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The 21-Gene Recurrence Score in Male Breast Cancer

  • Breast Oncology
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Given the limited data, systemic treatment of male breast cancer has been extrapolated from female patients. The 21-gene recurrence score (RS) assay estimates the risk of distant recurrence and chemotherapy benefit in early-stage, ER+/HER2− female breast cancer. We assessed the association between RS and type of treatment in male breast cancer.

Methods

We identified male patients with ER+/HER2− breast cancer and available RS results treated at our institution in 2006–2016. We collected data on clinicopathologic features, treatment, and outcome. The Institutional Review Board approved the study.

Results

The study cohort consists of 38 male breast cancer patients with a median age of 70 years. Median tumor size was 1.6 cm, and 81.6% (31) were node-negative. RS was low (≤ 17) in 26 (68.4%) cases, intermediate (18–30) in 9 (23.7%) cases, and high (≥ 31) in 3 (7.9%) cases, comparable to that in female patients at our institution. All patients underwent total mastectomy, and one received radiotherapy. Thirty-four (89.5%) patients received adjuvant endocrine therapy, mostly tamoxifen (81.6%; 31). Five (13.2%) patients with intermediate or high RS were treated with adjuvant chemotherapy. No locoregional recurrence was observed, and one patient developed distant recurrence (median follow-up 34 months).

Conclusions

The RS distribution in male breast cancers was similar to that in females treated at our institution. With limited follow-up, patients with low RS were spared chemotherapy and did not develop recurrence. Our results suggest that the RS may have a clinical utility in male breast cancer patients.

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Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

    Gulisa Turashvili MD, PhD, Monica Gonzalez-Loperena, Edi Brogi MD, PhD & Hannah Y. Wen MD, PhD

  2. Department of Medical Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

    Maura Dickler MD & Larry Norton MD

  3. Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

    Monica Morrow MD

Authors
  1. Gulisa Turashvili MD, PhD
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  2. Monica Gonzalez-Loperena
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  3. Edi Brogi MD, PhD
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  4. Maura Dickler MD
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  7. Hannah Y. Wen MD, PhD
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Correspondence to Hannah Y. Wen MD, PhD.

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Turashvili, G., Gonzalez-Loperena, M., Brogi, E. et al. The 21-Gene Recurrence Score in Male Breast Cancer. Ann Surg Oncol 25, 1530–1535 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-018-6411-z

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