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Localized male breast carcinoma and family history
Author(s) -
Hill Arnold,
Yagmur Yusuf,
Tran Katherine N.,
Bolton John S.,
Robson Mark,
Borgen Patrick I.
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0142(19990901)86:5<821::aid-cncr18>3.0.co;2-i
Subject(s) - family history , medicine , breast carcinoma , breast cancer , carcinoma , male breast cancer , oncology , cancer , lobular carcinoma , ductal carcinoma
BACKGROUND Male breast carcinoma is rare; therefore, the effect of family history on the course of the disease has not been well described. Germ‐line mutations in breast carcinoma susceptibility genes, particularly BRCA2 , are associated with an increased risk of male breast carcinoma. The authors sought to correlate significant family history with clinical phenotype in males with breast carcinoma. METHODS One hundred forty‐two men with breast carcinoma were treated at Memorial Sloan‐Kettering Cancer Center or the Ochsner Clinic from 1973 to 1994. The authors reviewed the effect imparted by a family history of breast carcinoma on the duration of symptoms, the age at diagnosis, and the survival of men with this disease. RESULTS Fifteen percent of male breast carcinoma patients had a first‐degree relative with the disease. Fifty‐eight years was the mean age at diagnosis for those with a family history, compared with 61 years for those without ( P = not significant [NS]). The mean duration of symptoms was 23 months for those with a family history, compared with 22 months for those without. Three of 22 patients (13.6%) with a family history, compared with 11 of 90 patients (12%) without a family history, had Stage III disease ( P = NS) at presentation. The overall 5‐year and 10‐year survival rates were 86% and 64%. Survival was not affected by family history. Lymph node positivity reduced 5‐year and 10‐year survival rates to 73% and 50% ( P = 0.0004). CONCLUSIONS For men with breast carcinoma, the presence of a family history did not affect the age at presentation, the duration of symptoms, the stage of disease at presentation, or the overall survival. In multivariate analysis, the most powerful predictor of outcome for these men was the status of the axillary lymph nodes. [See editorial on pages 744–6, this issue.] Cancer 1999;86:821–5. © 1999 American Cancer Society.