Male breast cancer (MBC) is a rare entity, underrepresented in population studies and clinical trials, resulting in management of MBC to be informed by current research on female breast cancer (FBC). A literature review was conducted by accessing relevant articles on 2 databases, by searching keywords “male breast cancer”. A total of 29 articles from year 2011 to 2022 were selected for this review. The authors found that male breast cancer generally occurs later in life with higher stage, higher grade, and more estrogen receptor (ER) positive tumours. Most of the studies noted the mean age for MBCs at the time of presentation as >60 years. Risk factors for male breast cancer include family history, obesity, lower physical activity, and syndromes like the Klinefelter syndrome. Positive family history is much higher in MBC compared to FBC (30.9 vs. 18.4%). BRCA 2 cancers constitute a higher proportion compared to FBCs. A lot of genetic mutations have been observed. Some show promise to assess disease-specific survival and proliferative rate like <i>TWIST1</i> and <i>RUNX3</i>, among others. MBCs usually present with a palpable lump in central region, with a bigger size and chance of nodal involvement and metastasis compared to FBCs. They are mostly infiltrating ductal type and hormone receptor positive, with worse histological grade. Treatment usually follows the same principles as FBCs (systemic therapy, surgical excision, and radiotherapy), with poorer prognosis to same treatment approach, possibly owing to its advanced stage at presentation. This is a rare entity which requires further research to ascertain need for different management approach than FBCs.

Vidhu Shekhar Khare

Farhanul Huda

Subhasis Misra

Kanmatha Reddy Amulya

Nirmal Raj

Summi Karn

Somprakas Basu

Male Breast Cancer: An Updated Review of Patient Characteristics, Genetics, and Outcome

Dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) is a highly sensitive breast imaging modality in detecting breast carcinoma. Nonmass enhancement (NME) is uniquely seen on MRI of the breast. The correlation between NME features and pathologic results has not been extensively explored. Our goal was to evaluate the characteristics of probably benign and suspicious NME lesions in MRI and determine which features are more associated with malignancy. We performed a retrospective research after approval by the hospital ethics committee on women who underwent breast MRI from March 2017 to March 2020 and identified 63 lesions of all 400 NME that were categorized as probably benign or suspicious according to the BI-RADS classification (version 2013). MRI features of NME findings including the location, size, distribution and enhancement pattern, kinetic curve, diffusion restriction, and also pathology result or 6-12-month follow-up MRI were evaluated and analyzed in each group (probably benign or suspicious NME). Vacuum-guided biopsies (VAB) were performed under mammographic or sonographic guidance and confirmed with MRI by visualization of the inserted clips. Segmental distribution and clustered ring internal enhancement were significantly associated with malignancy (<svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="vertical-align:-3.42943pt" id="M1" height="10.2124pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -6.78297 7.83752 10.2124" width="7.83752pt"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><path id="g113-113" d="M570 304C570 398 525 448 414 448C385 448 343 445 312 434L329 511L321 518C297 504 262 482 244 460L233 411C195 397 159 381 128 358L135 332C160 347 189 360 224 373L111 -147C97 -210 84 -218 17 -231L13 -257L254 -247L259 -218L233 -216C183 -212 177 -202 189 -142L218 -1C238 -10 266 -12 283 -12C351 3 429 48 483 105C543 168 570 242 570 304ZM482 289C482 161 380 33 304 33C278 33 248 51 233 69L303 396C326 400 352 403 369 403C428 403 482 380 482 289Z"/></g></svg> value<0.05), while linear distribution or homogeneous enhancement patterns were associated with benignity (<svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="vertical-align:-3.42943pt" id="M2" height="10.2124pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -6.78297 7.83752 10.2124" width="7.83752pt"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-113"/></g></svg> value <0.05). Additionally, the plateau and washout types in the dynamic curve were only seen in malignant lesions (<svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="vertical-align:-3.42943pt" id="M3" height="10.2124pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -6.78297 7.83752 10.2124" width="7.83752pt"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-113"/></g></svg> value <0.05). The presence of DWI restriction in NME lesions was also found to be a statistically important factor. Understanding the imaging findings of malignant NME is helpful to determine when biopsy is indicated. The correlation between NME features and pathologic results is critical in making appropriate management.

Nasrin Ahmadinejad

Fahimeh Azizinik

Pershang Khosravi

Ala Torabi

Amirhassan Mohajeri

Arvin Arian

Evaluation of Features in Probably Benign and Malignant Nonmass Enhancement in Breast MRI

Breast cancer (BC) stands as the most prevalent form of carcinoma among women, ranking as the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the female population. The objective of this study is to assess the expression of miR-10b and determine its diagnostic and prognostic significance in breast cancer patients across various disease stages. The investigation was carried out in Baghdad at the Oncology Teaching Hospital within Baghdad Medical City and the Oncology Unit at Al-Yarmouk Teaching Hospital. A total of 150 samples were included and divided into two groups: the blood group consisting of 90 samples (including control subjects, localized BC patients, and those with metastatic and locally advanced BC) and the tissue group comprising 60 samples (representing both benign and malignant BC cases). The study spanned from March 2022 to January 2023, with patients’ ages ranging from 24 to 75 years. The primary focus of this investigation was to identify the gene expression of miRNA-10b in all sample types. This was achieved by measuring gene expression levels and normalizing them to the level of a housekeeping gene (U6), and quantification was carried out considering the <svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="vertical-align:-0.2324905pt" id="M1" height="8.98583pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.75334 20.9254 8.98583" width="20.9254pt"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><path id="g113-133" d="M600 0V24L339 665L311 657L43 24V0H600ZM497 50H107L303 539L497 50Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,8.327,0)"><path id="g190-68" d="M614 175C564 76 510 21 408 21C256 21 146 149 146 336C146 488 235 629 402 629C510 629 570 586 597 480L626 488C620 541 614 582 606 638C578 643 510 665 429 665C206 665 44 527 44 316C44 157 153 -15 402 -15C474 -15 558 5 586 11C604 45 629 119 643 165L614 175Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,16.776,0)"><path id="g190-117" d="M298 36L289 62C276 55 253 45 228 45C202 45 169 60 169 141V397H276C289 405 292 426 282 437H169V574L155 576L90 509V437H45L17 408L21 397H90V107C90 28 125 -12 188 -12C198 -12 213 -8 230 1L298 36Z"/></g></svg> value and the fold change method (<span class="nowrap"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" style="vertical-align:-0.04979992pt" id="M2" height="11.97pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -11.9202 33.1125 11.97" width="33.1125pt"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><path id="g113-51" d="M412 140C382 77 369 73 315 73H129L270 222C362 320 402 379 402 466C402 571 322 635 234 635C177 635 130 609 99 576L42 495L64 475C90 514 133 568 201 568C274 568 318 519 318 435C318 349 255 267 193 193C144 135 87 78 32 23V0H405C417 45 427 89 440 131L412 140Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0091,0,0,-0.0091,6.24,-5.741)"><path id="g54-33" d="M556 236V289H56V236H556Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0091,0,0,-0.0091,11.8,-5.741)"><path id="g50-133" d="M610 0V27L347 666L316 657L46 26V0H610ZM504 54H116L310 537L504 54Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0091,0,0,-0.0091,17.747,-5.741)"><use xlink:href="#g50-133"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0091,0,0,-0.0091,23.694,-5.741)"><use xlink:href="#g190-68"/></g><g transform="matrix(.0091,0,0,-0.0091,29.609,-5.741)"><use xlink:href="#g190-117"/></g></svg>).</span> The results revealed an upregulated fold expression of miRNA-10b, particularly in locally advanced and metastatic BC, where the expression was significantly higher compared to the other groups, with a fold expression of <span class="inline_break"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="38.465pt" style="vertical-align:-0.3499298pt" id="M3" height="8.69875pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.34882 38.465 8.69875"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><path id="g113-50" d="M384 0V27C293 34 287 42 287 114V635C232 613 172 594 109 583V559L157 557C201 555 205 550 205 499V114C205 42 199 34 109 27V0H384Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,6.24,0)"><path id="g113-47" d="M113 -12C146 -12 170 11 170 46C170 78 146 103 114 103S58 78 58 46C58 11 82 -12 113 -12Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,9.204,0)"><path id="g113-56" d="M447 623H65C61 580 56 530 47 475H76C100 541 106 550 172 550H388C308 376 196 170 91 -1L98 -12L172 -2C268 204 360 408 455 611L447 623Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,15.446,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-56"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,21.688,0)"><path id="g113-49" d="M241 635C89 635 35 457 35 312C35 153 89 -12 240 -12C390 -12 443 166 443 312C443 466 390 635 241 635ZM238 602C329 602 354 454 354 312C354 172 330 22 240 22C152 22 124 173 124 313S148 602 238 602Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,30.834,0)"><path id="g117-37" d="M535 290V340H323V533H265V340H52V290H265V84H323V290H535ZM535 -22V28H52V-22H535Z"/></g></svg><span class="ibiop"></span><span class="nowrap"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="34.521pt" style="vertical-align:-0.3499298pt" height="8.69875pt" version="1.1" viewBox="41.320183799999995 -8.34882 34.521 8.69875"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,41.37,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,47.61,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-47"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,50.574,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-50"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,56.814,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,63.054,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-56"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,69.297,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g></svg>.</span></span> In localized breast cancer, the fold expression was <span class="inline_break"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="38.461pt" style="vertical-align:-0.3499298pt" id="M4" height="8.69875pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.34882 38.461 8.69875"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-50"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,6.24,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-47"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,9.204,0)"><path id="g113-55" d="M137 343C167 482 260 545 321 574C357 591 397 603 429 609L423 641C382 634 335 622 295 608C189 570 37 457 37 238C37 84 125 -12 242 -12C362 -12 447 89 447 209C447 311 374 393 267 393C247 393 226 386 204 376L137 343ZM227 337C318 337 361 256 361 173C361 105 336 22 258 22C176 22 126 120 126 240C126 266 127 291 132 310C155 323 189 337 227 337Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,15.444,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-51"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,21.684,0)"><path id="g113-53" d="M456 178V225H360V632H320C217 496 115 347 20 206V178H280V106C280 40 276 34 189 27V0H445V27C364 34 360 39 360 106V178H456ZM280 225H82C149 335 214 431 278 520H280V225Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,30.83,0)"><use xlink:href="#g117-37"/></g></svg><span class="ibiop"></span><span class="nowrap"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="28.262pt" style="vertical-align:-0.3499298pt" height="8.69875pt" version="1.1" viewBox="41.3161838 -8.34882 28.262 8.69875"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,41.366,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,47.606,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-47"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,50.57,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,56.81,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-55"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,63.051,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-53"/></g></svg>,</span></span> and in malignant tissue, it measured <span class="inline_break"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="38.461pt" style="vertical-align:-0.3499298pt" id="M5" height="8.69875pt" version="1.1" viewBox="-0.0498162 -8.34882 38.461 8.69875"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,0,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-50"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,6.24,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-47"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,9.204,0)"><path id="g113-54" d="M153 550H386L412 615L406 623H120L82 318C104 327 142 338 184 338C294 338 347 275 347 187C347 112 305 39 221 39C160 39 119 71 97 89C88 97 80 96 71 90C59 80 50 67 49 57C48 45 52 36 66 23C80 9 123 -12 169 -12C221 -11 288 15 342 59C403 109 431 165 431 225C431 308 366 395 238 395C212 395 165 379 127 364L153 550Z"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,15.444,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-53"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,21.684,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-55"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,30.83,0)"><use xlink:href="#g117-37"/></g></svg><span class="ibiop"></span><span class="nowrap"><svg xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="40.787pt" style="vertical-align:-0.3499298pt" height="8.69875pt" version="1.1" viewBox="41.317183799999995 -8.34882 40.787 8.69875"><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,41.367,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,47.607,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-47"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,50.571,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-49"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,56.811,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-55"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,63.051,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-56"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,69.293,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-54"/></g><g transform="matrix(.013,0,0,-0.013,75.533,0)"><use xlink:href="#g113-53"/></g></svg>,</span></span> all relative to apparently healthy control subjects. In summary, our research provides compelling evidence supporting the classification of miRNA-10b as an oncogenic factor in BC. The central involvement of miRNA-10b in the tumorigenic processes of BC highlights its reference for developing novel targeted therapeutic interventions and detection biomarkers for BC treatment. Notably, elevated expression of miRNA-10b was observed in BC tissues, correlating with an unfavorable distant metastasis-free survival outcome.

Mays Abdallah

Ismail H. Aziz

Ahmed Zuhair Alsammarraie

Assessment of miRNA-10b Expression Levels as a Potential Precursor to Metastasis in Localized and Locally Advanced/Metastatic Breast Cancer among Iraqi Patients

<i>Background</i>. Breast cancer has an unacceptably high recurrence rate when any residual disease is found following neoadjuvant treatment of high-risk disease. Based on clinical data suggesting an adjuvant role for epigenetic modifying agents in breast cancer and preclinical data suggesting synergistic activity of entinostat combined with capecitabine, we conducted a phase I, open-label study of these agents in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Both agents have published doses for use in combination therapy, but the agents had not previously been combined with each other in a human trial. <i>Methods</i>. A multisite phase I dose escalation study was performed at two academic centers. Patients with pretreated, HER2-negative MBC, and measurable disease were enrolled. Dual dose escalation was performed via a Bayesian partial order continual assessment method. Dose levels ranged from entinostat 3 mg to 5 mg and capecitabine 800 mg/m<sup>2</sup> to 1000 mg/m<sup>2</sup>. <i>Results</i>. Thirteen patients with MBC and a median of 4 lines of prior therapy were enrolled across four dose level combinations. The most common toxicities were neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and palmar-plantar dysesthesia, which were expected toxicities. No new safety signals were observed. One dose-limiting toxicity was observed, which did not exceed a prespecified toxicity rate of 25%. The median treatment duration was 2.37 months. No partial nor complete responses were observed. The study was halted early prior to entering an expansion phase, due to drug supply limitations. <i>Conclusion</i>. The tested dosing combinations of entinostat and capecitabine are likely safe in heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer. This study’s clinical investigation of entinostat in breast cancer was halted, but drug development of this agent continues outside the US. There remains a need for postoperative adjuvant drug therapy for the subpopulation of breast cancer patients with high-risk residual cancer after curative therapy. This trial is registered with <a target="_blank" href="https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03473639">NCT03473639</a>.

Trish Millard

Christiana Brenin

Clare Humphrey

Ajay Dhakal

Carla Falkson

Gina Petroni

Nolan A. Wages

Patrick Dillon

A Pilot Study of the Combination of Entinostat with Capecitabine in Advanced Breast Cancer

<i>Background</i>. As the second leading cause of death in women in the world, breast cancer has several physical and psychological effects. Nowadays, nonclinical approaches such as patient empowerment have been considered by physicians along with clinical care. Given the increasing number of breast cancer women worldwide, promoting the empowerment of these patients is one of the key factors affecting their survival and quality of life. Therefore, because of no comprehensive research on the empowerment needs and related improvement strategies, this study is aimed at determining the empowerment status of breast cancer patients referred to the Shahid Motahari Breast Cancer Clinic in Iran, Shiraz, and at providing strategies to improve their empowerment in 2021. <i>Methods</i>. This applied study was conducted in two phases. In the quantitative phase, 310 Cancer-Related Patient Empowerment Scale questionnaires (Persian format) were distributed among the studied patients selected through the random sampling method in the clinic, and the items with “unacceptable status” became the basis for determining the empowerment strategies through the scoping review and semistructured interviews with 22 medical staff and patients through the thematic analysis. The collected data were analyzed using the SPSS 20.0 and MAXQDA10 software. <i>Results</i>. The mean score of the participants’ empowerment strategies was 3.58. The results showed that trust in the physician, family support, and spiritual beliefs could affect the empowerment of the studied patients. Moreover, the participants needed empowerment strategies in 11 scale items with unacceptable status, for which 46 strategies were determined in the scoping review and interview phase. <i>Conclusion</i>. The results of this study provided useful strategies for empowering breast cancer patients, the most important of which were classified into five categories of financial support, informational support, interaction with the physician, occupational support, and complementary therapies, the use of which by the stakeholders could help to improve the patients’ quality of life while improving their empowerment.

Mohammad Amin Bahrami

Shahrzad Tabari

Sedigheh Tahmasebi

Vahid Zangouri

Ramin Ravangard

Strategies to Promote Empowerment Status of Breast Cancer Women

Current breast cancer treatment options are limited by drug resistance and adverse side effects, which calls for the need for alternatives or complementary remedies. Probiotic bacteria isolated from human breast milk have been shown to possess proapoptotic and anti-inflammatory properties against breast mastitis in breastfeeding mothers and are being studied as possible anticancer regimens. Thus, this study aimed at exploring the effect of lactic acid bacteria isolated from human breast milk on MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cells. A total of twenty-two bacteria were isolated from four human breast milk samples. The isolates were characterized and identified using biochemical tests and Sanger sequencing, respectively. For in vitro experiments, we used isolated <i>P. acidilactici</i> to treat MDA-MB-231 cells, and an MTT assay was used to detect proliferation. RT-qPCR and wound healing assays were performed to determine the effect of the isolated <i>P. acidilactici</i> on breast cancer cytokine expression and migration. Exposure of MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cells to live <i>P. acidilactici</i> and its cell-free supernatant (CFS) for 24 h resulted in a reduction in cancer cell viability. Also, the expression of the cytokines <i>IL-6</i>, <i>IL-8</i>, and <i>IL-10</i> in the breast cancer cells increased following exposure to <i>P. acidilactici</i> and its CFS for 24 and 72 h. Additionally, the levels of the <i>SLUG</i> gene remained unchanged while the <i>TWIST1</i> gene was upregulated following exposure of the cancer cells to bacteria, indicating that <i>P. acidilactici</i> may promote epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer. Finally, the CFS significantly inhibited cancer cell mobility. These findings serve as a foundation to further investigate the usefulness of <i>P. acidilactici</i> as a potential therapeutic agent in breast cancer therapy.

Naa N. Adumuah

Jude T. Quarshie

Harry Danwonno

Anastasia R. Aikins

Elmer N. Ametefe

Exploring Anti-Breast Cancer Effects of Live <i>Pediococcus acidilactici</i> and Its Cell-Free Supernatant Isolated from Human Breast Milk

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<p><em>International Journal of Breast Cancer</em> provides a forum for scientists, clinicians, and health care professionals working in breast cancer research and management. Research includes molecular pathology, genomics, genetic predisposition etc.</p>


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International Journal of Breast Cancer - Table of contents 2024

International Journal of Breast Cancer | Hindawi

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International Journal of Breast Cancer provides a forum for scientists, clinicians, and health care professionals working in breast cancer research and management. Research includes molecular pathology, genomics, genetic predisposition etc.

International Journal of Breast Cancer