Male breast cancer: 37-year data study at a single experience center in Turkey

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of prognostic factors on the overall survival (OS) and locoregional control (LC) among male breast cancer (MBC) patients treated at Cerrahpasa Medical School Hospital, along with a review of the related literature.

The data of 86 patients treated for MBC from 1973 to 2010 are retrospectively reviewed. Patient demographics and clinical information, including the date of diagnosis, treatment, clinical course, and the date and causes of death are routinely recorded.

Median follow-up was 66 months. Isolated local-regional recurrence and distant metastases were observed in 15 (17.4%) and 24 (34.1%) of the cases, respectively. The 5-year OS rate was 65.8%; the disease-free survival rate was 72.4%, and the LC rate was 89.7%. The prognostic factors influencing local relapse were the T stage (p=0.002) and the chest wall muscular invasion (p=0.027) in the univariate analysis. The prognostic factors influencing OS were the presence of a positive axillary lymph node (p=0.001) and the T stage (p=0.001) in the univariate analysis. The T stage (p=0.008) and node (N) stage (p=0.038) were significant prognostic factors for OS in the multivariate analyses. Also, the T stage (p=0.034) was found to be significant for LC.

We found that only the tumor size and lymph node status were independent prognostic factors for survival. In addition, only the tumor size was an independent prognostic factor for locoregional relapse. Modified radical mastectomy and conservative surgical procedures had similar outcomes for LC.