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Top Takeaways from ASCO: Male breast cancer
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CHICAGO — The occurrence of male breast cancer following an initial prior malignancy increased, particularly after a hematologic malignancy, 225% in a 38-year period, according to study results presented at the 2015 ASCO annual meeting.
“Male breast cancer accounts for approximately 1% of all breast cancer,” the researchers wrote. “The association of male breast cancer with other malignancies has been described; however, the risk of males developing breast cancer as [a second primary cancer], after specific types of index primary malignancies, relative to population risk, has not been reported.”
Deborah Elaine Farr, MD, assistant professor in the department of surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center, and colleagues at Northwestern University used the SEER 9 database to identify men with breast cancer that developed after an index malignancy. Their data analysis included a total of 512 cases of breast cancer in men from a 38-year period (1973-2011).
Deborah Elaine Farr
The rates of breast cancer as a second primary cancer went from 0.12 in 1973-1974 to 0.39 from 2010-2011 (P < .001), a 225% increase. The most common index malignancies were breast (standardized incidence ratio [SIR], 28.44; 95% CI, 20.32-38.73); hematologic (SIR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.11-2.10); ureter/urinary bladder (SIR, 1.10; 95% CI, 0.80-1.46); prostate (SIR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.84-1.11); and colorectal (SIR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.72-1.21). Breast malignancies as a second primary cancer occurred within 5 years of the index malignancy in 42.6% of cases.
Excluding the established link to prior breast cancer, a prior hematologic malignancy was the only other correlation to breast cancer as a second primary cancer (P =.007).
“The risk of developing breast cancer as [a second primary cancer] increased markedly from 1973 to 2011,” the researchers wrote. “These observations have implications for clinical surveillance in this population and point to potential etiologic connections with prior therapy or with genetics.” – by Julia Ernst, MS
Reference:
Farr DE, et al. Abstract 1583.
Presented at: ASCO Annual Meeting; May 29-June 2, 2015; Chicago.
Disclosure: Farr reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.