The prognosis of breast cancer in males a report of 335 cases

Abstract

Because of the relative rarity of breast cancer in males, data have not been sufficient to support a definitive analysis of pertinent prognostic factors. Remarkably, no studies of male patients with breast cancer have presented survival information based on the number of histologically positive axillary nodes, the most sensitive single indicator of prognosis in women with breast cancer. In this study, the clinical course of breast cancer was documented for 335 male patients registered from 1965 through 1986. For patients to be eligible, diagnoses had to be made within 3 months of registration and the patients had to have histologic confirmation and receive part or all of their initial treatment at 1 of 11 cancer centers participating in the International Patient Data Exchange System. The survival rate at 10 years was 84% for patients with histologically negative nodes, 44% for those with one to three positive nodes, and 14% for the group with four or more histologically positive nodes. The survival rates at 5 years were 90%, 73%, and 55%, respectively. In a multivariable analysis, the risk of death due to breast cancer for a patient with four or more histologically positive nodes was 6.75 times that of a patient with negative nodes. The findings of the authors indicate the following: (1) The number of histologically positive axillary nodes and, to a lesser degree, tumor diameter are significant prognostic factors for breast cancer in male patients. (2) The prognosis of breast cancer is the same in male and female patients when compared on the basis of the number of histologically positive nodes.