough understanding of these experiences including the psychosocial effects and supportive care needs have received less attention. In some settings, men with breast cancer experience stigma within the healthcare system and their care needs are not prioritised. This influences the level of professional support offered, consequently worsening their health and well-being outcomes. This review explored the variabilities in the experiences and treatment modalities of male breast cancer (MBC) across different contexts. METHODS: All primary study designs including qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods studies that reported on the experiences, treatment approaches and outcomes of MBC were included in this systematic review. Six databases (Embase, Medline, PsycINFO, Global Health, CINAHL and Web of Science) were searched for articles from January 2000 to September 2023. A results-based convergence synthesis was used for data analysis and reported using PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS: Of the studies screened (n = 29,687), forty-four fulfilled the predetermined criteria and were included. Our findings relating to the experiences and treatment approaches of MBC are broadly themed into three parts. Theme 1-Navigating through a threat to masculinity: describes how males experienced the illness reflecting on detection, diagnosis, coming to terms with breast cancer, and disclosure. Theme 2- Navigating through treatment: captures the experiences of undergoing breast cancer treatment/ management following their diagnosis. Theme 3-Coping and support systems: describes how MBC patients coped with the disease, treatment process, aftercare/rehabilitative care, and the available support structures. CONCLUSIONS: Men experience a myriad of issues following a breast cancer diagnosis, especially with their masculinity. Awareness creation efforts of MBC among the public and healthcare practitioners are urgently required, which could change the perception of men in promoting early diagnosis, adherence to treatments, post-treatment monitoring, oncological results and a better quality of life. Considerations for training, education and development of specialised guidelines for healthcare practitioners on MBC would provide the necessary knowledge and skills to enhance their practice through the adoption of person-centred and male-specific care strategies. Professional care intervention and support for MBC should not end after the diagnosis phase but should extend to the entire treatment continuum and aftercare including future research focusing on MBC specific clinical trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO Registration No. CRD42021228778.

The efficacy of palbociclib and ribociclib in the first-line treatment of metastatic hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative breast cancer in male patients: a Turkish oncology group (TOG) study.

INTRODUCTION: Male breast cancer, comprising approximately 1% of all breast cancer cases, often leads to the exclusion of male patients as a criterion in clinical trials. While the efficacy of Cyclin-dependent kinases 4 and 6 (CDK 4/6) inhibitors has been established in metastatic hormone receptor-positive (HR +) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2 -) breast cancer in women, limited data exist on their effectiveness in male patients. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of palbociclib or ribociclib in male patients with breast cancer. METHODS: This study is a multicenter, retrospective study. We included male patients with HR + and HER2-metastatic breast cancer who received palbociclib or ribociclib as first-line treatment. Our primary endpoints were progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rates (ORR), and drug-related adverse effects. RESULTS: A total of 46 male patients from 27 institutions were enrolled. The median age at initiation of CDK 4/6 inhibitors was 63.64 ± 13.69 years, with a median follow-up of 21.33 (95% CI 14.92-27.74) months. The ORR were 84% for palbociclib and 76.2% for ribociclib. The mPFS for the entire cohort was 28.06 months (95% CI 18.70-37.42). No significant difference in PFS was observed between palbociclib and ribociclib (mPFS: 24.46 months (95% CI 11.51-37.42) vs 28.33 months (95% CI 14.77-41.88), respectively, p = 0.211). No new adverse events were reported. DISCUSSION: This study demonstrates that palbociclib and ribociclib are effective and safe options for first-line treatment in male patients with HR + /HER2 - metastatic breast cancer. However, further prospective studies are warranted to establish their efficacy in this population.

Male Breast Cancer: a Review on Diagnosis, Treatment, and Survivorship.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Male breast cancer is a relatively uncommon and rare disease that is often managed based on evidence adopted from trials pertaining to female breast cancer due to low accrual rates or exclusion of males. This is despite the known differences in the biology and epidemiology of this condition. This review provides an update regarding the management and surveillance of male breast cancer. RECENT FINDINGS: Men with breast cancer tend to undergo more extensive surgery in the breast and axilla. The outcomes of male breast cancer compared to a similar subtype of female breast cancer appear worse when matched for stage. Systemic therapies remain predominantly based on recommendations for female breast cancer, although tamoxifen is the more optimal endocrine therapy for men than women. Surveillance with mammograms is recommended for patients harboring a breast cancer susceptibility gene but is otherwise not advised for men who have undergone a mastectomy. Notably, the role of other imaging modalities, including ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, is minimal. Although the focus on survivorship care among men is low, it is abundantly clear that this is a stigmatizing diagnosis for men, and they suffer from long-term physical and psychological sequelae following a diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. In summary, providing more gender-inclusive care and advocating for increased representation of men in prospective breast cancer studies and clinical trials may help improve outcomes and provide enhanced support for this population.

Implications of Highly Penetrant Genetic Variants on Breast Surgery.

It seems the most probable beneficiaries from the molecular era are those harboring hereditary genetic variants, which are responsible for 5% to 10% of all breast cancer diagnoses. There are several key implications of such variants on clinical practice, from expedited anticipation of primary cancer diagnoses, which can have their risk mitigated by risk reduction surgery, to pragmatism surrounding the management of male breast cancer patients. This communication discusses the implications of highly penetrant (or pathogenic) hereditary variants in contemporary breast surgery practice.

De novo male breast metastases from nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is known for its high potential for regional and distant metastasis. However, breast metastasis is rarely reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 39-year-old Caucasian male presented with bilateral neck lymph node enlargement. Radiological examination with contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan and breast imaging revealed an enhancing mass lesion in the right breast. Histopathology of the nasopharynx mass was suggestive of undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma. A breast biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of synchronous breast metastasis from the nasopharyngeal carcinoma. We present this study to illustrate that Nasopharyngeal carcinoma can metastasize to the male breast. Furthermore, the high incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma metastasis underscores the pressing need to identify effective and safe strategies, emphasizing the importance of utilizing computed tomography scans for metastasis detection. CONCLUSION: The present study illustrates the first case of synchronous male breast metastases from nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Thus, it is critical to distinguish between metastatic pathology and coexisting second malignancies to plan appropriate therapy.

Is There a Survival Difference Between Male and Female Breast Cancer Subtypes According to the Prognostic Staging System? A Population-Based Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: In retrospective studies investigating the difference in survival by gender, there are conflicting results. It was aimed to compare overall survival (OS) and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) in male and female breast cancer subtypes according to the prognostic staging system. METHODS: Overall survival rates and BCSS rates of patients diagnosed with breast cancer between 2010 and 2019 compared by gender for all cohorts, stages, and molecular subtypes using the SEER Database. The stage has been rearranged according to the eighth edition of the AJCC. RESULTS: 364 039 patients were included in the study. .7% (n = 2503) of all breast cancers were male breast cancer. Overall survival (male: 5-year OS 73.9%, female = 5-year OS 86%) and BCSS rates (male: 5-year BCSS 78.9%, female = 5-year BCSS 94.7%) were significantly higher in females than in males for all cohorts. OS (male: 5-year OS 66.2% vs female: 5-year OS 88.3%), and BCSS (male: 5-year BCSS 88.4% vs female: 5-year 93.6%) rates were higher in hormone receptor (HR)-positive/Her2-negative female patients. Overall survival rate is higher in females in stage I (male: 5-year OS 81.5%, female: 5-year OS 92.8%), and BCSS rate is higher in stage I (male: 5-year BCSS 94.8%, female: 5-year BCSS 97.5%). Males have 2 times (HR = 2.023) higher overall mortality risk than females, but the risk of dying from breast cancer is only 1.6 times (HR = 1.596) higher. CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer-specific mortality is significantly higher in male breast cancers, especially in the early stage, and HR-positive subtype than females.

Male breast cancer: No evidence for mosaic BRCA1 promoter methylation involvement.

Breast cancers (BC) are rare in men and are often caused by constitutional predisposing factors. In women, mosaic BRCA1 promoter methylations (MBPM) are frequent events, detected in 4-8% of healthy subjects. This constitutional epimutation increases risk of early-onset and triple-negative BC. However, the role of MBPM in male BC predisposition has never been assessed. We screened 40 blood samples from men affected by BC, and performed extensive tumour analysis on MBPM-positive patients. We detected two patients carrying MBPM. Surprisingly, tumour analysis revealed that neither of these two male BCs were caused by the constitutional BRCA1 epimutations carried by the patients.

Melanoma Mimicker: Pigmented Mammary Paget Disease in a Man.

ABSTRACT: Male breast cancer comprises less than 1% of all breast cancer cases. Mammary Paget disease (MPD) represents a subset of breast cancer that presents with skin changes of the nipple and areola, and is frequently misdiagnosed clinically due to similarities with other disease states, leading to an average delay in diagnosis of 1 month to 2 years. Pigmented mammary Paget disease (PMPD) is an uncommon variant of MPD that clinically and histologically resembles malignant melanoma. Due to variable immunohistochemical staining patterns, analysis can be challenging and often requires interpretation of panels for accurate diagnosis. We present a rare case of PMPD in a male, originally diagnosed both clinically and histologically as malignant melanoma, to highlight the diagnostic challenges that this entity presents, and to review staining patterns which may be useful in its diagnosis.

Management of Male Patients With Occult Breast Cancer: Analysis of the National Cancer Database.

INTRODUCTION: Occult breast cancer (OBC) consists of <0.1% of breast cancer cases in the United States. Male occult breast cancer (mOBC) has not been well-studied outside of case reports, and management is largely based on female OBC (fOBC) studies. We aim to examine the prevalence of mOBC among those in the National Cancer Database with breast cancer and describe treatment modalities received by mOBC compared to fOBC. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was queried for patients with OBC from 2004 to 2018. Chi-Square test and Fisher's exact tests compared patient, clinical, and facility characteristics by sex. Treatment modalities [systemic therapy, radiation therapy, axillary lymph node dissection, modified radical mastectomy (MRM)] were compared. A subgroup analysis examined pathologic upstaging in patients who underwent MRM. RESULTS: Of 23,374 male patients with breast cancer, 0.13% were identified to have mOBC [versus 0.09% in fOBC]. cN2/N3 disease was significantly more prevalent in the mOBC cohort (61.3%) than in the fOBC cohort (30.7%, P < 0.001). Receipt of axillary lymph node dissection or MRM was not significantly different by sex. Male OBC (mOBC) patients were less likely to receive trimodality treatment than fOBC patients. In patients who underwent MRM, more mOBC patients [75%] were pathologically upstaged as T+ after mastectomy than fOBC patients [30%, P < 0.001], questioning the adequacy of diagnostic workup for mOBC compared to fOBC. CONCLUSIONS: This review confirms mOBC as an extremely rare disease. Multimodal treatments have been highly utilized to optimize care in this patient population. Further investigation is warranted to examine the survival benefit of treatment regimens for mOBC.

Male Breast Cancer (MBC) - A Review.

Males account for 1% of all cases of breast cancer. With the aging of the world's population, the disease has exhibited a rise in incidence in recent decades. Male breasts are smaller than female breasts, making the disease easier to spot, but patients often do not report their cases in time due to a lack of awareness. The stage-to-stage prognosis of male breast cancer is comparable to that of their female counterparts. Due to the relative rarity of the disease and poor patient enrollment in large randomized studies, the optimal management of male breast cancer remains uncertain. This article presents a narrative review of male breast cancer in light of recent literature, with an emphasis on epidemiology, clinical features, and current management.

Surgical treatment of male breast cancer metastasis to thoracic spine: A case report.

PURPOSE: We present a rare clinical case of a metastatic spinal tumor in the 7th thoracic spine from male breast cancer (MBC). METHOD: A 62-year-old man was referred as an outpatient, complaining of continuous pain in the back and right flank that began 2 weeks earlier. The patient had no neurologic signs or symptoms but had a medical history of left breast modified radical mastectomy because of MBC. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed metastasis in the T7 vertebra and no other metastasis on positron emission tomography/computed tomography or bone scan. Separation surgery was performed with posterior corpectomy of T7 (en bloc excision), followed by stabilization with an expandable titanium cage and pedicle screws. The pathological examination of the excised T7 vertebra confirmed metastatic carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation from the breast. Adjuvant chemo-radiotherapy was performed after surgery. RESULTS: The patient had no symptoms at the 21-month follow-up. Radiologic studies showed no evidence of recurrent or metastatic lesions. CONCLUSION: MBC is extremely rare, with fewer cases of spinal metastases. Among these, patients who undergo separation surgery are even rarer. This case shows that radical surgery can be an option for MBC with spine metastasis if indicated.