Prognostic factors affecting survival in male breast cancer

Male breast cancer is an uncommon disease and most of the data concerning its treatment and prognostic factors have been obtained from studies spanning a long period of time during which the main concepts of treatment in breast cancer have changed. In the current study, patients affected with male breast cancer treated in the last decade with a multidisciplinary approach were reported from a single Institution. Fifty-five patients with male breast cancer treated between 1990 and 1998 were included in this study. The median follow-up period was 36 months. Five-year disease-free and overall survival were 44.5% and 72.9%, respectively. Patients' age, tumor size, axillary status, tumor type and treatment modalities such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and hormonotherapy were evaluated as possible prognostic factors affecting the disease-free and overall survival periods. In univariate analysis, tumor size, axillary status and extent of surgery were found to be affecting overall survival significantly whereas axillary status, tumor type, extent of surgery and chemotherapy affected disease-free survival. In multivariate analysis, axillary status, extent of surgery and tumor type were found as independent prognostic factors for overall survival and radiotherapy was added to these factors for disease-free survival. In conclusion, the approach to male breast cancer patients should be similar to that for female patients. Modified radical mastectomy should be the gold standard followed by combined adjuvant therapy individualized for patients due to axillary status, tumor size and type.