How to treat male breast cancer

Breast. 2007 Dec:16 Suppl 2:S147-54. doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2007.07.024.

Abstract

The prevalence for breast cancer in males in Europe is estimated to be 1 or less per 100,000. Male breast cancer has a peak incidence at the age of 71 years. There are no randomized data giving information on the optimal therapy for male breast cancer patients, thereby limiting firmer conclusions. The preferred primary surgical therapy is modified radical/simple mastectomy, but breast-conserving surgery has also been used in males. Post-operative radiotherapy should be used on a more routine basis; as males have shorter breast-anatomical distances and males are diagnosed at a later stage compared with females. The so far preferred adjuvant therapy modality has been tamoxifen for patients with endocrine responsive disease. The use of aromatase inhibitors in males is more controversial, since they may not deplete the estradiol levels sufficiently. Different chemotherapy regimens have been used in the adjuvant and metastatic setting. The use of adjuvant therapy has in institutional and review comparisons been demonstrated to result in an improved outcome.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / therapeutic use*
  • Aromatase Inhibitors / therapeutic use*
  • Breast Neoplasms, Male / diagnosis*
  • Breast Neoplasms, Male / epidemiology
  • Breast Neoplasms, Male / therapy*
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Mastectomy
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Tamoxifen / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal
  • Aromatase Inhibitors
  • Tamoxifen