TY - JOUR
T1 - Pathological characterisation of male breast cancer
T2 - Results of the EORTC 10085/TBCRC/BIG/NABCG International Male Breast Cancer Program
AU - Vermeulen, Marijn A.
AU - Slaets, Leen
AU - Cardoso, Fatima
AU - Giordano, Sharon H.
AU - Tryfonidis, Konstantinos
AU - van Diest, Paul J.
AU - Dijkstra, Nizet H.
AU - Schröder, Carolien P.
AU - van Asperen, Christi J.
AU - Linderholm, Barbro
AU - Benstead, Kim
AU - Foekens, Renee
AU - Martens, John W.M.
AU - Bartlett, John M.S.
AU - van Deurzen, Carolien H.M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2017/9
Y1 - 2017/9
N2 - Aim Several prognostic histological features have been established in female breast cancer (BC), but it is unknown whether these can be extrapolated to male BC patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of several histological features in a large series of male BC. Methods Central pathology review was performed for 1483 male BCs collected through part 1 of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) International Male BC Program. Pathology review included histological subtype, grade, mitotic activity index (MAI), presence of a fibrotic focus and density of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). These features were correlated with clinical outcome. The relationship between these features and surrogate molecular subtypes using immunohistochemistry was also assessed. Results Median follow-up for overall survival (OS) was 7.1 years. Overall histological grade was not significantly associated with OS (p = 0.129). MAI, the presence of a fibrotic focus and a low TIL density however were correlated with unfavourable OS (p = 0.023, p = 0.004 and p = 0.011, respectively). BC subtype correlated with TIL density (p = 0.015), as we observed a higher density for human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) positive BC compared to luminal HER2-negative subtype. No association was observed between subtype and fibrotic focus. Conclusions Histologic grade was not significantly correlated with clinical outcome in this series, unlike what is seen in female patients. These results contribute to our understanding of male BC and indicate the importance of further research on the optimisation of risk stratification and treatment decisions for male BC patients.
AB - Aim Several prognostic histological features have been established in female breast cancer (BC), but it is unknown whether these can be extrapolated to male BC patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of several histological features in a large series of male BC. Methods Central pathology review was performed for 1483 male BCs collected through part 1 of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) International Male BC Program. Pathology review included histological subtype, grade, mitotic activity index (MAI), presence of a fibrotic focus and density of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). These features were correlated with clinical outcome. The relationship between these features and surrogate molecular subtypes using immunohistochemistry was also assessed. Results Median follow-up for overall survival (OS) was 7.1 years. Overall histological grade was not significantly associated with OS (p = 0.129). MAI, the presence of a fibrotic focus and a low TIL density however were correlated with unfavourable OS (p = 0.023, p = 0.004 and p = 0.011, respectively). BC subtype correlated with TIL density (p = 0.015), as we observed a higher density for human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) positive BC compared to luminal HER2-negative subtype. No association was observed between subtype and fibrotic focus. Conclusions Histologic grade was not significantly correlated with clinical outcome in this series, unlike what is seen in female patients. These results contribute to our understanding of male BC and indicate the importance of further research on the optimisation of risk stratification and treatment decisions for male BC patients.
KW - Breast cancer
KW - Fibrotic focus
KW - Histological grade
KW - Male
KW - Tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ejca.2017.01.034
DO - 10.1016/j.ejca.2017.01.034
M3 - Article
C2 - 28292559
AN - SCOPUS:85014754813
SN - 0959-8049
VL - 82
SP - 219
EP - 227
JO - European Journal of Cancer
JF - European Journal of Cancer
ER -