ASO Author Reflections: 21-Gene Recurrence Scores in Male Breast Cancer

Excerpt

Male breast cancer is an uncommon variant of breast cancer with an increasing incidence. Knowledge of breast cancer in men has traditionally been extrapolated from observations in women. Recent research focusing on male breast cancer has found increasing evidence that its pathophysiology may be unique compared with female breast cancer.1^,2 Breast cancer in men is often diagnosed at a later age. The tumors are larger, show more nodal involvement, and are more likely to be estrogen receptor-positive (ER+)2, with different underlying genotypes.1 Furthermore, male breast cancer may have a lower 5-year survival rate.3 With the growing evidence that male breast cancer is unique, the role of the 21-gene recurrence scores (RS), commonly used to determine appropriate adjuvant treatment in ER+/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2−) breast cancer in women, comes into question. Limited previous studies have evaluated the 21-gene recurrence scores for men with breast cancer.1^,4 …