Skip to main content

Male breast carcinoma: radiotherapy contributed to favorable local control in two cases and related literature review

Abstract

Male breast carcinoma (MBC) is rarely encountered in clinical practice. Due to its paucity, our knowledge of MBC only rely on small or single-institutional studies and sporadic cases. The current guidelines for MBC are extrapolated from its female counterparts Rudlowski (Breast Care (Basel) 3(3):183–189, 2008). Nowadays, MBC is actively studied and viewed as a potentially different entity on the aspects of etiology, biological behavior and prognosis. Thus, special treatment strategy guidelines should be established for MBC. Additionally, advance in the systemic chemotherapy and hormonal therapy also contribute to the local control. The indication of radiotherapy need to be clarified and over-treatment should be avoided. Here we present two cases of MBC in which radiotherapy help to sustain a satisfactory disease free survival. Our cases will provide valuable experience for identifying the role of radiotherapy in MBC.

Background

MBC is exceedingly rare, composing less than 1 % of all the breast cancer [1]. Despite increasing incidence in recent years [2], many aspects such as best intervention, prognostic factors and so on are still unclear. Here, we present two rare cases of MBC. In the former, adjuvant radiotherapy contributed to prevention of local relapse. In the latter, radiotherapy was effective in controlling the recurrence of chest wall and achieved a good disease free survival (DFS) of at least 28 months.

Case presentation

Case 1

A 53-year-old man presented in January, 2011 with a history of painless lump of left breast for about 5 months. On physical examination, a hard lump measuring about 3.0 × 2.5 cm was palpated in the left breast and an enlarged, irregular lymph node of 2.0 × 1.5 cm was palpated in the left axilla. The breast ultrasound showed a 3.33 × 2.07 cm hypoechoic lesion in the left breast with blood flows and a 1.61 × 1.2 cm lymph node without normal structure. BI-RADS: 4b. The following Mammotome needle biopsy of left breast lump revealed invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) with immunohistochemical results of ER (40 %+), PR(−), Her-2(−). Relevant staging examination ruled out distant metastasis. Thus, a male breast IDC of IIB, cT2N1M0, was diagnosed.

First, the patient received neoadjuvant chemotherapy of five cycles of TAC (Docetaxel, Adriamycin and Cyclophosphamide) and attained a near complete remission response. On 4th May, 2011, modified radical mastectomy (MCM) was performed and definitive pathology showed only a little residual ductal carcinoma in situ with partial microinvasion. Left axillary dissection proved negative for nodal metastases (0/29). The tumor bed was 1.5 × 1.1 × 1.0 cm and immunohistochemistry showed ER (40 %+), PR(−), Her-2(−). Then he received a cycle of TAC followed by adjuvant radiotherapy to left chest, supra and subclavicular region with a dose of 50 Gy/25f. Endocrine therapy was declined by the patient. To date, he lives a life of good quality and a 3-year DFS has been attained.

Case 2

A 60-year-old man presented in April, 2010 with 1-month history of lump in right breast. Breast ultrasound demonstrated a 1.67 × 1.19 cm hypoechoic mass in the right breast. The subsequent biopsy demonstrated breast carcinoma. Then he received MCM in another hospital. The postoperative pathology showed IDC of grade II, with component of small tube carcinoma and right axillary lymph node metastases (2/14). Immunohistochemistry showed ER(−), PR(−), Her-2(−). He was staged as IIA, pT1N1M0. Then he received 6 cycles of chemotherapy but didn’t receive radiotherapy. 15 months later, recurrence of chest wall occurred and local resection was performed. The pathological results were as followings: IDC with invasion of pectoral muscle, vascular and nerve tissue, Ki-67 (+30 %), ER (+60 %), PR(−), Her-2(−). The borders were positive. The patient took tamoxifen but refused radiotherapy. 4 months later, a 2.0 cm × 2.0 cm mass appeared on the chest wall near the previous recurrent site. Then radiotherapy with a dose of 70 Gy/35f to the recurrence and 50 Gy/25f to the chest wall was carried out and the recurrent lesion disappeared. To date, DFS has reached to 28 months.

Discussion

MBC is rather rare, with a predilection of elder men [3]. Despite great improvement in breast cancer treatment recently, MBC benefit less than FBC [4]. According to Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result (SEER) data analysis, survival of breast cancer patients between 1996 and 2005 showed a 42 % decrease of breast cancer-specific death in female, but only a 28 % decrease in male [4, 5]. Comparing with female counterpart, MBC demonstrate more advanced stage-related tumor features such as 40 % stage III or IV disease [6] and 40–55 % axillary lymph node metastasis at first visit [7] and more tumor size >2.0 cm [8]. Interestingly, MBC manifested less advanced biology-related variables such as high tumor grade and ER or PR negativity [8]. IDC is the most common pathological type of MBC [9]. According to the multivariate analysis by Yoney et al. [9], lymph node metastasis was significantly associated with a poor DFS and overall survival (OS).

Recently, MBC is increasingly recognized as a different disease from FBC. Research have been initiated to clarify specific biomarkers of MBC pathogenesis. Genome-wide microarray analysis revealed miR-10a, miR-10b, miR-125b, miR-126 and miR-191 were underexpressed in MBC samples while miR-26b, miR-135b and miR-607 were overexpressed comparing with gynecomastia samples. As a target protein of miR-126, VEGF overexpressed correspondingly, partly contributing to the angiogenesis and progression of MBC. Comparing with FBC, 4 miRNAs overexpressed and 13 underexpressed in MBC [10]. Compared to gynecomastia, prolactin receptor expression was remarkably higher in MBC [4, 11]. Survivin and COX-2 were expressed in a substantial proportion of MBC individuals [4, 12]. In the near future, more specific miRNAs and genes will be identified in involvement of MBC development and as novel therapeutic target consequently.

Due to the lack of adequate breast tissue, MBC tends to invade the pectoralis major muscle. MCM is recommended as the standard surgical protocol to achieve R0 resection [13]. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) analysis seemed to be reliable in MBC [8]. In early-staged patients, breast conserving surgery might be feasible [4, 14].

In the past, radiotherapy was performed for all the postoperative MBC patients in view of inadequate surgical margin due to the lack of breast tissue [13, 15]. Yu et al. also indicated that postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) bring significantly better local relapse free survival rather than OS benefit, especially for individuals with high risk factors such as ≤2 mm or unknown surgical margin, advanced stage and lymph node metastasis [16]. Now, PMRT indication in MBC follow recommendations for FBC, especially for those with axillary nodal involvement [17]. Besides, more MBC were inclined to PMRT than FBC for higher possibility of skin and nipple involvement [18, 19]. Korde et al. considered that retroareolar tumor or muscle invasion were also PMRT indication in MBC [8]. These two cases should be subjected to PMRT due to the involvement of axillary lymph nodes. The timely radiotherapy after MCM contributed to long-term DFS in the first patient. However, in the second case who didn’t receive PMRT, chest wall recurrence took place 15 months after surgery. The first 2 years was the peak of recurrence [9]. Radiotherapy after recurrence also played a critical role in local control. According to a 20-year survival data for PMRT in MBC, stage III disease could obtain OS benefit from PMRT whereas stages I and II could not. However, the results of this retrospective research was questioned for adverse long-term effects in earlier stages caused by obsolete irradiation techniques impaired the OS benefits [20]. Advanced radiotherapy techniques nowadays will maximize the dose to target volume and minimize the dose of normal organs, which might transform to the OS benefit for early-staged MBC patients.

90 % MBC cases express hormonal receptor. Thus, hormonal treatment is a crucial part of the management strategy [21]. Tamoxifen contributes to improved DFS and OS [22]. The application of aromatase inhibitors in MBC is still worthy of scrutiny [2]. The main reason is that testicular production of estrogen is independent of aromatase, composing about 20 % circulating estrogen [2, 23]. Furthermore, aromatase inhibitors has been reported to induce the increase of testosterone level providing more substrate for the production of estrogen [2, 24]. However, there is a high rate of discontinuation of tamoxifen in MBC due to one or more toxicity. Most common toxic effects are sexual dysfunction and weight gain [25]. In the second case, Tamoxifen alone failed to prevent the chest wall relapse while radiotherapy exerted favorable effect in local control. Because most of MBC patients are ER positive and older, adjuvant chemotherapy can benefit MBC with high risks such as young age, endocrine-nonresponse, high tumor grade and multiple axillary lymph node involvement [8].

Because of its rarity, only limited reports of small samples or single institute can be reviewed [26]. Cutuli et al. analyzed 489 MBC cases in their institute and revealed the similar outcomes to FBC after early diagnosis and wide application of adjuvant treatments such as radiotherapy, hormonal and chemotherapy [27]. However, biological differences between MBC and FBC should be emphasized and the treatment guidelines should not simply extrapolate FBC algorithms. In the future, collaboration of multiple institutions should be initiated and longer follow-up are fundamental for the full-scale research of this entity [26].

Conclusion

MBC is now recognized as an entity with a potentially different biology and special treatment algorithms for MBC should be established in the near future. Radiotherapy indication for MBC patients need to be identified. Collaborative clinical trials are critical to clarify the optimal treatment for MBC.

Consent

Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and accompanying images. A copy of the written consent is available for review by the Editor-in-Chief of this journal.

Abbreviations

DFS:

disease free survival

ER:

estrogen receptor

FBC:

female breast carcinoma

IDC:

invasive ductal carcinoma

MBC:

male breast carcinoma

MCM:

modified radical mastectomy

OS:

overall survival

PMRT:

postmastectomy radiotherapy

PR:

progesterone receptor

SEER:

surveillance, epidemiology and end result

SLN:

sentinel lymph node

References

  1. Jemal A, Thomas A, Murray T, Thun M. Cancer statistics 2002. CA Cancer J Clin. 2002;52(1):23–47.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Nahleh ZA. Hormonal therapy for male breast cancer: a different approach for a different disease. Cancer Treat Rev. 2006;32(2):101–5.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Hultborn R, Friberg S, Hultborn KA, Peterson LE, Ragnhult I. Male breast carcinoma. II. A study of the total material reported to the Swedish cancer Registry 1958 ± 1967 with respect to treatment, prognostic factors and survival. Acta Oncol. 1987;26(5):327–41.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Onami S, Ozaki M, Mortimer JE, Pal SK. Male breast cancer: an update in diagnosis, treatment and molecular profiling. Maturitas. 2010;65(4):308–14.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Anderson WF, Jatoi I, Tse J, Rosenberg PS. Male breast cancer: a population-based comparison with female breast cancer. J Clin Oncol. 2010;28(2):232–9.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Rudlowski C. Male breast cancer. Breast Care (Basel). 2008;3(3):183–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. Borgen PI, Wong GY, Vlamis V, Potter C, Hoffmann B, Kinne DW, Osborne MP, McKinnon WM. Current management of male breast cancer. A review of 104 cases. Ann Surg. 1992;215(5):451–7.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Korde LA, Zujewski JA, Kamin L, Giordano S, Domchek S, Anderson WF, Bartlett JM, Gelmon K, Nahleh Z, Bergh J, Cutuli B, Pruneri G, McCaskill-Stevens W, Gralow J, Hortobagyi G, Cardoso F. Multidisciplinary meeting on male breast cancer: summary and research recommendations. J Clin Oncol. 2010;28(12):2114–22.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Yoney A, Kucuk A, Unsal M. Male breast cancer: a retrospective analysis. Cancer Radiother. 2009;13(2):103–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Fassan M, Baffa R, Palazzo JP, Lloyd J, Crosariol M, Liu CG, Volinia S, Alder H, Rugge M, Croce CM, Rosenberg A. MicroRNA expression profiling of male breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res. 2009;11(4):R58.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Ferreira M, Mesquita M, Quaresma M, André S. Prolactin receptor expression in gynaecomastia and male breast carcinoma. Histopathology. 2008;53(1):56–61.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Younis T, Haché KD, Rayson D, Dewar R, Gray S, Barnes PJ. Survivin and COX-2 expression in male breast carcinoma. Breast. 2009;18(4):228–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Stranzl H, Mayer R, Quehenberger F, Prettenhofer U, Willfurth P, Stöger H, Hackl A. Adjuvant radiotherapy in male breast cancer. Radiother Oncol. 1999;53(1):29–35.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Golshan M, Rusby J, Dominguez F, Smith BL. Breast conservation for male breast carcinoma. Breast. 2007;16(6):653–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Robison R, Montague ED. Treatment results in males with breast cancer. Cancer. 1982;49(2):403–6.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Yu E, Suzuki H, Younus J, Elfiki T, Stitt L, Yau G, Vujovic O, Perera F, Lock M, Tai P. The impact of post-mastectomy radiation therapy on male breast cancer patients: a case series. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys. 2012;82(2):696–700.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Cutuli B. Strategies in treating male breast cancer. Expert Opin Pharmacother. 2007;8(2):193–202.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Scott-Conner CE, Jochimsen PR, Menck HR, Winchester DJ. An analysis of male and female breast cancer treatment and survival among demographically identical pairs of patients. Surgery. 1999;126(4):775–80 (discussion 780–771).

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Atahan L, Yildiz F, Selek U, Sari S, Gurkaynak M. Postoperative radiotherapy in the treatment of male breast carcinoma: a single institute experience. J Natl Med Assoc. 2006;98(4):559–63.

    PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Eggemann H, Ignatov A, Stabenow R, von Minckwitz G, Röhl FW, Hass P, Costa SD. Male breast cancer: 20-year survival data for post-mastectomy radiotherapy. Breast Care (Basel). 2013;8(4):270–5.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  21. Fentiman IS, Fourquet A, Hortobagyi GN. Male breast cancer. Lancet. 2006;367(9510):595–604.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Goss PE, Reid C, Pintilie M, Lim R, Miller N. Male breast carcinoma: a review of 229 patients who presented to the Princess Margaret Hospital during 40 years: 1955–1996. Cancer. 1999;85(3):629–39.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Handesman D. Androgen actions and pharmacologic uses. In: Detroit IJ, editor. Endocrinology. Philadelphia: WB Saunders; 2001. p. 2232–42.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Harris AL, Dowsett M, Stuart-Harris R, Smith IE. Role of aminoglutethimide in male breast cancer. Br J Cancer. 1986;54(4):657–60.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Pemmaraju N, Munsell MF, Hortobagyi GN, Giordano SH. Retrospective review of male breast cancer patients: analysis of tamoxifen-related side-effects. Ann Oncol. 2012;23(6):1471–4.

    Article  PubMed Central  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Sedighi A, Hamed EA, Mohammadian K, Behnood S, Kalaghchi B. Clinicopathologic characteristics of male breast cancer: a report of 21 cases in radiotherapy center of Hamedan, Iran. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2013;14(12):7381–3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Cutuli B, Le-Nir CC, Serin D, Kirova Y, Gaci Z, Lemanski C, De Lafontan B, Zoubir M, Maingon P, Mignotte H, de Lara CT, Edeline J, Penault-Llorca F, Romestaing P, Delva C, Comet B, Belkacemi Y. Male breast cancer. Evolution of treatment and prognostic factors. Analysis of 489 cases. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2010;73(3):246–54.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors’ contributions

ML was a major contributor in writing the manuscript. QW, BL and BL revised it critically. DW, LG and SY reviewed MBC treatment. BL and LD reviewed the literature and gave final approval of the version to be submitted. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Acknowledgements

The present study was supported by Science and Technology Department of Jilin Province (Grant no: 3D512J233428), the Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant no: 81272999), the First Hospital of Jilin University (Grant no: JDYY52015004, JDYY52015012) and Traditional Chinese Medicine Administration Bureau of Jilin Province (Grant no: 2014-Q54).

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Bailong Liu or Lihua Dong.

Additional information

Min Liu and Qiang Wang contributed equally to this work

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The Creative Commons Public Domain Dedication waiver (http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/) applies to the data made available in this article, unless otherwise stated.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Liu, M., Wang, Q., Liu, B. et al. Male breast carcinoma: radiotherapy contributed to favorable local control in two cases and related literature review. Eur J Med Res 20, 94 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-015-0173-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-015-0173-x

Keywords