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Article
Prognostic Factors for Male Breast Cancer: Similarity to Female Counterparts
Anticancer Research (2013)
  • Edward Yu, University of Western Ontario
  • Larry Stitt, University of Western Ontario
  • Olga Vujovic, University of Western Ontario
  • Kurian Joseph, University of Alberta
  • Avi Assouline
  • Joseph Au, University of Hong Kong
  • Jawaid Younus, University of Western Ontario
  • Francisco Perera, University of Western Ontario
  • Patricia Tai, University of Saskatchewan
Abstract
Abstract. Aim: To assess whether prognostic factors in male (MBC) and female (FBC) breast cancer have similar impact on survival. Patients and Methods: Charts for men and women diagnosed with breast cancer referred to the London Regional Cancer Program (LRCP) were reviewed. Patients with distant metastatic diseases were excluded. Data on prognostic factors including age, nodal status, resection margin, use of hormonal therapy, chemotherapy with/without hormone and radiation therapy (RT), overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were analyzed. Survival estimates were obtained using Kaplan-Meier methodology. The Cox regression interaction was used to compare male and female difference in prognostic factors. Results: From 1963-2006 there were 75 cases of MBC and 1313 of FBC totaling 1388 breast cancer cases. The median age of the cohort was 53 (range=23-90) years. The median follow-up was 90 (range=0.4-339) months. Of the prognostic factors considered, nodal status had a significant Cox regression interaction. For OS, p=0.001 with hazard ratios of 0.83 (95% confidence interval CI=0.42-1.64) and 2.88 (95% CI=2.36-3.52) for males and females, respectively. For CSS p=0.041 with hazard ratios of 1.22 (95% CI=0.45-3.27) and 3.52 (95% CI=2.76-4.48) for males and females, respectively. For node-positive cases, distant disease recurrence-free survival was worse for MBC (log rank, p<0.001). Conclusion: This large series showed that the nodal status influences survival differently in MBC and FBC. The findings of this study need confirmation from a more complete prospective database and further investigations on improving high-risk node-positive MBC management are warranted.
Keywords
  • Male,
  • female,
  • breast cancer,
  • prognostic factors,
  • survival
Disciplines
Publication Date
Spring May 3, 2013
Citation Information
Edward Yu, Larry Stitt, Olga Vujovic, Kurian Joseph, et al.. "Prognostic Factors for Male Breast Cancer: Similarity to Female Counterparts" Anticancer Research Vol. 33 Iss. 5 (2013)
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/edwardyu/88/