TREATMENT RESULTS IN MALES WITH BREAST-CANCER

Because cancer of the male breast is rare knowledge about its biology and behavior is essentially due to a compilation of pooled experiences . Hence, a continued report of cases appears to be important. Therefor e a retrospective review of patients suffering from male breast cancer was carried out. Twenty-four evaluable cases were analyzed. Eight pat ients (1 patient with bilateral Stage I carcinoma was included) were i n Stage I, 7 in Stage II, 2 in Stage IIIa, 4 in Stage IIIb, and 3 in S tage IV. Of 23 patients who were treated with mastectomy, 22 had modif ied radical mastectomy and postoperative irradiation to the chest wall as well as to the peripheral lymphatic areas in most cases. One patie nt underwent radical mastectomy. Another patient had an excision biops y only, followed by irradiation. One of 24 patients received tamoxifen ; another received cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, 5-fluorouracil, pre dnisone (CMF) regimen in an adjuvant setting. Local recurrence develop ed in one of 23 (4%) patients treated with mastectomy and radiation th erapy to the chest wall and peripheral lymphatics. Four (17%) patients developed distant metastases. The 5-year overall survival (Kaplan-Mai er) was 90% for the entire group, 100% for patients in Stage I-III dis ease, and 60% in Stage IV disease (P = <0.005). As observed in former reports the stage of disease at initial presentation seems to be a par ameter that significantly contributes to survival in male breast cance r patients. To what extent improved local control by adequate local th erapy, such as surgery and postoperative radiotherapy, ma improve over all survival remains to be discussed.