Published in:
01-06-2018 | Breast Oncology
The 21-Gene Recurrence Score in Male Breast Cancer
Authors:
Gulisa Turashvili, MD, PhD, Monica Gonzalez-Loperena, Edi Brogi, MD, PhD, Maura Dickler, MD, Larry Norton, MD, Monica Morrow, MD, Hannah Y. Wen, MD, PhD
Published in:
Annals of Surgical Oncology
|
Issue 6/2018
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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.