Male Breast Cancer

Knowledge of male breast cancer (MBC) is limited and despite its infrequent prevalence MBC causes significant morbidity/mortality. The incidence has been reported to increase over recent decades, but guidelines for patient management are extrapolated from current knowledge of female breast cancer (FBC). While the enormous heterogeneity of FBC, both clinically and biologically, has been acknowledged, largely due to molecular profiling approaches, MBC is considered equivalent to postmenopausal FBC; yet, survival rates for MBC have not improved correspondingly.

In the era of personalized medicine improved understanding and management of MBC is vital. We are therefore molecularly characterizing MBC utilizing state-of-the-art profiling methods and a unique cohort of MBCs in an effort to classify MBC into comprehensive subgroups and identify diagnostic, prognostic and treatment predictive markers that may improve our understanding of the disease and also be translated into clinical practice. We are hypothesizing that the poorer survival of men diagnosed with breast cancer compared to women is, despite ER positivity, due to a more aggressive development of the disease.

To gain insight into the molecular landscape of MBC, we are applying transcriptional profiling, as well as genomic, epigenetic and mutation screening to clinically well-annotated primary MBCs. The overall aim is to improve our understanding of the disease and refine patient management. Building on the vast knowledge of FBC that has been accrued over recent years and the multitude of novel targeted treatments being developed, taken together these findings should be possible to translate into clinical benefit for MBC patients in the near future.